Author: space4knews

Mahalaxmi Municipality in Dhankuta has decided to conduct classes on Sundays starting from 15 Baisakh, disregarding the federal government’s decision to declare two days of public holiday. Meanwhile, Pakhribas Municipality commenced its student enrollment campaign from 4 Baisakh and will start regular classes from 15 Baisakh. The federal government had previously announced on 22 Chaitra that the academic session 2083 would begin enrollment from 15 Baisakh, with classes starting from 21 Baisakh, and two weekly holidays would be observed.

Mahalaxmi Municipality has chosen to initiate the new academic session from 15 Baisakh and is operating classes on Sundays, contrary to the federal government’s plan for two weekly holidays. The municipality stated that this adjustment was made to better organize the academic calendar. Dhruvaraj Rai, the chief of Mahalaxmi Municipality, has requested schools to start the enrollment campaign from 7 Baisakh and to commence regular teaching from 15 Baisakh.

In Pakhribas Municipality, the student enrollment campaign began on 4 Baisakh, with regular classes scheduled to start from 15 Baisakh. According to Gyan Bahadur Gurung, chief of Pakhribas Municipality, this decision was made following recommendations from a joint meeting involving the Municipality’s Education Committee, School Management Committees, and headmasters. Although the federal government directed that classes begin only from 21 Baisakh, the municipality chose to start earlier to avoid compromising the quality of education and to ensure sufficient instructional days.

Nepal Life Insurance has announced a plan to offer up to a 100 percent waiver on late fees to reactivate overdue insurance policies in celebration of its 25th anniversary. This initiative, effective from Baishakh 7 to Jestha 5, aims to strengthen the financial security of policyholders. The company noted this is the first time it has introduced such a substantial waiver. Currently, Nepal Life holds about 30 percent of the market share.

Kathmandu, Baishakh 8 – On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, Nepal Life Insurance has unveiled a special discount plan on late fees to revive dormant insurance policies. In light of the current economic challenges causing delays in policy renewals, the company has introduced an easy renewal payment mechanism to provide financial protection to policyholders reactivating their policies.

This scheme, effective from Baishakh 7 and continuing until Jestha 5, allows up to a 100 percent waiver on late payment charges when overdue policies are reactivated under the 2082/83 renewal program. According to the company, “This is the first time such a significant special discount has been introduced on the silver jubilee occasion.” It added, “The 30-day facility is available to all policyholders with overdue policies.” Nepal Life, being the country’s leading life insurance company, currently commands approximately 30 percent of the market share.

In the past 24 hours, traffic police in Kathmandu Valley have taken action against 3,501 drivers for various traffic violations. Among those penalized, 77 were caught driving under the influence of intoxicants, 158 for running red lights, and 89 for speeding. Nareshraj Suvedi, spokesperson for the Valley Traffic Police Office, reported that these actions generated a total revenue of NPR 2,515,501.

As of this morning, the breakdown of offenses includes 77 for intoxicated driving, 69 for being in unfit condition, 158 for red light violations, 89 for speeding, 172 for improper lane usage, 57 for keeping vehicle doors open while in motion, 77 for unauthorized use of horns, 55 for driving on slopes while picking up passengers, and 2,747 for other violations. Deputy Superintendent of Police and spokesperson Nareshraj Suvedi said, “A total of 3,501 drivers were penalized over the last 24 hours for various breaches of traffic rules, resulting in a collected revenue of NPR 2,515,501.”

Directed by Tulsi Ghimire, the film ‘Pahad’ highlights the current situation in the country and inspires young people to return home. Dinesh DC, Chairman of the Film Development Board, praised the film for clearly portraying the overall conditions of the nation and its commendable message. The movie addresses issues such as unemployment, depopulated hills, and water scarcity, with audience feedback encouraging the entire team.
At the special screening event held Monday evening in Kathmandu, celebrities noted how the film reveals the broader challenges facing the country. Musician Shambhujit Baskota emphasized the national importance of the film’s message, stating, “The hills are becoming empty. There are no jobs, and lush green mountains are turning barren. The message the film raises must be taken seriously by the nation. It motivates youth to return home and work collectively to solve these problems. The film is excellently made.”
Dinesh DC recalled that Tulsi Ghimire’s previous films combined entertainment with profound messages and said, “Tulsi Dai’s contribution through this film is commendable. Alongside the acting, it effectively presents the overall state of the country. Though the story is set in the hills, it paints a picture of the nation. This film inspires young people to return to their country, villages, and hills.” Director Tulsi Ghimire, actors Bipin Karki, Ravindrasingh Baniya, Renunath Yogi, Panchami Ghimire, and others shared insights about the audience’s response to the film.
Returning to directing after nine years, Ghimire expressed great enthusiasm about the viewers’ reactions. He said, “The message we wanted to convey through the film has been well understood by the audience. Many have felt it to be their own story. The message I aimed to deliver has been successfully depicted. The viewers have left the theaters satisfied.” The film vividly presents contemporary issues such as unemployment, depopulated hills, and water scarcity.
Actor Karki commented, “The audience’s response has motivated the team. This film depicts a genuine story rooted in Nepali soil. I am optimistic that the number of viewers will increase in the future. Those who have watched the film will surely recommend it to others as well.” Actor Baniya expressed pride in working with director Ghimire. The film also stars Madan Krishna Shrestha, Uma Giri, and Arun Kshetri. It portrays the socio-economic problems arising from youth migration that has left the hill regions depopulated.
Director Ghimire also introduced Madan Krishna Shrestha, who previously worked on ‘Balidan,’ and cinematographers Shiva Shrestha and Sunil Thapa, known for their work on ‘Chino.’ The cinematography is handled by Pramod Pradhan. Produced under the banner of Bhagyratna Films Pvt. Ltd., this film marks the acting debut of Tulsi Ghimire’s youngest daughter Panchami, while his eldest daughter Bhavana took charge of production design.

