- Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Taplejung, June 23: Sidingwa Rural Municipality of Taplejung district announced 50 percent discount in electricity tariff for the consumers using up to 50 units in a month. The announcement was made while unveiling policies and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year, 20683/84.
The 19th council of the Rural Municipality held on Tuesday announced the subsidy in a bid to provide relief to the low and middle-income households, according to chair Man Bahadur Rai.
Information officer at the Rural Municipality, Rudra Begha, informed that there are 2,500 houses consuming electricity in the local level. The households consuming as high as 50 units of power would be directly benefited through this scheme. However, those consuming more than this amount would not be provided the subsidy.
The Rural Municipality unveiled the budget of Rs 530.8 million for the coming fiscal year. Vice chair of Sidingwa Rural Municipality, Krishna Kumari Kadariya, announced the budget, focusing agriculture, incentives to farmers, increase in local production, adoption of healthy lifestyle, local roads and grants to livestock farmers.
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02- Cancer survivors share experiences during awareness programme
Bhaktapur, June 23: The cancer survivors gathered at an awareness programme in the district shared the struggles and strategies they had to revive normal life.
At a day-long awareness and motivation programme organized by Suryabinayak Municipality in the district, the cancer survivors also put forth queries whether those treating cancer would face any other health complications, whether the fatal disease would recur, and whether reproductive life would be revived.
Senior oncologist Dr Ujjwal Chalise received multiple queries from the cancer survivors in the programme held in coordination with Nepal Cancer Survivors Society. Dr Chalise shared information on plights and struggles of cancer patients, those living normal life after beating deadly disease, the chemotherapy process and associated health and lifestyle.
On the occasion, deputy mayor of Surya Binayak Municipality, Sarita Timsina Bhattarai, said the event was fruitful to listen to the experiences of cancer survivors and instill hope and confidence in the people who were undergoing different stages of treatment. It was also useful in fostering cooperation among health institutes, local government and community for working together in the cancer treatment and care.
Dr Chalise informed that timely detection of cancer could help cure it, while the fourth stage was an incurable one. He suggested the right way of lifestyle for both common people and cancer survivors. Timely detection, regular health check up, follow up, counseling and reduction of stress could be a huge relief to live a normal life. He added that once the woman is cured of cancer, there would not be any problem for conception and reproduction, he added.
Massive public awareness was needed on cancer, according to him.
Coordinator of social development committee at the Municipality, Rabindra Sapkota, viewed cancer is not only related to physical feebleness but also to mental, social and economic aspects.
Health section chief at the local level, Basant Chaulagain, shared municipality’s record that there were nearly 240 cancer survivors receiving varieties of health and services from local level.
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03- RSP general convention: Preparation for closed session today
Chitwan, June 23: The first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has been going on here for three days.
The closed session of the convention scheduled for Monday was postponed till today owing to technical reason. Now the preparation is on to hold the closed session today, with the beginning of distribution of identity cards for the convention representatives.
Spokesperson of the party, Manish Jha, informed that the closed session would be held after the distribution of identity cards of representatives is over. The verification of representatives’ names received from provinces and printing of cards consumed time, thereby delaying the closed session, Jha argued.
He further informed that convention is the supreme body of the party, so RSP was aware and committed to avoiding any dispute in process.
The printing of identity cards had begun at 7:00 pm on Monday.
General secretary Kabindra Burlakoti shared that the closed session would see presentation of various reports including discipline commission, finance, party organization and political document.
The inauguration session of the general convention was held at Guest House ground of Chitwan on Sunday, while the closed session is being held at exhibition centre of the chamber of commerce and industry.
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04- Even after eight years of ODF declaration, open defecation rife in Musahar settlement
Janakpurdham, June 23: Irrespective of the passage of eight years since the declaration of open defecation free (ODF) country, the open defecation is still rife in Dhanusha district, especially in Musahar Dalit settlement.
It indicates the investment in hygiene and sanitation campaigns went in vain.
Most of the households from Musahar settlement of Pachaharwa in Shahidnagar Munincipality-5 have no toilet, thereby defecating in open spaces.
