Keshab Poudel

DR. MAN BAHADUR KC Heart Mender

Nepal has drastically improved its health system including care and treatment for cardiac health. Although cardiac arrest is still a leading cause of death in Nepal, the mortality rate has gone down and there are institutions, technologies and medical experts to save people from cardiac arrests. Dr. Man Bahadur KC, son of a farmer, a resident of the remote village of Baglung district, has seen all this change through the lens of a patient, practicing doctor and manager

By Keshab Poudel Apr 18, 2022

CHINESE FM’S VISIT Hiking Diplomacy

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concludes his three days visit with a short hiking to Shivapuri

By Keshab Poudel Apr 12, 2022

ELECTIONS EXPENDITURE Questions Of Accountability

As the local elections are less than one and half months away, concerned stakeholders have started to ask about transparency in the expenditure of political parties

By Keshab Poudel Apr 11, 2022

Nepal Needs Concerted Efforts To Revive Tourism: Binayak Shah

Nepal’s tourism industry has been facing the most difficult time in its history due to the effect of Covid-19. However, the government is yet to come up with a recovery package. BINAYAK SHAH, the senior vice president of Hotel Association Nepal, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on the issues related to the state of tourism and the hotel industry in Nepal. Having been involved for over 30 years in the construction of the Nepali Pavilion in Expo, Shah also spoke on the ongoing Expo 200 Dubai, UAE and Nepal’s participation in it. Excerpts of the interview:

By Keshab Poudel Apr 10, 2022

DEUBA’S INDIA VISIT Warming Relations

Sharing same cultural, religious and geographical lines with common civilization, Nepal and India have unique factors on their bilateral relations. For centuries, these strong connections of mind and thought have helped to foster bilateral relations without a dispute. Making a last leg of visit to Benaras, a constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and worshiping Bishwonath before coming to the country of Pashupatinath, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit was able to restore heart to heart relations between the two countries

By Keshab Poudel Apr 08, 2022

CLEAN COOOKING Hazy Drive

Following the prices of petroleum products going up, affecting Nepal’s foreign currency reserves, debates to replace the LPG by electricity has intensified at official levels. With the surplus generation of electricity back home, Nepal can make differences. However, Alternative Energy Promotion Center, Nepal’s NGOs, INGOs and community based organizations have been working to promote clean cooking for long. In absence of proper information portal, the information has scattered. In collaboration with various international organizations and partnership with AEPC, Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) initiated the Global Launch of the Clean Cooking Explorer for Nepal recently. Bringing all information related to Clean Cooking in one portal, the Explorer helps to make informed decision

By Keshab Poudel Apr 08, 2022

Chinese Foreign Minister Yi’s Shivapuri Hiking

Chinese Foreign Minister Yi’s Hiking To Shivapuri

By Keshab Poudel Mar 31, 2022

Our Reports Show What Muslims Need: Ansari

Like all other 10 commissions, Muslim Commission has also presented three annual reports to President and the government has already tabled them to the House of Representatives. However, it is yet to be debated in the Committee of House of Representatives. Given such a situation, SAMIM MIYA ANSARI, chairperson, Muslim Commission, Nepal, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various issues regarding the role, accountability and effectiveness of the commission to raise the voices of minority Muslim community of Nepal. Excerpts:

By Keshab Poudel Mar 28, 2022

NEPAL-CHIAN RELATIONS: Bumpy Road

Resisting verbal and diplomatic pressure from China, Nepal ratified the US-backed MCC agreement. Both the neighbors are now back to diplomacy to bury differences

By Keshab Poudel Mar 26, 2022

EU SUPPORT TO PILACHHEN Reviving Tradition

Funded by the European Union and implemented by UN-Habitat Nepal in close collaboration with local government and local community, Pilachhen has shown how it is possible to revive tangible and intangible heritage sites such as Ponds, Patis and Dharas, the water spouts, helping the switch to green and sustainable settlements. Destroyed by the great earthquake of 2015, the ancient Newar settlement of Patan has now turned into a place where one can see heritage, tradition and livelihood thriving together. At a time when Kathmandu Valley’s traditional settlements are gradually disappearing, the support extended by European Union has revived the ancient treasure of Pilachhen. Spending over three hours, mingling, sharing and walking with local people and local leaders, Nona Deprez, the ambassador of the European Union, observed the activities completed under Parya Sampada Pilachhen Program

