WI THOUT F EAR O R F A V O U R

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 175 | 10 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.6 C 14.5 C Thursday, August 12, 2021 | 28-04-2078 Dipayal Jomsom What new global climate After authorities report that paints a bleak failed to ramp up picture means for Nepal While poor nations should press rich countries to scale up antigen tests, kits aid, they should also try to be part of solution, experts say.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL But the latest findings of the are close to expiry KATHMANDU, AUG 11 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report has warned that On Monday, when the global temperatures are likely to rise Health Ministry in May planned 25,000 antigen tests a day, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, Change—the world’s leading authori- breaching the threshold set by the 2015 but numbers hover around 5,000. Experts say no one is ty on climate science—released its Paris Agreement, and inviting fury of report, it clearly spelt out a harsher extreme weather and even more seri- paying attention to testing, first step in fighting the virus. future for humanity. ous and frequent fires, droughts, The report, which is said to be the floods and cyclones that are expected ARJUN POUDEL Disease Control Division (EDCD) most comprehensive climate report to wreak havoc on humanity. KATHMANDU, AUG 11 issued a circular asking all concerned ever released, has explicitly warned According to the findings, prepared agencies to perform the maximum that climate change is likely to cause by hundreds of scientists from around In the last week of May, the govern- tests possible on the basis of “first global temperature to increase by the world, the global temperature ment sent around 1.7 million antigen expiry first out”. more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, has already increased by about 1.1 test kits to different parts of the coun- “This is yet another bungling by unleashing more serious and frequent degrees Celsius since industrialisa- try, with a view to ramping up tests in our authorities. Had they stuck to extreme weather across the world. tion (1850-1900). light of the rising number of cases in their plan of conducting around The United Nations Secretary- Rising temperatures, which could the rural areas. The Ministry of 25,000 antigen tests every day, the General Antonio Guterres described lead to more devastation for people Health said it had plans to perform situation would have been different,” the new report as a ‘code red for around the world, will also ring simi- over 25,000 antigen tests a day. But like said Dr GD Thakur, former director at humanity’. “The alarm bells are deaf- lar warning bells for countries like any other government plan, it also the Epidemiology and Disease Control ening and the evidence is irrefutable: Nepal, considered one of the most seems to have remained in drawers. Division. Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil vulnerable in the world to climate The number of tests per day hovers “Testing is the first of the three Ts, fuel burning and deforestation are change impacts. around just 5,000. the other two being tracing and treat- choking our planet and putting bil- According to climate change Hundreds of thousands of antigen ing, considered the most effective lions of people at immediate risk,” experts, the latest IPCC report is one test kits are now close to their expiry, measure to contain the virus spread.” said Guterres. “This report must more scientific document, providing just as the number of infections in After Nepal escaped somewhat sound a death knell for coal and fossil more evidence of effects of climate communities continues to rise. On unscathed from the first wave of the fuels, before they destroy our planet.” change and a harsher future, also Monday, the Epidemiology and pandemic, which began in January The latest report, which is the first strongly backing up previous under- last year, complacency set in part of the Sixth Assessment Report, standings on climate change. among the authorities. But when Climate Change 2021: The Physical “The report has clearly stated that the second wave hit the country Science Basis, has highlighted that the global temperatures will surpass in April third week, Nepal’s earth’s temperature could rise by the target of 1.5 degrees Celsius or health system cracked under the more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above even 2 degrees Celsius in about two strain as cases surged. pre-industrial levels within the next decades. The report came out when Experts stressed ramping up two decades. North America witnessed its worst tests—both polymerase chain In 2015, countries agreed to keep forest fire season and Europe was dev- reaction and antigen. global warming to below 2 degrees astated by unprecedented floods along Until the last week of May, Celsius, ideally limit it to 1.5 degrees with China, Turkey and even Nepal,” labs performing polymerase Celsius, by the end of this century as said Raju Pandit Chhetri, an expert on Post Photo: Deepak KC chain reaction (PCR) tests were part of the landmark Paris Agreement climate change. A child sits on the way under a pair of umbrellas as an elderly farmer passes by at Khokana on running in full capacity. by amping up required efforts. >> Continued on page 2 Wednesday. Farmers in Lalitpur are busy weeding paddies. >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 | 02 National

Briefing What new global climate ...