It has been customary for Urmila Sada to go to nearby open spaces for nature’s call, as she has no sanitation facility at her home. “It is shameful to squat on fields in the early morning and evening. Even the owners of fields shout at us. It has been tremendous difficulty for women folks,” she shared the plight.
Only three out of over 100 houses have toilets. Most of the people therefore are bound to escape public sight, visiting bamboo thickets, bushes and agricultural fields.
It is sheer contradiction that the ward was declared open defecation free (ODF) eight years back. But the toilet facility is scare here, causing utmost challenges to sanitation.
There are some 370 people in the settlement, according to a local Shovendra Sada. Everyone- senior, women and children- is compelled to respond to bowel’s movement, reaching the fields.
Another local Param Devi Sada said some families even do not have land to construct toilets owing to financial constraints, while some families were still expecting government assistance to build toilets.
Those hardest hit by the lack of toilet are women because they are for forced to flee to the fields after the men folks are asleep in the night or early morning. “In addition to the shame if they were getting sighted by anyone, fear of snakes and poisonous insects equally grips women when they are to move away to fields for release,” she shared, adding that rainy season causes utter inconvenience with inundation everywhere.
Most of the people in this settlement are landless one- neither land nor space for toilet. It has left people in gross shame. It has posed question to their dignity and safety too, according to local Ram Dayal Sada.
Central secretary of Harwacharwa (Bonded Labour) Rights Forum, Ram Dayal, informed that open defecation has caused health problems like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid. “Mostly affected by lack of sanitation are children and senior citizens,” he added.
What is worth remembering is that Nepal was declared the first ODF country in south Asia in 2075BS. But the scarcity of toilet, an essential health and sanitation facility, especially in the settlements of poor, Dalit and landless people, has questioned both the investments made so far in this sector and government policies, another local Kamalesh Yadav from Shahidnagar argued.
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05- Man dies in lightning
Surunga (Jhapa), June 23: A person died in a lightning occurred at Gaurigunj in the district this morning.
Bal Bahadur Shrestha, 30, originally hailing from Amchowk-9 of Bhojpur, died after a thunder bolt hit him at Sayapatri village of Gaurigunj Rural Municipality-3
Shrestha was hit by the thunder bolt while he was preparing a field for cultivation. He had been staying in rent at a home belonging to Chandra Maya Shrestha, according to Anjan Awale, information officer at the District Police Office, Jhapa.
Shrestha had died on the spot due to lightning.
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06- ‘Committed-4’ project launched in Karnali Province focusing disaster resilience
Karnali, June 23: A project focused on disaster resilience, ‘Committed-4’, has been launched in Karnali and three other provinces.
The project stresses community resilience in the wake of increasing adversities posed by landslides and earthquake.
The initiative was launched following the completion of ‘Committed -3’ project under the People In Need (PIN). Information on it was shared at a press conference organized by the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers on Monday.
Karnali Province coordinator for PIN project, Ujjwal Adhikari, informed that the undertaking was introduced with a joint partnership of the European Union, the PIN, the Self-Reliance Service Centre, the Save the Children International and the Scott Wilson Nepal.
Even the lessons learnt and challenges faced during previous phase of the project were shared on the occasion. Phase-3 was accomplished with the budget of Rs 305 million. The project was in effect in various 10 local levels from among Bagmati, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces from 2024 to 2026.
The work procedure for Committed-4 has been endorsed.
Project manager Shalik Ram Ghimire made a presentation on project’s area, objectives, plan and resources, disaster adaptation fund and implementation framework.
The undertaking is enforced in Kedarsyu and Thalara Rural Municipalities of Bajhang from Sudurpaschim Province, Barekot Rural Municipality and Nalgadh Municipality of Jajarkot district from Karnali Province, Sarumarani and Mandavi Rural Municipalities of Lumbini Province. Rs 158 million has been allocated for the enforcement of project activities.