April 20, Dhangadhi – An 18-year-old youth, Ujwal Sayar, attending a wedding ceremony in Kanchanpur was fatally stabbed with a sharp weapon. The incident occurred at Punarbash Municipality-5, Bhanubasti, according to official reports from the police.

Police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hem Bahadur Shahi, stated that the stabbing took place around 1:30 a.m. during a dispute at the wedding event. Ujwal sustained injuries to his chest from the sharp weapon.

He was immediately taken to Maya Metro Hospital in Dhangadhi for medical treatment, but unfortunately died during treatment, DSP Shahi confirmed.

Authorities have arrested two individuals suspected to be involved in the incident and have launched an investigation. The identities of the suspects have not been disclosed.

In Udayapur’s Belka Municipality-3, Satpatre, a bus carrying a wedding procession collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the death of 27-year-old Roman Basnet. The bus, registration number Province 1–002 Kha 0158, was returning from Manibas in Chaudandigadhi Municipality towards Belka when it struck Basnet, who was riding the motorcycle with registration Province 1–02–045 Pa 8446, last night. Police confirmed that Basnet died at the scene due to the impact.

In another incident from Udayapur, two people died this morning in a fire at Beltar Shanti Chowk, Chaudandigadhi Municipality-7.

In Nawalpur’s Bulingtar Rural Municipality, villages like Arkhal and Deurali have electricity poles and wires installed, but power distribution has yet to begin. Shivanarayan Goshli, head of Nepal Electricity Authority’s Kawasoti Distribution Center, attributed the delays to negligence by the contractor, Unicron Construction. Under the Gandaki Provincial Government’s Ujyalo Gandaki Province program, remaining infrastructure is set to be completed soon, with plans to energize these villages shortly, he stated. (April 21, Triveni)

Although electrical poles and transmission lines have reached the hilly areas of Nawalpur, electricity has not been supplied yet. Various villages within Bulingtar Rural Municipality—including Arkhal and Deurali—are yet to receive power from the national transmission line. Ward Chairperson Min Bahadur Ale reported that despite the completion of electricity infrastructure such as wires and poles in Arkhal-4 over a year ago, villagers still have no electricity. Residents of Deurali have also paid meter installation fees long ago but remain without power.

While Nepal Electricity Authority operates a substation at Bojha Pokhari, villages located 7 to 8 kilometers away still live in darkness. Ward Chairperson Ale explained that some villages rely on small-scale hydropower. Although Arkhal receives electricity from such hydropower, it doesn’t meet their full consumption needs. “The small hydropower runs only at night; during the day we have no option but to watch the unused poles and lines from the central grid,” he remarked.

The lack of electricity also hampers public services provided by the ward office. “The office uses solar power during the day, but it’s ineffective without sunlight. Most services now depend on electricity, so residents are being turned away. This problem would be resolved once electricity arrives,” said Chairperson Ale. For events like weddings or religious ceremonies during the day, prior notice is needed to activate the small hydropower. However, it can only support minimal lighting and cannot power the use of many electrical devices, he added.

According to Shivanarayan Goshli, the delay stems from contractor negligence as the company did not complete work on time. Unicron Construction, responsible for building the electricity distribution infrastructure, failed to finish the job within the stipulated schedule, preventing power distribution in the area. Work in this region commenced during the 2019/20 fiscal year under the Gandaki Provincial Government’s “Ujyalo Gandaki Province” project. Goshli emphasized that the contractor is being continuously urged to expedite the remaining work, and once completed, electricity will be supplied to the villages soon. Power will be extended from Deurali, Arkhal, Singchang to Kokhetar on the Kaligandaki corridor, he stated. “We are pressuring the completion of electricity infrastructure and expect distribution to begin shortly,” he concluded.

The new government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party has initiated intense debate regarding the issue of student politics within educational institutions and its justification. This is not a new topic; questions have previously been raised during different administrations. The absence of long-delayed elections for the Free Student Union (FSU) and accusations that student organizations and leaders focus less on educational reforms and more on controversial activities have fueled scrutiny.

