- Saturday, 9 May 2026
Kathmandu, May 9: President Ramchandra Paudel has said the younger generation should take benefit from knowledge and skills of senior citizens.
During his address to the Senior Citizens International Conference organised by the Manmohan Memorial Pratishthan (Foundation) here today, the President was of the view that new generation could adopt good practices and experiences of senior citizens through curriculum development or interactions.
Likewise, the senior citizens who are physically capable could be engaged in production according to their abilities. There should be a mandatory provision to involve senior citizens in policy deliberations at the national level as well as in local-level affairs, the President said.
He urged the government and all concerned authorities to introduce and implement practical plans with a long-term vision for the recognition of senior citizens and utilization of their skills and knowledge.
“Nepal is gradually becoming home to an ageing population,” the Head of the State said, adding that youths and working-age population face numerous challenges in pursuing their employment careers of their choice within the country. In such a situation, the effective and productive management of the senior citizens could be practiced in a way that could be an example for other nations as well.
Access to hygienic food, clothing, and healthcare services when necessary are the basic rights of the senior citizens, the President said. They should be provided with as many opportunities as possible to interact with the community and stay within the family.
“The heartbreaking stories of senior citizens due to growing urbanization, foreign migration of youth generations, family intolerance and conflict and other reasons are overwhelming, he said.
On the occasion, the President remembered Manmohan Adhikari, the first elected Prime Minister representing the leftist politics in the whole of South Asia, as a leader with simplicity, who was respected well beyond Nepal.
As he said, pioneer of Nepal’s democratic movement, BP Koirala, along with Manmohan Adhikari and other leaders, had significantly participated in India’s independence movement.
Despite ideological differences between the Congress and Communist parties, Manmohan Adhikari was such a leader with liberal thoughts who believed that collaboration between two forces was essential for restoring multi-party democracy in the country by abolishing the autocratic Panchayat system.
The President also recalled the decision to provide senior citizens with an old-age allowance during the government under the leadership of Adhikari in 2051 BS.
—
12- Air of new hope inside Kharipati temporary shelter: Squatters hope stable life ahead
Kathmandu, May 9: It has been a week since the Nepali Electricity Authority (NEA)’s Training Centre in Kharipati of Bhaktapur has been used as a temporary holding centre for the people evacuated from unplanned squatters settlements from Balkhu, Sankhamul and other areas in Kathmandu.
The centre presently houses a total of 192 people from 89 families evacuated from the Bagamati River banks.
Man Bahadur Rai, 84, had been residing in the Balkhu-based squatters’ settlement since 2044 BS, nearly 40 years before be brought here. Rai now resides in the centre along with his spouse. Another Gopal Tamang, 72, arrived here in the centre alone. But he says now he developed a family-like bond with Rai.
Their daily routine in the centre begins with tea and breakfast followed by a stroll around the ground within the centre premises. They have found ample time to interact and chitchat with each other.
As they said, their stay and facilities available in the centre are satisfactory; but they continue to hope and wait for a safe and dignified resettlement. Tamang said he has no complains for temporary government-arranged food and accommodation facilities meant for them. “But we are desperate for our sustainable settlement.”
in the open space of the Centre, four children of Khusbu Khatun were seen playing. For Khatun, the collective stay is not inconvenient so far. “Instead we have got an opportunity to create a bond and emotional connections among all. The food and accommodation facilities are fine.”
However, she remains concerned about the education and future of her children and the dignified resettlement of the family and others in the shelter.
She hopes that the government will ensure the education of her children and others like hers is not interrupted. Prem Bahadur Humagain, 56, was a driver by profession. After an accident, he was no longer in the condition to work He thanked the government for managing the food and shelter, but he wants the government to identify genuine ones and work toward guaranteeing employment opportunities and permanent resettlement of them. Since arriving at the centre, some residents have been unable to continue their work.
A team of lawmakers lately visited the shelter to assess the condition of the residents and the management of the facility. The visit was facilitated by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
The lawmakers interacted with the residents and gathered information about their needs and living conditions. President of Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee, Samiksha Baskota responded that she found management in the Kharipati shelter was better than expected.
The shelter has managed facilities such as toilets, open spaces, sanitation, healthcare services and ambulance services. More coordination is required for the children’s education, it is stressed.
Lawmaker Yagyamani Neupane also said that the management of squatters in the shelter is relatively more systematic. “The stay seems convenient, and now the State should focus on their resettlement, education, health and employment, he added.
Manamaya Bishwakarma said, “Though there are no complaints regarding food and accommodation arrangements.” However, she stressed that expectant mothers, new mothers, senior citizens and children require additional support and care.