Officiating chief secretary at Karnali Province government, Bipin Acharya, informed that the continuation of project would focus on disaster preparedness, response, relief, rescue and rehabilitation drives. It also helps in making effective the documentation of data on disaster affected people, their management and disaster responses.
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07- Dhangadhi Sub-metropolis prepares legal foundation for protecting customary practices
Godavari (Kailali), June 23: The Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City has unanimously endorsed two bills aimed at preserving and promoting the Bhalmansha customary practice of the Tharu community-2083 BS and another bill designed to protect and develop the Padhana and Bhalbhansa customs of the Ranatharu community-2083 BS.
The 15th Municipal Council of the local government concluded on Sunday, unanimously endorsed the documents aiming to recognize, promote and archive the customary practices of the Tharu and Ranatharu communities.
With this development, a legal foundation has been established at the local level for the institutionalization of these customs, according to Deputy Mayor Kandakala Rana.
The Bhalbhansa and Padhana customs are being practiced as significant traditional institutions for fostering collective organisation, social harmony, justice delivery, development works, cultural conservation, and for the functioning of society.
The bills are expected to support the implementation of the State’s responsibilities to protect and promote the cultural rights, indigenous knowledge, skills, practices and institutional structures of the indigenous communities as guaranteed by the constitution.
The local government believes that the enactment of the new legal instruments will help preserve the cultural heritage of these communities and integrate their traditional social institutions into local governance and development processes.
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08- Stipend handed over to students losing parents to human-wildlife conflict
Kathmandu, June 23: Scholarships were given away to students from families affected by human–wildlife conflict who lost parents due to wild animal attacks.
Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment, Geeta Chaudhary, handed over scholarships of Rs 10,000 each to students from the affected families at a programme held here today at the National Parks Office.
The stipend has been provided to students from grades 1 to 12 who lost their parents due to attacks by tigers, bears, rhinos, and elephants at different times.
The minister’s secretariat has stated that out of the nine students receiving the scholarship amount, four have continued it this year as well.
The children who got the scholarship amount are from the disadvantaged and affected families in the areas of Paupandav, Baghauda, Raiwa, Budhirapti, Meghauli, Kerunga, Ayodhyapuri Buffer Zone Consumer Committee and Mrigkunja Buffer Zone Community Forest Consumer Committee near the protected area.
The National Park has brought this programme in collaboration with the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) targeting very poor families who have been contributing to conservation amid high risks of wildlife at the local level.
While distributing the scholarships, Minister Chaudhary expressed her belief that financial support would provide additional help in the education of children from families affected by wildlife attacks and mostly those from the economically disadvantaged community.
On the occasion, Minister Chaudhary mentioned that the government is sensitive to the distress experienced by residents of the buffer zone areas and is continuously striving to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the long term, and ensuring proper relief and compensation for those affected.
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09- RSP’s First General Convention: Number of delegates is 3,849
Chitwan, June 23: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has picked 3,849 representatives for the party’s First General Convention.
According to Bhuvan KC, the head of the Central Election Commission, the number of representatives was determined after investigating the complaints regarding the published list of representatives.
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10- RSP’s First General Convention: Closed session to start from 2pm today
Chitwan, June 23: The closed session of the first national convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is set to start today at 2:00 pm.
RSP has announced that the session scheduled to start at 8:30 on Monday morning has been delayed by a day due to technical reasons.
RSP Chitwan president Er Minimadhav Khanal said the closed session will start after distributing ID cards to the representatives. The distribution of ID cards for the convention started a while ago.
It is said that the closed session had to be postponed as the work of registering the list of convention delegates received from the provinces and printing convention delegate cards took longer. The closed session will be conducted according to the original schedule after the card distribution.
According to RSP General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, at the start of the closed-door session there will be a discussion on the report presented by Ramakanta Rimal from the Disciplinary Commission.
As per the schedule, the financial report presented by treasurer Lima Adhikari will be discussed in a closed session.
Similarly, the party’s joint-general secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya will present the amendment proposal on the party statute, general secretary Burlakoti will present the organisational report, and vice-chair Dr Swarnim Wagle will present the party’s financial and political proposals separately.