>> Continued from page 1 livelihoods and public and private proper- Two dead in tractor crash “As the earth’s temperature has already ties at risk. SALYAN: Two persons died and three risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius, the world and A 2019 study, which assessed the world’s others sustained serious injuries in a countries like Nepal are heading towards 78 mountain glacier-based water systems tractor accident in Kalimati Rural more extreme climate events in the for the first time and ranked their signifi- Municipality-4, Salyan on Tuesday. future.” cance to the downstream communities and The vehicle, which was heading to The report said it is unequivocal that their vulnerabilities in terms of various human influence has warmed the atmos- factors, including future changes, conclud- Putalibazaar from Chambutara, phere, ocean and land as widespread and ed that over 1.9 billion people could face swerved off the road and plunged rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, water shortage in future. around 60 metres below. The injured cryosphere and biosphere have occurred. “Rapid melting of glaciers can impact are receiving treatment in Tulsipur. Scientists have pointed out that the water availability and livelihoods, causing scale of recent changes across the climate significant effects on communities that Eight people diagnosed with system are unprecedented over many cen- are dependent on mountains. There can be turies to many thousands of years. The scenarios where we will either have too scrub typhus in Darchula report further highlighted that human-in- much or too little water, disturbing food DARCHULA: Eight fever patients have duced climate change is already affecting security in both cases,” said Chhetri. been diagnosed with scrub typhus in many weather and climate extremes in “Distortion in monsoon rainfall pat- Darchula in the last few weeks. every region across the globe. tern—extreme rainfall in a short period of Dambar Dutta Bhatta, the informa- The report has mentioned that evidence time—can also cause similar cases of too tion officer at Darchula District of observed changes in extremes such as much water or too little water, which can Hospital, said six persons from heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, lead to flooding or inundation or pro- Mahakali Municipality and one each and tropical cyclones, and, in particular, longed droughts. Such conditions can from Byas and Malikarjun rural their attribution to human influence, has impact not only life and livelihood, which municipalities were found infected strengthened since the Fifth Assessment are visible, but also public health, local with scrub typhus in the district. Report (AR5) which was released in 2014. culture, and biodiversity, which are not The impacts of climate change, as point- often taken into account.” ed out by the latest report, are also visible Although changing climate will have a Doctor held on rape charge in countries like Nepal where tempera- cumulative effect, the country is ill-pre- tures have gone up and there have been pared, says Chhetri. in Dhankuta changes in rainfall patterns in recent “In recent years, we have borne the DHANKUTA: Police arrested a doctor on years just while the country has also expe- wrath of many extreme weather events. a rape charge from Dhankuta Ward rienced extreme weather events such as Unfortunately, Nepal is not prepared to No. 7 on Monday. According to DSP massive floods, forest fires, droughts and deal with any weather extremes. We do not Dipak Kumar Raya, a doctor from extreme-rainfall-triggered landslides. have localised climatic and scientific Subhash Medical, a private hospital “As the temperature, the major factor in information,” said Chhetri. in Dhankuta, was arrested on the triggering global warming, is likely to “Whatever we have is not localised and charge of raping a 53-year-old patient post Photo: Elite Joshi continue to increase, incidents of extreme not available in the language understood at the hospital. A boy selling cotton candy sits outside a temple at Mangalbazar, Lalitpur on Wednesday. events will obviously go up around the by the general public. What we have seen world,” said Chhetri, also the executive in Melamchi, for example, can happen director of Prakriti Resources Centre, an anywhere in the near future. Floods are no NGO working for sustainable development longer a concern for Tarai only, as they are and environmental justice. occurring in high hills and mountains “The report also talks about climate now. There will be more concentrated rain- change impacts in South Asia where it is falls in smaller areas.” Fewer doctors coming to Baglung after projected that extreme precipitation and Although scientists have warned that river floods across the region will intensi- global surface temperature will continue fy. There will also be recurring floods and to increase until at least the mid-century, landslides in the eastern Himalayan they have also mentioned that deep reduc- region, which is already experiencing a tions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other it was removed from remote districts list high snowmelt pattern.” greenhouse gas emissions occurring in A landmark ICIMOD study on the Hindu the coming decades can delay the global The chances of getting a scholarship for MD are high if a doctor has served at hospitals in remote districts. Kush Himalaya region, which covers 3,500 warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius and 2 kilometres across Afghanistan, degrees Celsius during the 21st century. PRAKASH BARAL Chain Reaction lab are also Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Climate experts say for that to happen, BAGLUNG, AUG 11 affected by the shortage of human Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan, has pro- all countries, including Nepal, which have resources. jected an alarming future for mountain- negligible emissions contribution to glob- The government removed Baglung “We want to provide quality ous countries like Nepal. The study con- al warming, need to take concerted actions from the list of ‘remote districts’ health services to the local people. cludes that even the most ambitious Paris to heavily cut down the emissions last year, which in effect has created But the government policy has Agreement goal—of limiting global warm- “Countries like Nepal, which looks to a vacuum in the health sector. made Baglung undesirable for new ing to 1.5 degrees Celsius—by the end of international support, also need to raise Health institutions in the district doctors. The authorities should cre- the century would lead to a temperature the issue of reducing emissions on inter- are facing a shortage of human ate an environment for health work- spike by 2.1 degrees Celsius and the melt- national platforms. Besides lobbying for resources since there are no appli- ers to stay in the district and work,” ing of one-third of the region’s glaciers. international support as less-developed cants for medical officers. said Magar. The 2019 ICIMOD study also warned countries, countries like Nepal should also “MBBS doctors prefer going to According to him, the hospital that a two-degree temperature rise could be part of the solution, which is reducing remote districts because the chanc- has currently outsourced some melt half of glaciers in Hindu Kush emissions on their level,” said Dhakal. es of getting a scholarship for MD health workers to collect swabs for Himalaya region. “Developed countries should take the are high if one has served at hospi- PCR testing. “The new IPCC report has sent out a lead in this matter, but developing coun- tals in remote districts,” said Dr The hospital has three ICU beds clear message that global warming is hap- tries which are also significant contribu- Shailendra Pokharel, the medical and 25 isolation beds. Currently, 18 pening at a faster rate. But if countries tors should be equally responsible, rather superintendent at the Dhaulagiri Covid-19 patients are receiving come up with stronger targets and efforts, than simply transferring the responsibili- Hospital. “But since Baglung is no treatment at the hospital. “The ICU the temperature rise could still be con- ties on historical emitters as all of us are longer listed as a remote district, and isolation services are also trolled,” said Manjeet Dhakal, another cli- on the same planet. Although work on loss the perks of being posted here are affected due to the shortage of mate change expert. and damage and adaptation should be not the same.” POST Photo: PRAKASH BARAL staff,” said Pokharel. “The ongoing narrative that Nepal is done, there have to be emission cuts ulti- Health services have been hugely Health services at Dhaulagiri Hospital have been hugely affected due to staff shortage. The ones affected the most by impacted by climate change and has suf- mately, without which nothing much can affected at the 50-bed hospital, a the staff shortage are the local fered loss and the country needs financial happen.” major health institution under the cially for the post of medical would be available at Dhaulagiri residents. support would not be enough now. We As a climate-vulnerable country and a Gandaki provincial government, in officers, since last year because Hospital at any given time but now Bahadur Pariyar of Amalachaur won’t be able to deal with the impacts of member of least developed nations, Nepal, the absence of human resources. medical officers are not keen on there are none. in Baglung Municipality-12 visited climate change if emissions levels are not together with countries in similar situa- The hospital, one of the Covid-19 being transferred to Baglung. The hospital has closed its Out the hospital last week to seek treat- reduced.” tions, should take initiatives advocating specific hospitals in the district, has Dr Dhundiraj Paudel worked as a Patient Department (OPD) to pre- ment for kidney ailments, but there Dhakal, who also advises the board of reduction in emission levels without the posts of six medical officers and medical officer in Baglung last year. vent the spread of coronavirus were no doctors to attend to him. Green Climate Fund that supports the which the real wound of climate change 12 specialist doctors. The hospital He demanded a scholarship quota among patients. Paramedics have “Patients haven’t been getting efforts of developing countries to respond would not be treated, said Dhakal. has asked for two more doctors from the government for his MD been mobilised to look after patients quality health services at the hospi- to the challenges of climate change, said Despite being climate-vulnerable, cli- given the pandemic. since he had been working in a since the specialist doctors are tal lately. I was able to get treated climate change is a “survival issue” now. mate change has not gathered adequate The health institution currently remote district. But he was stretched thin. only after contacting the medical “Heavy precipitation is projected to political attention in the country, experts has 10 specialist doctors but not a denied a scholarship since Baglung “I frequented the ministry time superintendent,” said Pariyar. increase in the future. In a country like like Chhetri argue. single medical officer. was no longer categorised as a and again demanding human Madhu Maya Adhikari, the Nepal which is heavily dependent on “We are so bogged down in the national The posts of anesthesiologist and remote district. resources, but the problem has been provincial Minister for Health hydropower projects for energy needs and political agenda that climate change is radiologist, essential in surgery, are “Then I decided to move to Parbat, left unaddressed,” said Pokharel. and Population, said the provincial where agriculture depends on rainfall, hardly a political issue here. How often do also vacant and the hospital’s labo- which is enlisted as a remote dis- “Some medical officers who came to government is aware of the changes in rainfall pattern can have devas- we see our parliamentarians raising the ratory is short-staffed. The hospital trict. Working in Parbat will help Baglung left for Parbat and Myagdi problems faced by government tating impacts,” said Dhakal. “Warning of issue of climate change? Every time a dis- has appointed some health workers me pursue my MD,” said Paudel, to score points for scholarships”. health institutions in Baglung and accelerated glacier melts and rapid loss of aster strikes, they are rather focused on on a contract basis since the govern- who is currently employed with The hospital has no alternative that the government is making ice are already there. Melting of ice is also rescue and relief issues, but not on the ment failed to deploy human Parbat District Hospital. but to refer critically ill patients to efforts to manage required human linked to the rise in sea level which root cause of the disasters,” said Chhetri. resources, according to Dr Of the 11 districts in Gandaki Pokhara. resources. impacts small-island nations. Studies have “Hydropower projects have been built or Shailendra Pokharel, the medical Province, Mustang, Manang, Parbat, KB Rana Magar, chairman of the “The provincial government has projected that ice melt contributes 42 per- are in the process but climatic conditions superintendent at the hospital. Myagdi and Lamjung are enlisted as hospital management committee, been working sincerely to address cent to the sea level rise.” are hardly considered. We need to embed According to Pokharel, applica- remote districts. informed that various health servic- the human resource shortage in Melting of glaciers due to rising temper- climatic and scientific knowledge in the tions for jobs at the hospital have According to Pokharel, in the es like dialysis, Intensive Care Unit, various health institutions in the atures can also lead to flooding in down- development planning process and start trickled down to a minimum, espe- past, as many as 15 medical officers isolation facility and Polymerase province,” she said. stream communities, keeping their lives, from a new perspective.” After authorities failed to ramp up antigen tests, kits are close to expiry