Since Prime Minister Balen Shah took office, and the RSP government moved forward with dismantling the structure of student organizations in academic institutions, opposition parties and the three major student groups have voiced their dissent. This matter is highlighted as Item 86 out of 100 points in the government’s governance reform agenda, which states: “To eliminate partisan interference in education, address the problem of ignoring the true voice of students, and resolve the deterioration in educational quality, remove the structures of party-affiliated student organizations from schools and universities within 60 days and develop student councils or voice-of-student mechanisms within 90 days.”

The government has been proactive in implementing this policy. On March 20, Education, Science, and Technology Minister Sasmit Pokharel held a meeting with the Chairman of the University Grants Commission and Vice Chancellors of universities. Following reports that the University Coordination Committee decided to remove student organization structures, student leaders and political party representatives protested. It was also reported that Prime Minister Shah conveyed similar directives during a discussion with Vice Chancellors on Monday. According to his office, Prime Minister Shah emphasized that there should be no politics under any pretext within educational institutions and that there are no legal obstacles to removing party-affiliated student organization structures. However, Professor Dr. Dhaneshwar Nepal, Vice Chancellor of Nepal Sanskrit University, expressed concern about threats and attacks he faced after attempting to remove student organizations’ structures. The Prime Minister instructed that any security issues arising from eliminating such political structures must be immediately reported to the relevant ministry or secretariat.

The government has declared that “no political party’s flag, influence, or organization will be allowed in hallowed spaces such as hospitals, campuses, and schools,” and advised that if individuals want to engage in politics, they must separate themselves entirely from professional responsibilities and commit fully to politics. Furthermore, the government decided not to provide student organizations with office spaces, rooms, or land for operations. However, the Nepal Student Union (NSU), affiliated with the Nepali Congress, claims there is no legal or policy framework nor existing practice to formally allocate office premises to student groups. Some leaders acknowledge that they currently control their offices. NSU central committee member Ashish Devkota commented, “While universities may have outdated practices such as renting space or displaying boards, their removal is acceptable, but attempts to weaken student politics are misguided.”

The government’s unclear communication about its plans has fueled perceptions that it intends to ban student organizations or politics altogether and dissolve the FSU’s structure. Although the name might change, the federation’s fundamental nature is expected to remain intact. Are fellow students and teachers also troubled by student political activities? Former Vice Chancellor of Mid-Western University, Nand Bahadur Singh, opines that even if councils are formed, a common platform for students will persist. He stated that political parties had erred in spreading their student wings within educational institutions after the 1990 political changes. “Students can hold political beliefs and engage in external politics, but ideological party-based groups inside academic institutions adversely affect educational quality; students should speak for educational reform rather than act as party leaders,” Singh said.

Student leaders are often accused of focusing more on political interests than educational reforms and complain about lack of support in this regard. Singh was appointed Vice Chancellor during KP Oli’s tenure as Prime Minister. “I was appointed after openly competing among three candidates. I maintained that students may hold political views but should not be allowed to damage university standards as party agents. I tried to implement this during the premierships of Oli, Prachanda, and Deuba but was unsuccessful,” he explained.

Previously, student organizations and leaders frequently disrupted academic schedules by halting classes, closing offices, and attacking university officials or professors, adversely impacting exams and studies and affecting their fellow students. Students often stage demonstrations demanding timely publication of exam results. According to former Vice Chancellor Singh, over the past fifteen years, millions of students have gone abroad to study about 60 different subjects in over 70 countries. “Due to severe politicization, declining education quality, and delayed exam results, the trend of students going abroad is increasing,” he noted. “Because party politics is not controlled in educational institutions, student organizations cannot even be established in private campuses affiliated with parties such as Congress, UML, and Maoists.”

Admitting their flaws, student leaders like NSU’s Ashish Devkota acknowledge that questions have been raised about their role due to student organizations’ activities. He cited that only 50 percent of students voted in the last FSU election, underscoring the failure to represent all students. “Student organizations espouse party politics and face extreme distortions and discrepancies, which we must accept, but ending student politics is not a solution,” he said. “Removing partisan interference and making student politics more organized, transparent, and accountable is essential to focus on educational reform and students’ welfare.”

Former Vice Chancellor Singh shared that student groups often went beyond their jurisdiction, exerting pressure on appointing professors, staff, and campus heads. “I resisted such influences. No corruption charges were filed against me, but 132 cases were filed against me,” he revealed. Nevertheless, Devkota expressed skepticism about the government’s intentions. He believes the government seeks not only to weaken student organizations but also to undermine the FSU itself. “Yes, parties have directly interfered; student organizations have been involved in corruption; education has been compromised by collusion,” he said. “But by replacing the FSU with councils, the government is trying to strengthen its own RSP grip and cripple other parties. This is a government failure and a misguided move.”