RSP has stated that during the closed session, there will be a discussion on the political report presented by party president Rabi Lamichhane after the mentioned proposals submitted by party officials are passed.
The closed session of the convention is being held at the Bharatpur Chamber’s exhibition centre. The general convention was inaugurated on Sunday afternoon at the Guesthouse grounds in Bharatpur.
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11- Doctors in Nepal see better career prospects overseas than within own country
Kathmandu, June 23: The number of medical doctors obtaining a ‘Good Standing Certificate’ from the Nepal Medical Council has surpassed a number of those acquiring the council license so far this year as in 2025. This indicates a significant trend of doctors seeking career opportunities aboard.
It is believed that such a medical work force preferred going overseas in search of ‘better’ and ‘more lucrative career perspectives’ there.
Annually around 2,000 doctors obtain the license from the Council while an equal number of doctors acquired the ‘Good Standing Certificate’. It is said the Good Standing Certificate is generally required to explore career or academic opportunities outside the country.
In 2025, a total of 2,390 doctors obtained this certificate, while in contrary, the Council issued 2,122 licenses same year. This year, the number of good standing certificates was issued to more 268 than the number of license holders.
According to Council’s Good Standing Certificate Verification Chief, Pradeep Rijal, since 2020, a total of 13,140 doctors received the license while the number of Good Standing Certificate stands at 11,068.
Council’s acting registrar Dr Dipendra Pandey said since the past 10 years, the number of doctors going aboard has increased and lucrative payment, perks and facilities are among those pull factors for this trend.
According to him, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, India, Canada, and Germany are among the preferred destinations for doctors.
In Nepal, opportunities at the medical officer- level are limited. They prefer to study the Masters’ degree aboard and explore jobs in hospitals there.
According to the Council data, since 2020, a total of 2995 doctors have gone to the USA followed by 2,637 to the United Kingdom, 2,241 to the Maldives, 848 to Australia, 720 to the UAE, 148 to Canada and 92 to German. Similarly, 918 went to neighbouring India as well. According to the Council, overall, Nepali doctors have migrated to 23 countries in pursuit of better career opportunities.
In 2020, the number of ‘Good Standing Certificate’ stood at 869 followed by 1,327 in 2021, 1954 in 2022, 2,318 in 2023 and 2210 in 2024, showing a steadily increasing graph.
Good Standing Certificate is required for both employment and higher studies abroad, said Acting Registrar Pandey, however in case of Nepal, most doctors obtain the certificate primarily for employment than for than further studies.
The number of the NMC license issued in 2020 was 2,131, 1,716 in 2021, 2,085 in 2022, 2,692 in 2023, 2,394 in 2024.
Limited facilities and career opportunities in Nepal are considered major push factors encouraging doctors to seek opportunities abroad.
It is said limited facilities in Nepal is the pushing factor doctors. So far, the NMC issued 39486 licenses.
The number of Good Standing Certificates issued has shown a steadily increasing trend: 869 in 2020, 1,327 in 2021, 1,954 in 2022, 2,318 in 2023, and 2,210 in 2024.
So far, the Nepal Medical Council has issued a total of 39,486 medical licenses.
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12- Initiative to enhance cooperation between Spanish investors and Nepal’s private sector
Kathmandu, June 23: The “Nepal–Spain Business Forum 2026” held in Madrid today emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation between Spanish investors and businesspersons and Nepal’s government and private sector.
Organized by the Embassy of Nepal in Madrid, the forum aimed to bridge the gap between Spanish investors and entrepreneurs and Nepal’s public and private sectors to promote trade and investment cooperation. The event brought together public officials and members of the business communities of both countries.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy, Purak Adhikari, welcomed the participants and said the forum was organized to further strengthen Nepal–Spain commercial relations and promote collaboration in sectors with high potential. He also introduced Nepal’s industries as generational enterprises operating on ethically sourced materials and indigenous technologies.