>> Continued from page 1 dition of anonymity because he feared nificance of testing.” The number of PCR tests performed daily retribution. “The Ministry of Finance is also Though the vaccination drive has resumed was somewhere around 20,000. But the govern- responsible, which did not allow the Health after doses started to arrive, it has still been ment lacked antigen test kits. Ministry to hire around 1,000 staffers for sluggish for the lack of enough vaccines. In response to the second Covid-19 wave in contact tracing.” So far, 4,570,553 people (around 15.23 percent) Nepal, several countries came forward to The failure to ramp up testing despite received their first dose and 2,888,360 extend support with various medical supplies, enough kits delivered by various countries people (around 9.62 percent) have been fully including antigen test kits. also indicates how authorities in Nepal vaccinated. But despite the plan, testing could not be often fail to utilise the assistance extended as a On Wednesday, 2,616 people tested positive in increased. goodwill. 10,907 polymerase chain reaction tests and an Over the past few weeks, the number of daily Officials say the problems started after the additional 865 people tested positive in 5,749 PCR tests has been around 10,000, and these erstwhile government decided not to provide antigen tests. In the last 24 hours, 30 deaths tests are being done mostly by healthy people free testing. The reduction in number of tests, have been recorded from Covid-19. As of flying abroad, as they need to produce a Covid- including antigen tests, massively affected con- Wednesday, 10,180 people have died of the coro- 19 negative certificate. Antigen tests, however, tact tracing, a key component in measuring navirus since the start of the pandemic. were meant to be performed mostly in the and checking the spread. Even swab samples The Health Ministry said that there are rural areas so that the infection rate of the collected for contact tracing were discarded 38,033 active cases throughout the country. coronavirus could be assessed and measures without performing tests on them. Experts say while continuing the taken accordingly. Antigen tests were meant People too stopped seeking tests as they had vaccination drive, authorities must not ignore for those with symptoms and those who came to pay for them. testing—both polymerase chain reaction and in close contact with the infected. But when the Health Ministry in May rolled antigen. On an average, if the numbers of the last 15 out more than a million antigen test kits, the Doctors say it is difficult to assess the real days provided by the Health Ministry are any- Epidemiology and Disease Control Division number of the infected as there is not enough thing to go by, just a little over 4,000 antigen proposed that at least 1,000 staff be hired testing. According to them, multiple factors— tests are being performed daily across the throughout the country to make contact trac- like hospital occupancy, hospitalisation rate, country. ing effective. number of serious patients and number of The daily PCR test numbers provided by the Officials say the government did not approve people on ventilator support—must be taken government also include those infected the budget for the purpose. POST Photo: Elite Joshi into consideration so that preventive measures who want to check if the results come out neg- An official, who retired recently, said the ego While continuing the vaccination drive, authorities must not ignore testing, experts say. can be adopted accordingly. ative, thereby creating confusion about the of some senior officials with little knowledge In places, hospital occupancy has already new cases. of the health sector and the pandemic too chief specialist at the Health Ministry, says the on testing since the pandemic started, as it is reached 80 percent, in an indication that the As far as antigen tests are concerned, offi- affected the country’s response to the virus. “It cases were bound to rise as authorities stopped the only way to know the status of infections in number of serious cases is rising. cials say the Health Ministry was to blame for was very difficult to make them understand testing, tracing and treating. communities. “Without knowing the caseload, we cannot the fewer number of tests. why testing, tracing and treating are the key “Multiple and contradictory messages were “Our focus shifted to vaccination. There is make any concrete plan to check the virus,” “Antigen testing could not be increased after elements in the fight against the virus,” said disseminated by different officials creating no doubt that vaccination is extremely impor- said Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of Clinical a decision to stop free testing. The Health the official who also did not wish to be named confusion among the health workers in the tant and efforts must be made to vaccinate as Research Unit at Sukraraj Tropical and Ministry is to blame for the failure to increase to avoid being dragged into controversy after field assigned to perform tests,” Shrestha told many people at the earliest,” said Dr Prabhat Infectious Disease Hospital. the number of antigen tests in rural areas,” retirement. the Post. Adhikari, an infectious disease and critical “No one should forget that the fight against said an official at the EDCD who spoke on con- Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, who served as Public health experts say they have insisted care expert. “But we should not ignore the sig- the virus starts from testing. Testing is key.”