The center’s management is being primarily handled by the Urban Development Ministry, while the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens and the Ministry of Water Supply are providing necessary logistics and the Office of the Prime Minister is coordinating the overall management process.
Office’s under-secretary Prakriti Dhakal said the mental health counseling, other healthcare services and medicines distribution have been made available in the centre.
According to centre’s administration chief Bharat KC, multi-grade teaching has now begun at the center for 30 children. Preparations are underway to enroll them in nearby schools starting Sunday.
Jagriti Secondary School’s teacher Ramesh Mainali said teachers are ready to volunteer for the children. As he said, the school at present has the capacity to accommodate an additional 40 students, and it is ready to enroll them along with the transportation facilities.
Administration chief KC said they are concerned about the education of children and aware that their education is not affected. He added that they are working to send them to nearby schools as soon as possible.
—
14- Diamond Jubilee celebrated at the foothills of Mt Manaslu
Gorkha, May 9: The diamond Jubilee of the first ascent of the 8,163-meter-high Mt Manaslu Manaslu was observed here today. The world’s seventh highest mountain lies in Samagaun, Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1 of the district.
The Diamond Jubilee was celebrated under the auspices of Chumanubri Rural Municipality and co-organized by the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), Nepal Mountaineering Association, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and other organizations.
Inaugurating the function, Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey said that it is an important achievement in tourism promotion.
On the occasion, statues of Toshio Imanishi and Urgen Tshering Sherpa, the first to reach the summit of Mt Manaslu were unveiled. They reached atop Mt Manaslu on May 9, 1956. The son and grandson of Imanishi were felicitated on the occasion. In addition, the first climbers of Samagaun, Mingmar Tshiring Lama, Nangsyal Cheden and Diki Lama, were also honoured.
—
15- Clearance of imported goods from Rasuwa customs begins
Rasuwa, May 9: After the impasse over the imposition of MRP stickers on imported good was resolved customs inspection has started at Rasuwa Customs Office. The imported have committed to selling only after affixing the stickers in their warehouse.
Currently, the customs process has started regularly after the importers agreed to affix the MRP sticker before taking the goods for sale in the market, shared Tulsi Prasad Bhattarai, Chief Customs Officer of Rasuwa Customs Office.
He said that the Customs Office has implemented the system of mandatorily pasting MRP (maximum retail price) stickers on imported goods to protect the interests of consumers. After problems were seen in the immediate implementation of the system, the government had instructed the concerned agencies to facilitate it.
According to the security agencies, 73 cargo containers including 32 on the first day and 41 on the second day passed the inspection and were sent to their destinations.
Thakur Gautam, Information Officer at the Customs Office, said that more than 150 containers are currently inside the customs premises. He said that the inspection process has been expedited after the importer declared the quantity.
—
16- Transport Office Jumla collects revenue of 101.6 million in 9 months
Jumla, May 9: The Transport Management Services Office, Jumla collected revenue worth Rs 101.6 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.
The government had set a target of collecting Rs 200 million in revenue for the current fiscal year, according to Office Chief Rajendra Karki. It is highly likely for the Office to miss the revenue collection target this year.
Of the total collections, Rs 1.5 million was secured through the driving license issuance, Rs 0.43 million from charges related to vehicle registration books, Rs 5.7 million from vehicle tax, and Rs 1,577 from fines imposed for administrative offences.
In the given period, the Office issued a total of 620 driving licenses: 188 for motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, 38 for cars, jeeps and delivery vans, and 394 for duplicate and renewed driving licenses.
—
17- Government schedules week-long campaign for market governance from Monday
Kathmandu, May 9: The government is to launch a special campaign aimed at controlling market irregularities, artificial price rise and consumer fraud. According to the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies are jointly launching the “Price Transparency Week’, according to Dipa Dahal, press and research expert to Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
The drive is expected to be a milestone in preventing market-related unethical practices.
Dahal has urged the authorities concerned, civil societies and media workers to support the government campaign and warn against any irregularities found.
She added that the Home Ministry, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, the Office of Chief Minister in entire seven provinces and the local levels have been instructed for implementing the campaign.
The local levels shall call on goods and service providers inside the respective area to display a price list and monitor it. Likewise, the District Administration Office in the respective district will activate the market monitoring at the district level, will intensify by the publicity of the campaign and has been assigned to ensure the market monitoring.
The central and province market monitoring committee will evaluate the market, deploy a monitoring team and process with actions against the violations of the market norms and values.
The government is launching the campaign after complaints about the lack of uniformity in the prices of goods and services in the market. This has also led to increase in consumers being cheated as they are not aware of the real price.
This is also aimed at making traders and service providers accountable, to implement a mandatory price list system, and to ensure immediate action against the guilty by making the monitoring system efficient.