Acting Executive Director of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre of Nepal, Navin Raj Sharma, presented statistics on Nepal–Spain textile trade and highlighted opportunities for Nepali textile products in the Spanish market. He also showcased a range of Nepali textile and garment products with strong potential among Spanish consumers.
President of the Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal (FEEN), Govinda Ghimire, and FEEN Vice President Deva Nanda Sarawagi presented the history and composition of Nepal–Spain trade. They highlighted the competitive advantages of Nepali textile and jewellery products made from premium natural fibres such as Chyangra wool, Himalayan sheep wool, hemp and nettle. They also noted the growing demand for Nepali handmade silver jewellery, prayer beads and traditional ornaments in niche international markets.
President of the Garment Association of Nepal, Pashupati Dev Pandey, said Nepal’s garment sector has witnessed notable growth in recent years due to legal and policy reforms. He stressed the importance of continued cooperation between the business communities of both countries.
Luis Rodriguez, Deputy Director of International Relations at the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, introduced the chamber’s activities and highlighted the dynamism of Spain’s jewellery and fashion industries. He noted that Spanish consumers are increasingly receptive to unique international products and expressed confidence that stronger business-to-business partnerships would further enhance Nepal–Spain commercial relations.
According to the Embassy of Nepal in Madrid, the event concluded with a question-and-answer session and a networking session attended by representatives of Spanish textile and jewellery companies, investment agencies, government officials and members of the Spanish media.
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13- Paddy plantation picks up pace in Banke after water supply from Sikta Irrigation Project
Janaki (Banke), June 23: Despite the monsoon arriving nearly a week late, farmers in Banke district are not deterred from paddy plantation, thanks to the water supply provided through the Sikta Irrigation Project.
Farmers now have access to an uninterrupted water supply through the project’s canal system, giving a significant boost to paddy plantation ahead of the official National Paddy Day observed on Asar 15 of Nepali month.
Local farmers are awash with happiness after the Project began supplying water to the Nawalpur area of Raptisonari Rural Municipality-3 from last Sunday.
They rolled up their sleeves and started paddy plantation from Monday. Chandra Bahadur Thapa took the lead and became the first farmer to plant paddy saplings in the area.
Thapa shared that paddy has already been planted on around 5 kattha and 14 dhur of land in the locality.
Expressing his happiness, Thapa chimed in, “There is no longer any concern about farmland remaining barren after the Sikta Project started supplying water.
We now have an opportunity to plant paddy earlier than in previous years. We are expecting bumper yields as plantation will be carried out on time this year.”
Farmers say the irrigation facility has significantly reduced their dependence on monsoon rains for farming.
According to the Project, irrigation facilities have so far been extended to around 22,000 hectares of land in Banke district.
Once construction of the Duduwa Branch Canal is completed, irrigation coverage is expected to expand to between 30,000 and 32,000 hectares.
At present, water is being supplied from the headworks through the eastern and western main canals, said Project engineer Bikash Bista.
Water is being distributed through the 317-metre-long dam structure, he added.
While water is being supplied to branch canals in Fattepur and Rajkulo (Royal Canal) in the eastern command area, irrigation water is also being delivered to Siddhaniya, Akkalgharwa, Gohawa, Pidari, Parsenipur and Guruwagaun, among other branch canals, he informed.
According to him, around 16,000 hectares of land are expected to receive irrigation facilities once the Duduwa Branch Canal is completed.
“If work on the Project continues at the current pace, we will be able to provide irrigation facilities to around 43,000 hectares of land within the next three years,” he said.
Initiated in the fiscal year 2062/63 BS, the Project is scheduled for completion by fiscal year 2089/90 BS. As per the revised master plan, the updated project cost stands at Rs 52.64 billion. The Project aims to provide reliable irrigation facilities to 43,675 hectares of land in Banke district.
The Project is expected to benefit around 400,000 people from nearly 17,000 households.
Engineer Bista expressed confidence that, with paddy plantation beginning earlier than usual and progressing enthusiastically\impressively, plantation activities in areas served by the Project will likely be completed by the end of Asar (mid-July).
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