C M Y K 03 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 National MCC ratification uncertain as ruling Another setback for alliance struggles to make a position Oli as Pokhrel resigns Since MCC has become an issue of public concern, there should be a consensus, Speaker Sapkota says. as chief minister of BINOD GHIMIRE KATHMANDU, AUG 11 Lumbini Province After three weeks of homework, a task force of the ruling alliance finalised the government’s common minimum Maoists’ Kul Prasad KC proposed as new chief minister. programme last week. It was unveiled on Monday after an agreement of the ANIL GIRI to discuss a vote of confidence against cross-party top leadership. KATHMANDU, AUG 11 him, Pokhrel on Wednesday met with The document, which according to provincial chief Sherchan and put in cross-party leaders, guides the func- The resignation on Wednesday by his papers. tioning of the government has 11 Shankar Pokhrel as the chief minister Sherchan has given until Thursday points with multiple sub-points under of Lumbini Province comes as anoth- 3:00pm to form the new government. each of them. er setback for CPN-UML Chairman With the new political development, It has pointed out short- and long- and former prime minister KP the opposition parties have geared up term actions to be taken by the incum- Sharma Oli. for the formation of the new govern- bent Sher Bahadur Deuba govern- There was a time when Oli led a ment. The opposition alliance of ment. The lengthy programme, howev- government with close to a two-thirds Nepali Congress, Maoist Centre and er, mentions nothing about the majority and his party, Nepal Janata Samajbadi Party has already Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Communist Party (NCP), led six out of proposed Kul Prasad KC for the next Nepal Compact, generally called the seven provincial governments—bar- chief minister. Also it has been learnt MCC. The compact, under which ring Province 2. that the Maoist Centre and the Nepali Nepal is supposed to receive a $500 Oli’s downfall began after he dis- Congress have reached a gentleman’s million grant from the United States, solved the House of Representatives agreement to lead the provincial gov- has been awaiting parliamentary rati- on December 20, 2020 for the first time. ernment in rotation of eight months fication. A bill related to it has been The Supreme Court reinstated the each. pending at the House of House in February. “We have reached an agreement in Representatives for over two years. But Oli did not relent in his way of principle to lead the government on a The common minimum programme Post file Photo leading the government and his party rotational basis. We haven’t signed a failed to accommodate the MCC The Nepali Congress wants the MCC to be endorsed but the CPN (Maoist Centre) is against its parliamentary ratification in its present form. arbitrarily and he once again dis- formal written agreement yet,” said because there was no unanimity on solved the lower house on May 21. The Birendra Prasad Kanodia, the parlia- the issue among the constituents of the House, referring to Deuba’s 165 and parliament. several strings attached with the com- House dissolution move by Oli—for mentary party leader of Nepali the ruling alliance. votes that he won on July 18 during He is also a member of the business pact which are against national inter- the second time in six months—was Congress in the provincial assembly. “We have said all the decisions his vote of confidence. “Are you going advisory committee of the Parliament ests. again challenged in the Supreme The new developments, however, do regarding the foreign policy will be to ratify or reject the MCC... or remain which determines businesses for the The US Embassy in Nepal has Court. not surprise some UML leaders. taken on the basis of national consen- silent?” House. However, without the consent been saying the grant under Pokhrel’s resignation is not a new sus. The compact also falls under for- The Nepal government signed an from the Maoist Centre, the business the MCC is purely for the development issue, said Chhabilal Bishwakarma, a eign policy,” Rajendra Shrestha, a agreement on the compact with the US of tabling the MCC in the House for of the projects of Nepal’s priority Pokhrel had faced a UML Standing Committee member Janata Samajbadi Party leader and a government when Deuba was prime voting is not possible. and there are no hidden interests and member of Parliament from member of the task force, told the minister in 2017. At Wednesday’s meeting of the behind it. similar political Rupandehi. Post. “The parties in the ruling alli- Then joint-secretary Baikuntha National Assembly, Ram Narayan The grant under the MCC will be “What has happened in Butwal ance don’t have a common position Aryal and Jonathan Nash, acting Bidari, who was nominated to used for the construction of a 400KV crisis but was later today is a reflection of the politics in on it.” chief executive officer of the MCC, in the House under the Maoist Centre transmission line and upgrading the Kathmandu. The political alliance While the Nepali Congress wants September 2017 signed the agreement quota, said the constitution doesn’t major highways of the country. re-elected as chief that was formed and created at the the compact to be endorsed, the CPN in the presence of then minister for allow the compact to be tabled in the Speaker Agni Sapkota also has hint- minister on May 2. centre has unseated Pokhrel. But this (Maoist Centre) has stood against its finance Gyanendra Bahadur Karki House. ed that the compact will not be is not a result of the ongoing power parliamentary ratification in its pres- and US Deputy Secretary of State “Oli has wrongly been accusing the endorsed anytime soon. tussle in our party. Our party organi- ent form. It wants a revision in the John J Sullivan in Washington. The Speaker of not moving the MCC com- Speaking with journalists on sation and parliamentary party are compact document before the endorse- US government agreed to provide pact for endorsement,” said Bidari. Wednesday, Sapkota said he wants a Again, the Constitutional Bench of very much united and intact in ment. $500 million in grants while Nepal “Let me make it clear, it is not the national consensus on the issue before the Supreme Court on July 12 ruled Lumbini Province. Pokhrel’s resigna- CPN-UML chair and former prime would put in $130 million for the pro- subject (issue) to be tabled and decid- it is tabled for endorsement. against Oli’s move and even ordered the tion will not make a difference in the minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday ject that prioritises energy and road- ed by the House as per our constitu- “MCC has become an issue of pub- appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba of party,” said Bishwakarma. made a scathing attack on the ruling ways. This is the largest grant Nepal tion.” lic concern. Therefore, there should Nepali Congress as prime minister, as Earlier too, Pokhrel had faced a alliance and the Deuba government is to receive. The Maoist Centre and some lead- be a consensus on the issue,” he said. demanded by the petitioners which similar political crisis but was later asking about their position on the Karki, who witnessed the signing, is ers from the UML have been arguing “Though the Speaker has a final say in included lawmakers from the Madhav re-elected as chief minister on May 2. MCC. now a minister for law, justice and that as the MCC is a part of the US deciding the agenda for the House, I Nepal faction of Oli’s party. After Pokhrel’s resignation, the “You have 165 votes. What does this parliamentary affairs in the Deuba government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy it expect a common position, at least A few days after reinstating the UML is leading governments in strong group of parliamentarians government, with the responsibility cannot be ratified by Parliament. They among the constituents of the ruling House, the Supreme Court in early Province 1 and Bagmati Province. say?” Oli questioned while addressing to liaison between the government have also been claiming that there are alliance, on the issue.” March invalidated the three-year-long With KC all set to become the chief unity between Oli’s CPN-UML and the minister of Lumbini, the Maoist Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre will lead the government in Centre), which formed the Nepal three provinces. It already rules Communist Party (NCP). Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. The split in the party seemed inevi- “What has happened in Lumbini is table long before the court’s ruling, likely to spread to Province 1 and with Oli and the other chair Pushpa Bagmati too,” political analyst Kamal Dahal, now of the Maoist Shreekrishna Aniruddh Gautam said. Centre, not seeing eye to eye for most “Oli’s ouster itself was a serious blow part of the period they remained to Pokharel’s political career and under the same party. Wednesday’s resignation has sealed Pokhrel’s resignation is another set- his fate and further weakened Oli.” back for Oli, analysts and political Together with Oli, his close confi- observers say. dantes are bearing the brunt too, ana- “Pokhrel had no option left than to lysts say. put in his papers as the opposition Earlier on May 9, Oli’s trusted lieu- alliance had already secured a tenant, Prithvi Subba Gurung had majority,” said Krishna Pokhrel, a resigned as chief minister of Gandaki professor. Province after a vote of no-confidence After falling into the minority, was tabled against him by Nepali Pokhrel resigned as the chief minister Congress, Janata Samajbadi Party of Lumbini Province. His resignation and CPN (Maoist Centre). was immediately approved by the “After Gandaki, UML lost another province’s chief Amik Sherchan. province. Though Gurung resigned The opposition alliance has secured without any controversy, Pokhrel is a majority in the provincial parlia- known for introducing malpractice ment against Pokhrel. The 87-member and misconduct in provincial poli- Lumbini provincial assembly has now tics,” said Pokhrel, the political 80 members with the opposition con- analyst. trolling 42 seats and the UML 38. Post Photo: Deepak kc Ahead of the provincial session (Ghanashyam Gautam and Amrita A woman selling roasted corn on the roadside waits for customers at Bhaisepati, Lalitpur on Wednesday. where opposition parties were all set Anmol contributed reporting) Government announces electricity tariff waiver as Ghising takes charge Lower-income households and farmers to benefit from the tariff waiver. Energy minister says Nepal Electricity Authority and Department of Irrigation will bear the cost of tariff waiver.

PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA scheme, according to the authority. ward adjustment of tariff for house- KATHMANDU, AUG 11 It means, around 42 percent of the holds that use electric ovens. authority’s customers will not be In the last fiscal year 2020-21, the The government announced a tariff required to pay any tariff except Rs30 country imported liquefied petroleum waiver for lower-income groups and as service charge. As of mid-April, the gas worth Rs36.15 billion, according to irrigation facilities on the same day power utility body has over five mil- the Department of Customs. The gov- Kul Man Ghising returned to the lion customers. ernment has been giving subsidies of Nepal Electricity Authority as manag- Currently, the government has been Rs442 per cylinder of the cooking gas. ing director. providing free electricity to the people With this subsidy, the government has Ghising is credited with ending the whose monthly power consumption is provided a subsidy of around Rs10 problem of hours-long daily power up to 10 units in line with the budget- billion in cooking gas, according to outages in the country during his pre- ary provision of the fiscal year 2020- Bhusal. vious stint as chief of the authority. 21. Their number is around 1.3 mil- The government also aims to pro- Energy Minister Pampha Bhusal lion, according to the authority. mote the use of electricity in trans- said on Wednesday that the authori- The authority’s decision has come portation services. The state owned ty’s board, which she chairs, decided at a time when the authority is set to power utility has already awarded a to provide electricity free of charge lose around Rs4 billion due to various contract for developing 50 charging for the people who use less than 20 concessions given to individuals and stations to promote electric vehicles. units a month. businesses hit by the pandemic. “Tariff discounts will be given for “But, a service charge of Rs30 The authority’s board also decided charging electric vehicles, ‘’ Minister should be paid,” she told a press meet to waive full tariff on the electricity Bhusal announced. after Ghising’s appointment. used for running shallow tube wells. These measures have been Earlier, the ministry had instructed According to Minister Bhusal, 80 taken in line with what Ghising had the authority to make necessary percent of tariff will be waived during suggested in a recent interview with arrangements for tariff waiver. the peak hours while no tariff will be the Post. Bhusal said that the cost of tariff charged during other times. The deci- Before his appointment as the chief waiver would be Rs700-750 million. sion is expected to help small farmers of the authority, he had said in late “The authority will itself bear this and irrigation facilities by benefiting July that electricity consumption cost as a corporate social responsibili- 388,000 households. Post Photo: ANGAD DHAKAL could be increased in the areas of ty,” she said. Up to 80 percent power tariff will be Kulman Ghising assumes the post of managing director at Nepal Electricity Authority on Wednesday. cooking, heating, and cooling by low- Based on this decision, the exempted for farmers running deep ering prices. Electricity Regulatory Commission is tube wells as well as those irrigating farmers will get tariff waiver of 80 electricity charge in the past if they say when. “We can promote the use of electric expected to make price adjustments farmlands with surface water with lift percent on other occasions. operate the deep tube well and irrigate The cost for tariff waiver will be ovens in our kitchen. There is also a soon. technology, according to the authori- This measure is expected to benefit their farmlands, according to the borne by the department itself by lot of scope for boosting industrial “The decision will be implemented ty’s board. 75,000 households who use deep tube board’s decision. reimbursing the electricity utility demand by increasing the capacity of within one month,” Bhusal said. According to Minister Bhusal, as wells to irrigate their farmlands. According to Bhusal, the decision body, according to Bhusal. substations and reducing night-time Once implemented, around 2.1 mil- much as 50 percent tariff will be All the fines will be waived for deep will be implemented by the Bhusal said that the authority’s prices of electricity to support irriga- lion consumers will benefit from the exempted during the peak hours while tube well users who had failed to pay Department of Irrigation. She did not board has also decided to make down- tion projects,” Ghising had said.

C M Y K THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 | 04 Opinion EDITORIAL How to make fertilisers in Nepal High-stake exams Producing mineral fertiliser by recycling waste is one Exams are potentially super spreader events as way to address endless Nepal stares at a third wave. shortages.

Exams are more important than lives. This is the message from Tribhuvan University, the country’s oldest and largest SURENDRA PRADHAN hub of academia, as students of master’s and bachelor’s level exams protest against in-person exams citing health con- cerns amid increasing Covid-19 risks driven by more conta- gious Delta variants of the coronavirus. The students, uni- versity officials must realise, are not wrong to demand a postponement or alternative assessments. There have been reports about exam centres not following health safety proto- Each year, the news about lack of min- eral fertiliser during the cultivation cols. Students have posted videos of crowded exam centres on season makes headlines in Nepal. We social media to draw the attention of the press and concerned don’t have a mineral fertiliser manu- authorities. But the outcry has largely been ignored by offi- facturing industry in the country yet, cials and the government, which continues to risk and almost every new government people’s lives. speaks about its priority and interest in building a fertiliser plant. In con- On Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported close to 5,000 trast to the government’s interest, new infections across the country, with the Kathmandu though, several studies, including one Valley alone accounting for 1,015 infections. According to the by the Japan International Cooperation handout data, 16 districts are home to more than 500 cases Agency (JICA) have reported about the each, and 21 other districts host more than 200 active cases difficulties of operating a urea factory in Nepal. Thus, Nepal needs to look for each. An age-wise breakdown of the new infections reveals alternative fertilisers to address peren- that the 21-40 age group dominates the daily surge of infec- nial shortages. tions in our country. Since the pandemic took hold last year, Increasing human population, ani- it has been the trend, killing over 10,000 people, and it is not mal farming and poultry farming pro- hard to guess why. The age group is mobile and comprises duce a significant amount of organic waste, which can be a good source for social butterflies and the working-age population who are fertiliser production. Nepal produces exposed to increased risks. It is only natural that they are about 154,000 tonnes of cattle manure also the carriers of the virus. If university officials and the every year, and its fertiliser value is government need a nudge, this is the same age group who are similar to 669 tonnes of urea (nitrogen fertiliser) and 39 tonnes of DAP (diam- Shutterstock also taking their exams. monium phosphate) commonly known Production techniques um sulphate fertiliser. This technique so it is important to do a feasibility If breaking the chain of transmission and instilling Covid- as phosphorus fertiliser. We produce a Composting is a good technique to con- can produce 25 kg of ammonium sul- study beforehand. A good biogas appropriate behaviour to end the pandemic is the govern- huge quantity of poultry manure every vert organic waste into fertiliser. This phate fertiliser from 1,000 litres of company can generate revenue amount- ment’s single biggest mandate right now, like its predecessor, year with a fertiliser value equivalent technique is good from an environmen- urine or the liquid portion of biogas ing to Rs11,800 by selling biogas, the Deuba administration continues to be complacent. The to 95 tonnes of urea and 67 tonnes of tal and agricultural perspective, but slurry. Rs6,250 by selling pellet fertiliser and DAP. Similarly, the fertiliser value of only composting is not economically Rs2,670 by selling ammonium sulphate inability to process scientific guidelines and evolving knowl- the organic waste produced all over sustainable. The most sustainable busi- Project implementation fertiliser by recycling 1,000 kg of organ- edge on the pandemic reflects in foolhardy decisions like Nepal annually is equivalent to 87,000 ness model to recycle organic waste is Due to lack of subsidy guarantees, ic waste. restricting public and private transportation after 8 pm while tonnes of urea and 21,000 tonnes of using it in biogas plants. The plant large business companies in Nepal are For liquid waste management, a ignoring the perils of assembling thousands of students in D A P. produces biogas from organic waste, not engaged in the waste to fertiliser large amount of urine can be collected classrooms, where lack of ventilation and physical distanc- Human waste is a good source of and it also produces slurry with a high business. Small projects without a good using portable toilets/urinals in crowd- fertiliser. The fertiliser value of the nitrogen and phosphorus content. The business plan/business model, high ed areas which is profitable. In ing makes the efficacy of masks redundant. It is hence, illog- septic waste produced in Nepal in a biogas can be used for fuel and the slur- investment cost and low-quality fertil- Kathmandu, one portable toilet (urine ical and criminal of university officials and the government year is equivalent to 18,000 tonnes of ry can be converted into high-value iser production are the main reasons collection) can make a profit of Rs25,000 to hurry exams while jeopardising precious gains made to urea and 4,100 tonnes of DAP. Similarly, fertiliser. For example, the slurry from for the failure of waste recycling per month (only from user fees). They date by vaccination campaigns. we could produce 300,000 tonnes of biogas plants can be dewatered, the plants. For a successful waste to fertil- can make more profit by producing There are 1,124 affiliate and 61 constituent colleges under ammonium sulphate fertiliser every solid portion can be dried, enriched iser business, a public-private partner- mineral fertiliser from the urine. The year if urine is collected from the with nitrogen and pelletised to make it ship business model is important. For mineral fertiliser produced from 1,000 Tribhuvan University, with over 415,000 final year students whole population. Only a negligible a complete fertiliser. This process example, municipalities produce waste litres of urine yields a profit of Rs665. under 125 programmes at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. amount of human and household waste reduces the volume by 50-80 percent and they have funds for its manage- The urine to fertiliser production busi- For lack of standard operating protocols, the exams are is recycled at a business level among compared to traditional compost. Such ment. The Department of Agriculture ness will increase when more urine is potentially super spreader events as Nepal stares at a third these sources. Cattle and poultry pelletised organic fertiliser has a better is responsible for managing fertiliser collected separately. This will happen wave that the Health Ministry warns is inevitable, given the manure production is growing in market as it is cheaper to transport, and they have the budget for this as when people realise that their urine is Nepal, but raw manure has a very easy to apply, and the farmer doesn’t well. So, they can work together in a a resource used in the production of lax attitude of both the government and the public. It is small market. need additional plant nutrients. A sim- waste to fertiliser project for mutual mineral fertilisers. unfortunate that the government continues to overlook the Although we produce fertiliser in ilar process is being successfully imple- benefit. To implement this project, In conclusion, we have resources and fragile Covid-19 situation of the country and stays mute huge quantities, there are several con- mented in Ghana. The dewatered liq- these agencies also need other resourc- good techniques developed by Nepali while the apex university, in a dangerous move, hurries straints when it comes to using uid portion of the slurry can be treated es which can be fulfilled by engaging researchers to produce organic pellets exams risking the lives of thousands of students and incalcu- them. Some of the problems faced are: to produce ammonium sulphate miner- the private sector such as biogas com- and mineral fertiliser equivalent to (1) Its bulk leading to high transporta- al fertiliser. panies, compost companies, and urine 244,000 tonnes of urea and 33,000 tonnes lable implications to society. tion cost, (2) Storage issues, There are several techniques to to mineral fertiliser production compa- of DAP. The successful implementation If we need a reminder, students still await their first dose (3) It is smelly to use (local people produce fertiliser from liquid nies. of this idea will help to make Nepal of protection against the coronavirus, the dominant Delta may complain of the smell), and (4) waste, but a liquid waste to mineral To create a profitable waste recycle self-sufficient in fertilisers, which will variant of which has been compared to be as transmissible as Untreated waste can pose a health fertiliser production technique can be business, private companies need contribute to a more robust agricultur- chickenpox and potentially more severe. Both university offi- risk. Due to these constraints, large- more beneficial for Nepal since we low-interest loans for investment al sector and increased food security. scale poultry and dairy farms are hav- have high demand for mineral fertil- and multiple streams of revenue. The cials and the government must realise that exams are not ing a hard time managing their iser. This technique captures nitrogen waste recycling plant’s investment Pradhan is a researcher at the more important than lives. manure. from the waste and produces ammoni- cost and size depend on several factors, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio. Singapore shapes the future of mobility