By Keshab Poudel Mar 25, 2022

TRISHULI 3 B HYDROPOWER PROJECT On High Gear

Despite facing frequent disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions, including lockdown and supply constraints due to border closure in Kerung, the 37-MW Upper Trishuli 3B Hydro Electricity Project (UT3BHEP) has made several breakthroughs recently. Thanks to the uninterrupted efforts of Mohan Gautam, Managing Director, Trishuli Jal Vidyut Company Ltd, the project has accelerated its construction pace. As the board of directors visited the site with MD Gautam, they saw the work going on in full swing. That means the project is on track towards its aim of generating electricity by September 2023

By Keshab Poudel Mar 24, 2022

This Visit Helps To Enhance Understanding The Role Of Parliamentarians: Veronique Riotton

Ms. Veronique Riotton, the President of the France-Nepal Friendship Group in the French National Assembly (the Lower House) since 2017, has recently paid a six-day visit to Nepal. She was accompanied by Mr. Nicolas Forissier and Ms.Graziella Melchior (both of them Vice Presidents). Ms. Riotton has specialized in human resource management and has been active in the field for the last 20 years. She works with associations operating in the fields of sustainable development, education, sport and social issues. In France, Ms. Riotton is a Member of Parliament from the Haute-Savoie department under the French President Emmanuel Macron’s political party, La République En Marche. On the 11th of March, Riotton agreed to an interview with Keshab Poudel and Fanny Jonckeau of New Spotlight Magazine at the French Embassy in Kathmandu to explain what took place during the meetings and the purpose of this trip. Excerpts

By Keshab Poudel Mar 24, 2022

MCC Ratification: Nepal Averted Diplomatic Crisis

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has changed the global order.

By Keshab Poudel Mar 05, 2022

MCC RATIFICATION Crisis Averted

With the personal initiative of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal’s parliament has finally passed the 500 million dollar MCC grant agreement amid an intense political polarization, protests and concerns of Nepal’s northern neighbor. Signed five years ago and tabled in the parliament three years ago, the MCC agreement has raised an intense dispute. Had not the agreement been ratified, Nepal would have lost its international credibility. Thanks to PM Deuba who has convinced his coalition partners and secured support from the main opposition party, Nepal has averted a major credibility crisis

By Keshab Poudel Mar 04, 2022

Government Has Bakradrishti On Madheshi Commission: Datta

At a time when there is a growing concern over the efficiency and effectiveness of constitutional commissions to address the issues under their jurisdiction, Chairperson of Madheshi Commission DR.VIJAY KUMAR DATTA has shown a way to make the commission effective and accountable to the people. Having completed his PhD in English and Masters in Maithili and English literature, Dr. Datta spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various issues. Excerpts of the interview taken at his office in Jwagal.

By Keshab Poudel Mar 04, 2022

DR. JAGADISH LAL BAIDYA A Surgeon’s Confessions

Recently released biography of Dr. Jagadish Lal Baidya is a book of life, struggle and institution making

By Keshab Poudel Feb 24, 2022

We Are Waiting To Go To Finance Committee: Paudel, Committee Will Invite Commissioners Soon: Dahal

At a time when there are questions over the role of Parliamentary committees to make constitutional commissions accountable to people, KRISHNA PRASAD DAHAL, Chairperson of Finance Committee and BALANANDA PAUDEL, chairperson of National Natural Resource and Fiscal Commission, spoke to spoke to Keshab Poudel. Excerpts

By Keshab Poudel Feb 21, 2022

JUDICIARY Impeachment Politics

Following the registration of an impeachment motion in the House of Representatives by members of four ruling political parties, chief justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana has been out for now with a new senior justice acting as the chief justice. With an announcement of CPN-UML to register another impeachment motion against four other senior judges including the acting chief justice, the politics of impeachment has created the most unstable and unpredictable situation in the judiciary. Some political leaders and individuals may have gained and some others demoralized in the process, Nepal’s judiciary has lost over 7 decades of recognition as an apolitical and stable institution