Author: space4knews

May 21, Kathmandu – A comprehensive report prepared demanding the organization, regulation, and artist-friendly development of Nepal’s folk and Dohori music sector has been submitted to Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Ganesh Paudel.

Rita Thapa, Chairperson of the National Folk and Dohori Song Institute Nepal, formally handed over the report titled “Integrated Report on Nepali Folk and Dohori Music Sector–2079” to Minister Paudel.

The report highlights that the folk music sector not only represents Nepal’s cultural identity but is also rapidly growing into a multi-billion rupee economic sector.

According to the report, annual business worth billions of rupees occurs through nationwide Dohori evenings, fairs and festivals, digital platforms, and foreign programs.

It further notes that thousands of folk and Dohori artists, technicians, instrumentalists, managers, and workers are directly involved, with millions of families depending on this sector for their livelihoods.

However, the report expresses serious concern about the increasing distortions and irregularities within the folk music sector in recent times.

It points out that viral competitions on YouTube, TikTok, and other social media platforms have begun to erode the originality of folk songs, with an increase in double entendre words in Dohori lyrics and inappropriate stage performances becoming more common.

The report also highlights issues such as labor exploitation, low wages, lack of social security, and health care challenges faced by artists.

It recommends legally recognizing folk artists as “cultural workers,” providing health insurance, social security funds, and special health treatment facilities for them.

The report also calls for developing Dohori evenings not merely as entertainment venues but as cultural centers, creating clear protocols to ensure the safety of female and male artists, and implementing a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against workplace violence.

The report emphasizes that Nepali folk music can be promoted internationally as Nepal’s “soft power.”

It suggests promoting music tourism, homestays, preservation of traditional instruments, and international cultural exchanges to extend Nepal’s global identity.

Through this report, the Institute has urged the government to enact the “Nepali Folk Music Conservation and Artist Social Security Bill–2079.”

Additionally, the report requests the government to recognize the folk and Dohori music sector as a cultural industry and to formulate necessary policies and laws to regulate and dignify it.

May 21, Dhangadhi – A team en route to Saipal’s Ranisain Basecamp for tourism promotion retreated after being attacked with stones by an angry group amid a border dispute in Bajura district.

The team, led by Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Gopal Hamal, was proceeding towards Ranisain Basecamp in Saipal Himal under the “Our Far-West, We Showcase” campaign.

However, a group in Lampata, Himali Rural Municipality-3, blocked the Mayor’s team due to a border dispute between Bajura and Humla. After the group attacked by hurling stones, elected representatives, staff, and other stakeholders present for tourism promotion fled to save their lives.

Videos on social media show the team fleeing after around 300 locals from Kharpunath Rural Municipality-2, Thali, Humla, threw stones at the group.

Residents of Thali have been asserting their claim over the Lampata area, which has been the source of the dispute.

The situation escalated after the Far-Western Province government allocated NPR 4 million for the construction of a police outpost. The locals of Kharpunath were firmly opposed to building the police outpost under any circumstances. On learning about the Dhangadhi team’s planned visit, locals gathered in the area.

Severe Beating of Ward Member’s Family

Ward member Pema Gara Gurung of Himali Rural Municipality-3 had donated land for the temporary police outpost in Lampata. Subsequently, he and his family became targets in the eyes of Thali villagers of Humla.

Locals claim that Thali residents asserting their claim to Lampata attacked Gurung’s family, who were associated with the outpost plan.

Locals had gathered at the ward member’s house in Lampata on the border since May 16. On May 17, Gurung’s house was attacked due to his donation of land for the police outpost. Pema Gurung and his wife, Laxmi Gurung, were severely beaten inside their home.

Govind Bahadur Mall, Chairperson of Himali Rural Municipality, reported that the ward member’s family also suffered home seizure and looting alongside the assault.

In the same incident, the Chief Administrative Officer of Himali, Kul Bahadur Thapa, was also reportedly attacked. Communication blackouts have limited access to detailed information about the situation.

Mall added that the police administration’s failure to provide adequate information led to a second attack when the team facilitating the Mayor Hamal-led delegation to Saipal arrived.