—
18- Rule-based system and traditions should be followed: President Paudel
Kathmandu, May 9: President Ramchandra Paudel has stressed the significance of abiding by the rule-based system and traditions.
Speaking at a programme organized by the Supreme Court (SC) today to celebrate Law Day, President Paudel said that law should be coercive for perpetrators, while providing hope, confidence and support for the innocent.
“Law Day serves as a reminder that law and order are not just tools but also remedies for good governance, peace, prosperity and dignity,” President Paudel added.
The President emphasized that the Constitution of Nepal lays the groundwork for a system rooted in democratic values, which guarantees the principles of a federal democratic republic, civil freedom, fundamental rights, human rights and an independent, impartial and efficient judiciary.
He also highlighted the need for new laws that resonate with the spirit of the Constitution of Nepal and opined for updating existing laws to ensure justice.
Paudel remarked that Law Day inspires positive thoughts, encouragement and motivation to all to uphold the rule of law and enhance the judiciary while maintaining judicial values.
Also speaking at the event, Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla urged the judicial fraternity to deliver justice without fear or influence. Expressing her longstanding commitment to justice, Malla stated that Law Day should be a moment to consider the honest implementation of the Constitution and adherence to the rule of law.
Present on the occasion were Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Speaker of the House of Representatives Dol Prasad Aryal, Chairman of the National Assembly Narayan Prasad Dahal, and the chiefs of constitutional bodies.
—
19- Bus reaches Dumling village in Darchula’s Vyas for the first time
Darchula, May 9: A bus has reached Dumling village at Vyas Rural Municipality-2 in Darchula district for the first time ever.
The bus reached the Dumling village from Tusarpani on Friday after the completion of 12 kilometres of road along the Tusarpani-Tinkar road section, which is being constructed by the Nepali Army.
The local residents were excited as the bus reached their village for the first time ever. With the beginning of vehicles along the route, the people in the remote area of the Vyas Rural Municipality have expected access to daily essentials and other services.
The Nepali Army is constructing the 79-km-long Tusarpani-Tinkar road section and it opened the track for 22.15 kms so far. Out of the 22.15 kms of road, vehicular movement was started on 12 kms road, and the tasks of road upgrade and construction in the remaining distance are ongoing, according to the Nepali Army.
The area of Vyas Rural Municipality along the Nepal-China border is very remote and the people there have to walk a long distance to get road access.
People there have expected improved livelihoods after the road expansion and the beginning of vehicular movement. Likewise, the Nepali Army has stated that the construction work for the road to Tinkar entry point has been expedited.
It is expected that the road would bring about positive impacts on economic, social, touristic and other activities in the area after the completion of the construction.
—
20- NC will extend support to govt. on issues of nationality, President Thapa says
Sudurpaschim, May 9: Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Kumar Thapa has said that his party would extend its support to the government on the issues of nationality.
At the Sudurpaschim Province-level programme of the party leaders and cadres in Dhangadhi today, Thapa said NC would fully back this government on the agendas of governance, economic reforms and national interests.
The NC has never taken a partisan view on nationality, he said, but it was not acceptable for his party to go beyond the fundamental issues of democracy.
Thapa viewed that moral validity was needed in addition to legal validity in a democracy. Likewise, President Thapa asked NC leaders and cadres to work for the strengthening of the party organization by quitting the defeated mentality.
NC Vice President Bishow Prakash Sharma, General Secretary Gururaj Ghimire, NC leader and chief minister of Sudur Paschim Province Kamal Bahadur Shah and other leaders also expressed their views at the event.
The NC leadership is consulting the people’s representatives elected from the NC in the province assembly and local levels in the two-day event.
—
21- Dhir Budha wins title of Jumla Rara Ultra Marathon
Jumla, May 9: Dhir Budha of Kanakasundari Rural Municipality-1 in Jumla district won the title of the Seventh Edition of Jumla-Rara Ultra Marathon Competition.
In the competition concluded on Saturday, Budha emerged the winner by finishing the 54 kilometres of distance from Jumla to Rara Lake in Mugu.
Chairman of organizer Karnali Sports Club Saroj Shahi said that Hom Bahadur Hamal and Gopal Tamang of Tribhuvan Army Club emerged runner-up and first runner-up.
Under the women’s category, Kalpana Budha of Patarashi Rural Municipality won the title while Sunsari Rokaya and Sandhya Budha secured second and third position, respectively.
According to Chairman Shahi, the winner will get Rs 100,000 while the first runner-up and second runner-up will get Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 in cash, respectively. The winners will be awarded the prize on Sunday.
Likewise, Basanta Budha emerged the winner in the 10 kms race competition and Nabin Pariyar and Raj Bhandari stood second and third, respectively.