Singapore’s Economic Development The island city-state Board and sovereign-wealth fund, which have pursued coordinated, has become a living large-scale investments in new mobili- ty start-ups such as nuTonomy. laboratory for Founded at MIT, nuTonomy began testing the world’s first fully autono- urban innovation. mous taxi service in Singapore in 2016. The next year, the company was sold for $450 million, generating sig- CARLO RATTI nificant financial returns for the gov- ernment. And more innovation is on the way. Our design firm helped to create CapitaSpring, a 280-meter-tall sky- scraper—scheduled to open at the end of this year—that takes into account the impending transition to future Tiziano Terzani was no fan of mobility systems. For example, the Singapore. The Florentine writer and parking garage is slightly higher than journalist explored every corner of normal and its floor is not inclined, so Asia. He had witnessed the fall of that, as demand for parking falls, it Saigon to the People’s Army of can potentially be repurposed as offic- Vietnam and the Viet Cong, and the es overlooking Marina Bay. fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer It is no coincidence that Singapore, Rouge. When he visited Singapore, he an island without abundant natural concluded that all it had to offer was resources, has achieved some of the its airport: “the concentration of world’s highest levels of per capita everything Singapore has to show: its GDP in only 50 years. Its leaders have efficiency, its cleanliness, its order.” consistently demonstrated a capacity Otherwise, the wealthy city-state was for long-term vision and decisive nothing more to him than “the largest action. supermarket of consumer goods, futil- To be sure, Singapore is far from ity, and prissiness in Asia.” perfect. The weight of progress has Terzani’s assessment has some often been carried by a large migrant truth in it, but it is far from complete. population, working in dangerous, Singapore’s meticulousness is good low-paying jobs with few rights or for a lot more than making the airport opportunities for advancement. And run smoothly; it also allows ideas to be while public administration is fast transformed into action with aston- and enterprising at the top, the middle ishing speed. As a result, Singapore ranks remain slow and risk averse. has become a living laboratory for Finally, the orderliness that so urban innovation. Shutterstock bored Terzani is stifling creativity. I have seen this process firsthand. establish a working group, the pendent cars operate—and where they become the new normal. And, as the gardens. Space could also be dedicated The start-up economy, which is trans- In 2013, with the 50th anniversary of Committee on Autonomous Road are stored. total number of motor vehicles in cir- to charging stations for electric vehi- forming many European capitals Singapore’s independence approach- Transport for Singapore (CARTS), to If car and ride-sharing services culation declines, so, too, would a cles, loading and unloading areas for today, is still struggling to take hold in ing, the head of the city’s civil service study the transition to driverless cars, have blurred the traditional distinc- city’s parking needs. Our lab at MIT, e-commerce, and parking for scooters Singapore. sought my feedback when considering and I was invited to participate. Since tion between public and private trans- Senseable City, estimates that the and shared bicycles. Despite these limits, Singapore is what historical milestones or experi- then, the committee has met with key portation, driverless cars could all but transition to shared, driverless cars In most cities, such a vision would perhaps the most advanced urban lab- ences should be central to the celebra- stakeholders—both public and pri- obliterate it. After they go to work, could enable Singapore to eliminate be laid out in an attractive, well-re- oratory in Asia, especially when it tions. Perhaps, I suggested, Singapore vate—several times per year, in order most people don’t need their car to be around 80 percent of its 1.3 million searched dossier—and then left to comes to mobility. It deserves to be should focus not on the past, but on to lay the groundwork. parked outside their house or office parking spaces. gather dust. Not in Singapore. There, studied and, in many ways, admired. the future, such as by propelling inno- Autonomous vehicles have already all day long. If that car was The newly available land could spur the city’s disciplined government vation in a sector in which it has become incredibly advanced, but the self-driving, it could spend its idle a reimagining of residential areas, apparatus and major industrial play- Carlo Ratti, Director of the Senseable always excelled: mobility. challenge to their development is not time giving rides to family members, with curbsides being lined not with ers moved in lockstep. After only a few City Lab at MIT, is Co-founder of the Only a few days passed before I only technological. Transforming neighbors, acquaintances, or anyone rows of cars and parking meters, but years, the amount of progress has international design and innovation received a phone call informing me urban mobility also demands rethink- else in town. instead with outdoor seating for res- been stunning. office Carlo Ratti Associati. that the government had decided to ing the spaces where our newly inde- Given this, shared cars could well taurants, playgrounds, and miniature It helps to have the support of — Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 Money Unions set up roadblock against long stalled aviation bills The trade unions say they fear the government will gradually privatise the airports, causing them to lose their perks and pay.