“Before the team arrived, the ward member’s family had already been severely beaten and held under control by locals from Kharpunath. When we inquired with the district police, the response was that the incident had been resolved and was under control,” said Mall. “The team from Dhangadhi proceeded but found a different reality on arrival and barely escaped with their lives.”

According to him, it was only upon reaching Lampata that they learned of the near-fatal beating of the ward member’s family, who were freed from the control of the angry group only after the arrival of the Dhangadhi team.

Was the Attack Due to Flying a Drone?

The Bajura District Police Office stated that the attack happened when the Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan team flew a drone to capture video in Lampata, which triggered the dispute.

However, the beating of the ward member and his family occurred before the Dhangadhi tourism promotion team arrived. Chairperson Mall clarified that the attack was not due to the drone but due to the longstanding border dispute and occurred according to plan.

The delegation from Himali Rural Municipality, along with local officials and representatives, were traveling to Saipal’s Ranisain to organize a debate program. Tulsi Ram Rokaya, head of the District Coordination Committee, accompanied them.

Initially, it was the Himali Rural Municipality team, followed by the Dhangadhi team. The Dhangadhi team could not reach the incident site, but locals from Kharpunath attacked the Himali team and pushed them back to their location.

Police Did Not Provide Prior Warning

Mayor Gopal Hamal of Dhangadhi revealed that they had no prior information about the border dispute or the violent attack before arriving at Lampata.

He only learned about the near-fatal beating of the ward member and others upon reaching the foot of Lampata and then decided not to proceed further.

However, Hamal stated that after dispersing the group attacking the Himali Chairperson’s team, they managed to reach the place where the incident happened. “Had we known about the conflict between locals, we would not have proceeded. We were unaware of this,” he said. “Upon learning that the ward member had been attacked, we did not go up the hill. During the attack on the Himali Chairperson, he fled down. The angry group also destroyed a wooden bridge. After that, we retreated.” He emphasized that the attack was not due to flying a drone.

The Dhangadhi team, including the mayor, headed to Saipal Basecamp Ranisain on April 14 as part of the “Our Far-West, We Showcase” campaign. The District Chief Officer of Bajura was informed about the itinerary on April 12.

However, the security forces failed to inform those going to Ranisain about the ongoing incidents in Lampata, leading to the attack and mistreatment of the team.

As the Dhangadhi and Himali Rural Municipality teams returned after exercising restraint, no further incidents occurred.

After reaching Gumba in Himali Rural Municipality, Mayor Hamal contacted the District Chief Officer and Home Secretary to report the incident and requested immediate rescue for the injured. Subsequently, the government helicopter evacuated the critically injured ward member and others on May 17.

May 21, Kathmandu – Qatar Airways has been ordered to pay more than NPR 26 million in compensation to a Nepali woman injured by hot coffee served by the airline staff during an international flight.

The consumer court bench comprising Chief Judge Diwakar Bhatt and members Gehendra Raj Regmi and Anand Raj Pokhrel delivered the verdict in favor of Priti Thapa of Lalitpur on Thursday.

The court took into account the severity of the physical and psychological injuries she suffered and decided to award compensation based on two separate laws.

According to Homnath Kandel, the information officer of the consumer court, the court applied both an international treaty and domestic law as the basis.

“The court has ordered Qatar Airways to pay NPR 24,152,406 under the Montreal Convention and an additional NPR 2 million under the Consumer Protection Act,” he stated. “In total, the airline must pay NPR 26,192,406 in compensation.”

Although Priti initially sought USD 200,000 in damages, the compensation was determined by the court based on facts and legal provisions, Kandel explained.

The incident took place on July 10, 2023, when Priti was returning from Boston to Kathmandu via Qatar Airways. During the flight, crew members served her excessively hot coffee which spilled onto her abdomen, thighs, and sensitive areas, causing serious burns.

The complaint was filed in the consumer court on June 10, 2023.

Immediately upon landing at Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways took Priti for emergency treatment where she was diagnosed with second-degree burns. The pain and medical expenses resulting from these injuries prompted her to seek legal action.

Priti had purchased a round-trip ticket in May 2023 for the Kathmandu-Doha-Boston route. The court noted the airline’s negligence with respect to flight agreements and safety standards in issuing the compensation order.