Sapana Budha, Sasmita Bhandari and Gaukali Rawat became the winner, first runner-up and second runner-up in the 10 kms race under the women’s category.
Similarly, Nirvu Rana stood first, Naresh Rawat second and Namaraj Mahatara third in five kilometres race competition under the men’s category, while Kritina Budha, Yamuna Budha and Kushi Budhathoki Magar got the first, second and third prizes under the women’s category.
—
22- Chairman of Manjushree Cooperative held
Kathmandu, May 9: Chairman of Manjushree Savings and Credit Cooperative Limited Narayan Prasad Ghimire was held for his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of cooperative funds.
A team of police deployed from Police Circle in Bauddha in the Capital City held Ghimire on Friday following a complaint lodged at the Bagmati Province’s Ministry of Cooperative. The depositors had lodged complaints at the ministry for not getting their deposited money back from the cooperative.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Santosh Rokka confirmed that Chairman Ghimire was arrested, and further actions against him were initiated. The cooperative is yet to return Rs 150 million of around 150 depositors.
—
23- ‘People are seeking new thoughts, cultures’
Patan, May 9: The Parliamentary Party Deputy Leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Ganesh Parajuli said that people have sought new thoughts, cultures and working styles, not merely new faces.
He highlighted that citizens are seeking not only new political figures but also fresh concepts, cultural approaches and effective working styles.
Parajuli said so while addressing a training session organized by the party for its lawmakers in Lalitpur on Saturday.
On the occasion, the RSP parliamentary deputy leader stressed the importance of a new generation in politics characterized by energy, transparency, good governance, dedication and accountability.
Parajuli expressed confidence that the training would enhance the effectiveness of the upcoming parliamentary session, noting a shift in public assessment towards tangible actions rather than mere rhetoric.
Parajuli reiterated the RSP’s commitments to good governance, transparency, accountability, and result-oriented politics. Following the inaugural ceremony, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle conducted a training session for the RSP’s House of Representatives Members.
RSP leaders Kabindra Burlakoti and Bhupdev Shah also led separate sessions in the training event. The training programme is to continue with further sessions on Sunday as well, it is said.
—
24- PMO starts ‘Advice Collection Portal’ to get recommendations on budget formulation
Kathmandu, May 9: The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has introduced an ‘Advice Collection Portal’ to ensure direct public participation in policy and programmes, and budget formulation processes for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084 BS.
The digital platform was unveiled to collect feedback and suggestions from the public and incorporate people’s genuine needs and expectations to make governance more transparent and pro-people.
The government’s policy and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year are being released on coming Monday.
Nepali citizens at home and abroad, experts and policymakers could directly submit their suggestions to the government for budget making and development priorities, it is said.
According to Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s press and research expert Dipa Dahal, the move was taken as per the Prime Minister’s plan to welcome public aspirations and expertise.
Dahal stated that the portal reduces the gap between the citizens and the state, and establishes new trend for good governance.
The citizens could directly share their recommendations at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat by using this portal through the official website of the Office of the Council of Ministers.
—
25- Kohalpur Municipality to clear unregulated structures
Rastriya Samchar Samiti (RSS)
Banke, May 9: The Kohalpur Municipality in Banke has initiated efforts to remove structures that have been built on public and government land without prior permission.
The encroachment issue affects about 36 bighas of land, especially near the cricket ground, where 751 families currently live.
Mayor Purna Prasad Acharya shared that around 60 families who are genuinely landless have reached out to the municipality, and temporary housing has been arranged for them at a holding centre.
This group includes 416 unregulated dwellers, 172 landless Dalits and 163 landless squatters.
Mayor Acharya expressed concerns about fraudulent activities, such as the creation of fake documents and illegal land transactions, which are currently under investigation.
To tackle this issue, the municipality has started identifying legitimate landless squatters and Dalits who have encroached on public land. A records management committee has been set up to evaluate household conditions, their financial situations and the status of their land plots in other sites.
Last year, 751 landless residents and Dalits submitted forms, but only 153 landless Dalits and 141 landless squatters were confirmed as genuine landless.
—
26- 16 people injured in Nawalparasi bus accident
Nawalparasi, May 9: A passengers carrying bus turned turtle today in Bardaghat Municipality-4, Nawalparasi district along the East-West Highway, leaving 16 people injured.
The incident occurred around 7 pm when the bus (Na 7 Kha 5820), traveling from Pokhara to Mahendranagar, lost control and overturned on the road.
The injured individuals were rushed to the Chisapani Hospital Bardaghat. Most of the injured ones were reported limbs and head injuries, with some passengers in moderate condition.
The injured individuals are from various districts such as Kaski, Nawalparasi, Kailali and Tanahun, as well as a foreign national.
—