SANGAM PRASAIN grow in a competitive manner.” KATHMANDU, AUG 11 There are at least two international airports coming up in the near Agitating trade unions opposed to pro- future—in Pokhara and Bhairahawa— posed legislation to split the Civil and that will require services to be at Aviation Authority of Nepal into regu- par with international standards. lator and service provider have threat- “If the regulator is separated, the ened to lock up the director general’s employees can claim their bonuses as office from Thursday if the bills are the service provider will become an not withdrawn, a day after they were institution to do business. The fact is registered at the lower house. that global aviation dynamics The authority has been set up for has changed a lot, and Nepal should fragmentation as part of the effort to follow suit.” streamline civil aviation and allow the In December 2013, the European implementation of safety regulations Commission imposed a blanket ban on as per world standards, which is also all airlines from Nepal from flying one of the conditions of the European into the 28-nation bloc after the Commission to permit Nepali carriers September 2012 crash of Sita Air to fly in Europe. Flight 601 in the Manohara River that But passage of the required laws killed 19 people, including seven has been stalled for more than a dec- British citizens. ade due to bureaucratic obstacles at No Nepali airline was flying to the every step. European Union then, but the com- Last week, the upper house finally mission became concerned enough to passed the two crucial bills, paving the prevent them from entering the conti- way for them to be tabled at the House nent after a spate of air crashes in of Representatives, only to have the Nepal. Between 2008 and 2012, there group of five trade unions set up were at least two air crashes annually. another roadblock. The European Commission put The protest is led by the Democratic Nepal on its air safety list, banning all Employees’ Union which is politically carriers certified in Nepal from flying tied to the ruling Nepali Congress into the EU because of significant Party. It has charged that some “inter- safety deficiencies requiring decisive est groups” passed the bills through a action. The protest against the pro- “back door” route. The unions say posed break-up of the civil aviation they have launched their agitation body is not new. fearing that the government will grad- While private airlines have been ually privatise the airports, and that urging the government to rush the they will lose their perks and pay if delayed process of splitting the Civil the authority is broken up. Aviation Authority of Nepal into two On August 2, the National Assembly entities to avoid hurting the aviation unanimously passed the two bills— sector, there have been threats from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal employee unions that the government Bill and Air Service Authority of Post file Photo will face consequences if it went Nepal Bill—after nearly two years The protest is led by the Democratic Employees’ Union, which is politically tied to the ruling Nepali Congress party. ahead with the split. since they were registered at the On December 31, 2020, Shravan upper house. 31, 1998. The two pieces of legislation Management Committee,” lawmaker address their grievances. ICAO and the European Commission Kumar Yadav, president of the Nepal “It’s a ploy to privatise Nepal’s will become law after they are signed Uday Sharma Poudel had told the Due to the delays in passing the to end the dual functioning from the National Employees’ Union, speaking airports in the long run. We will by the President, and will become House on June 2. “The draft bills went legislation, several international avia- same office. at the 21st anniversary celebration of not let lawmakers split the civil avia- effective 31 days after enactment. The through 109 changes before they were tion safety agencies have even “It will send a bad message to the the Civil Aviation Authority, had tion body,” said Laxman Kumar Giri, bills languished in the upper house for presented to the upper house.” slammed Nepal’s poor progress in global aviation community and avia- warned, “We will cut off the hands president of the Democratic a year and a half as political squab- The government has been working ensuring air safety. tion watchdogs if the government of the people who are planning to Employees’ Union. bling engulfed the country. They were to separate the civil aviation body for A former director general of the backtracks,” the former director gen- split the Civil Aviation Authority “These bills have been registered registered on February 23, 2020. a long time; but due to various rea- Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal told eral said. of Nepal.” and passed without our knowledge. The legislation envisages integrat- sons, it has not happened. the Post that the process to split the “Obviously, there are concerns At that time, former tourism minis- They did it secretly.” ing previous acts to eliminate con- “The draft bills were discussed with aviation body started after the among the employees, but there is a ter Yogesh Bhattarai had urged the Giri said it was not necessary to flicts and contradictions at the Civil all staff members, concerned aviation International Civil Aviation larger interest group functioning well trade unions to convince the govern- separate all the civil aviation func- Aviation Authority of Nepal, which is stakeholders and political parties Organisation’s (ICAO) Universal to stop the progress on safety.” The ment with logical reasons to not split tions as it would increase costs. “The currently functioning as both regula- before they were tabled at the upper Safety Oversight Audit Programme split, however, will benefit both organ- the organisation. government can bring back the tor and service provider from the house,” said Rajan Pokhrel, director was launched in May 2009 in response isations—service provider and regula- Bhattarai had said that if the trade Department of Civil Aviation if it sees same office, and there is no clear general of the Civil Aviation Authority to widespread concerns about the tor, he said. unions came up with convincing rea- the need for a separate regulator.” demarcation between its duties and of Nepal. “It’s been over two years adequacy of aviation safety oversight “It will enhance safety as monitor- sons for not separating the civil avia- The then aviation department organisational structure. since discussions on the bills started.” in Nepal. ing will be strengthened. While for tion body, he would halt the submis- was turned into the Civil Aviation “These key bills were discussed Pokhrel said the management Nepal has made commitments to employees of the service provider, sion of the related bills to Parliament. Authority of Nepal on December thoroughly at the Legislation had promised the unions that it would various global aviation watchdogs like there will be ample opportunities to But no one showed up.

FOREX Neema Academy joins hands Great Wall Motor to shift some India investment with WiSTEAM US Dollar 119.40 KATHMANDU: Neema Academy has started collaborating with WiSTEAM Euro 139.83 (Women in Science, Technology, Pound Sterling 164.88 to Brazil after approval delays, sources say Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.) Neema Academy has made the educa- Canadian Dollar 95.20 REUTERS Great Wall had said it would invest $1 tional materials and courses of Japanese Yen 10.78 NEW DELHI/BEIJING, AUG 11 billion to build cars there, by buying a WiSTEAM available on its website former General Motors (GM) factory, and app. In addition, the educational Chinese Yuan 18.41 Great Wall Motor has decided to re-al- as well as making batteries and car materials of STEAM will now be available for free at Neema, reads the Qatari Riyal 32.79 locate to Brazil a portion of its $1-bil- parts. Two of the sources said the lion investment in India, as the re-allocated funds, budgeted by Great press release. The COO of Neema, Australian Dollar 87.51 Chinese automaker has been unnerved Wall for India since 2020, would main- Neha Joshi and the founder/ manag- by a year-long delay in winning ly have been used to buy GM’s factory, ing director, Binita Shrestha of Malaysian Ringit 28.16 government approvals, three sources a cost that sources had earlier put at WiSTEAM both stated that they will be supporting each other from now Saudi Arab Riyal 31.84 told Reuters. about $300 million. Great Wall declined The re-allocation, which could to comment. The Indian government onwards, while signing the memoran- Thai Bhat 3.58 range up to $300 million, comes as the did not immediately reply to an email dum of understanding. WiSTEAM Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank sources said the maker of popular seeking comment. has been conducting various digital sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick- The step highlights growing nerv- literacy and STEAM programmes to ups was close to acquiring a former ousness and impatience among increase women’s activism in com- Shares Daimler plant in Brazil to build cars. Chinese investors, who have seen puter careers and increase women’s Great Wall has also tasked James REUTERS roughly 150 investment proposals involvement in this field. Neema Nepse 3,162.59pts 0.03% Yang, its India president since last A file photo shows models posing next to Great Wall Motors GWM R1 electric car at its pavilion worth more than $2 billion held up by Academy is an innovative e-learning year, with the responsibility of assist- at the India Auto Expo 2020 in Greater Noida, India. India’s slow approvals process, accord- system established in 2018 that pro- highest gainers ing with operations in the Latin ing to industry estimates. vides digital learning materials for JBLB RHPC RURU ICFC ULI NRN students and teachers. Both Neema 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 9.99% American nation, said the sources, sources, explaining the rationale for China, the sources said, as part of a The delays are forcing Great Wall, who have direct knowledge of the mat- the change of focus. crackdown that followed a border which was expected to begin selling and WiSTEAM are trying to moderate gainers ter. “Brazil is almost a done deal and it Great Wall’s move is a fallout of clash between the two Asian giants. its India-made Haval brand of SUVs in modernise the traditional education AKPL NHDL RRHP CHDC RHPL TRH 9.78% 9.71% 9.39% 7.91% 7.38% 7.28% did not make sense to keep the funds India’s decision in April 2020 to more Just two months before, amid the the country this year, to look at taking system and bring about systematic blocked for India,” said one of the closely scrutinise investments from fanfare of India’s biennial car show, a more measured approach. change in it. moderate losers RLFL PSF PROFL SINDU KMCDB GRDBL -2.76% -2.83% -2.83% -2.93% -2.97% -3%