However, the case is not yet fully resolved.

According to Officer Kandel, after the verdict is published, Qatar Airways must pay the compensation or may file an appeal within 30 days in the higher court if dissatisfied with the decision.

Kathmandu, Ashadh 35 – Nine-year-old Shishir Ashant remains restless in the burns treatment department at Kirtipur Hospital. His left hand is completely burned, and he suffers pain below his right knee.

Shishir, originally from Ghorahi, Dang, was playing with friends near a site where garbage was being burned when an accidental fire incident occurred on the evening of Baishakh 1.

His mother said, “He got burned after falling into fire near the garbage burning site while playing. His condition was serious initially, but there has been slight improvement now.” After treatment at Rapti Health Science Academy failed to heal his wounds, the family brought him to Kathmandu after a week.

Doctors have stated that due to lack of timely specialist treatment, infection spread and the recovery will take a long time.

Similarly, 24-year-old Renu Pariyar from Ganeshman Charnath Municipality-4, Dhanusha, continues to suffer. On Ashwin 27, 2079 BS, she was cooking when she fainted and was scalded by boiling water on her face and left hand, which led to amputation of her left hand.

Though initially treated at Janakpur Provincial Hospital, her condition worsened and she was transferred to Kirtipur Hospital. Treatment delays resulted in the necessity to amputate her hand.

Her treatment cost approximately NPR 900,000. Delays in treatment and financial hardship further complicated the situation.

The government has allocated a budget to establish burn treatment centers and expand services at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Narayani Hospital, Bir Hospital, Pokhara Health Science Academy, Bheri Hospital, Karnali Health Science Academy, and Seti Provincial Hospital. However, shortages in staff have impeded effective service delivery.

Due to financial constraints and limited hospital capacity, many patients have failed to receive adequate treatment and have faced fatal outcomes.

Kirtipur Hospital is a principal center for burn patients from across the country, but most patients come from districts outside Kathmandu, leading to delays in treatment.

The mortality rate for burn patients in Nepal remains high. In developing countries, shortages of specialists and necessary infrastructure contribute to increased deaths among burn victims.

The lack of water and saline solutions for primary treatment disrupts the healing process, adversely affecting vital organs and increasing complications.

According to Senior Plastic Surgeon Dr. Shankaram Rai of Kirtipur Hospital, many patients die en route to the hospital or during childbirth because they do not receive adequate initial care. Insufficient fluids impair blood circulation, raising mortality rates.

Dr. Rai explained, “A patient weighing 60 kilograms with a 50% burn needs at least 12 liters of fluid within the first 24 hours.” However, many patients do not receive that volume of fluids.

The lack of primary treatment causes many patients to die before receiving proper care or during delayed treatment.

Modern burn treatment centers require not only plastic surgeons but also infectious disease specialists, trained nursing staff, and sanitation workers. Yet, shortages of these professionals have obstructed service delivery.

Doctors have also pointed out that inadequate infection control has resulted in many patients dying from severe infections.

Nepal has very few plastic surgeons, most concentrated in Kathmandu. Efforts to train general surgeons in burn care continue, but shortage of skilled personnel remains unresolved.

Dr. Piyush Dahal noted that while some training programs have begun to address the weakness in primary treatment, comprehensive implementation remains limited. He also stated that the practice of referring patients immediately to tertiary hospitals post-initial treatment has complicated care further.

Specialists emphasize the need to sustainably operate such services at the provincial level and establish internationally recognized burn treatment centers.

Kirtipur Hospital began burn treatment services in 2014, and patient numbers have risen significantly. However, doctors report that existing infrastructure and staffing struggle to meet the increasing demand.

Due to the need to accommodate both burn and other patients within the same emergency ward in Kirtipur, the risk of infection has increased, worsening patient conditions.

Dr. Rai said that the lack of adequate physical infrastructure prevents isolating patients, raising the threat of infection spread.

Insufficient infrastructure, shortage of specialist staff, inadequate infection control coordination, and ineffective primary care contribute to persistently high mortality among burn patients. Although the government is working to improve the situation, significant challenges remain.