highest losers EDBL GUFL BFC HIDCL RBCLPO JFL -3.13% -3.16% -3.16% -3.39% -3.65% -4.17% Train drivers’ strike paralyses bullion Price Per tola traffic across Germany

Fine Gold Rs 88,800 REUTERS (0000 GMT) on Wednesday, were suc- BERLIN, AUG 11 cessful. The strike brought around 700 Silver Rs 1,190 trains to a standstill. A strike by train drivers paralysed “I have to say very clearly that our Source: FENEGOSIDA passenger and freight traffic across colleagues went on strike in a very Germany on Wednesday as the union disciplined manner,” Weselsky told demanded a better wage offer from Reuters, adding that the union rail operator Deutsche Bahn. will only return to the negotiation gasoline watch The strike coincides with increased table if Deutsche Bahn makes an demand for rail services following the improved offer. easing of coronavirus curbs during GDL is demanding wage increases the peak school holiday season. of around 3.2 percent and a one-time Stranded travellers stood waiting for coronavirus allowance of 600 euros their delayed trains at stations across ($702.60). Germany. Deutsche Bahn spokesperson AchimStauss said the company was trying to keep one in four normally scheduled long-distance trains opera- tional and to have at least a trip every two hours between large cities.“We are doing our best to get people to their destination today,” Stauss said, urging travellers to postpone unneces- sary trips. Germany’s GDL union will decide next week whether and when to con- tinue its strike at Deutsche Bahn after wage talks with the state-owned com- pany failed, its chief Claus Weselsky told ZDF broadcaster on Wednesday. Weselsky said the first hours of the strike, which started at 0200 local time

C M Y K THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 | 06 world

Briefing US lawyers appeal Taliban take eighth provincial capital UK decision to block At least 65 killed in Algerian wildfires Assange extradition ALGIERS: Wildfires tearing through in speedy advance across Afghanistan forested areas of northern Algeria ASSOCIATED PRESS have killed at least 65 people, state tel- LONDON, AUG 11 evision reported on Wednesday, as Taliban forces now control 65 percent of Afghanistan and have taken or threaten to take 11 provincial capitals. some of the most destructive blazes Lawyers acting on behalf of the US in the country’s history continued to REUTERS were emerging, including “deeply government on Wednesday challenged rage. The government has deployed KABUL, AUG 11 disturbing reports” of the summary a British judge’s decision to block the army to help fight the fires, which execution of surrendering govern- the extradition of WikiLeaks founder have burnt most fiercely in the moun- Taliban fighters took control of anoth- ment troops. Julian Assange to face espionage tainous Kabylie region, and 28 of the er city in northern Afghanistan on Afghan officials have appealed for charges in the United States, arguing dead are soldiers, with another 12 Wednesday, an official said, the eighth pressure on Pakistan to stop Taliban that assessments of Assange’s mental critically injured with burns. provincial capital to fall to the insur- reinforcements and supplies flowing health should be reviewed. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune gents in six days as US-led foreign over the border. Pakistan denies back- The British judge ruled in January declared three days of national forces complete their withdrawal. ing the Taliban. that Assange was likely to kill mourning for the dead and froze state The Taliban capture of Faizabad, The government has withdrawn himself if held under harsh US prison activities not related to the fires. capital of the northeastern province its forces from some hard-to-defend conditions. The US government is Forest fires have set large parts of of Badakhshan, came as President rural districts to focus on holding pop- appealing. Algeria, Turkey and Greece aflame Ashraf Ghani flew in to Mazar-i- ulation centres. In some places, gov- Clair Dobbin, a British lawyer who over the past week. Sharif to rally old warlords to the ernment forces have given up without represented US authorities during a defence of the biggest city in the north a fight. High Court preliminary hearing as Taliban forces close in. During their 1996-2001 rule, the on Wednesday, said that District Thai police fire rubber bullets, Jawad Mujadidi, a provincial Taliban were never completely in con- Judge Vanessa Baraitser based her tear gas at protesters council member from Badakhshan, trol of the north but this time, they decision not to extradite Assange on a said the Taliban had laid siege to seem intent on securing it before clos- “predicted risk of suicide” rather BANGKOK: Thai police used rubber Faizabad before launching an offen- ing in on the capital. than the risk at the time the matter bullets and tear gas on protesters for sive on Tuesday. Ghani is now appealing for help was before her. a second day in a row on Wednesday “Unfortunately, after hours of from the old regional war lords he as demonstrators rallied against the heavy fighting the ANDSF retreated,” REUTERS spent years sidelining as he attempted government and its handling of the Mujadidi told Reuters, referring to Taliban fighters record a message after seizing Pul-e- Khumri, capital of Baghlan province, to project the authority of his central Assange is being coronavirus crisis. Demonstrators in national security forces. “With the fall Afghanistan, in this still image taken from a social media video, uploaded on Tuesday. government over wayward provinces. Bangkok defied a ban on public gath- of Faizabad the whole of the north- He was due to meet powerbrokers in held in high-security erings as Thailand tries to curb its east has come under Taliban control.” Mazar-i-Sharif to work out coordina- worst virus outbreak so far—more Badakhshan borders Tajikistan, Taliban could take over Kabul in 90 days, US intelligence says tion between the security forces and Belmarsh prison than 21,000 new cases were Pakistan and China. militias and operations to take back announced on Wednesday. The slow The loss of the city is the latest set- WASHINGTON: The Taliban could iso- ity, said the new assessment followed areas the Taliban captured, the presi- in London. roll-out of the kingdom’s vaccination back for the government, which late Afghanistan’s capital Kabul in 30 the rapid gains the Taliban had been dent’s office said. programme as well as financial hard- has been struggling to stem the days and potentially take it over in 90 making around Afghanistan. “But The city is largely cut off from the ship from restrictions are fuelling momentum of Taliban assaults in the days, a US defence official told Reuters this is not a foregone conclusion,” the rest of the country by the Taliban who Dobbin said both the ruling and the public anger towards Prime Minister last few months. on Wednesday, citing a U.S. intelli- official added, saying that the Afghan now also control electricity supplies evaluations of psychiatrists needed to Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s government. The Taliban are battling to defeat gence assessment. Taliban fighters security forces could reverse the from northern neighbours to Kabul. be scrutinised given the “extraordi- the US-backed government and reim- have taken control of eight provincial momentum by putting up more resist- In the south, government forces nary lengths” Assange went to before pose strict Islamic law. The speed of capitals in six days, a pace that has ance against the insurgent group. were battling Taliban fighters around his arrest in London to avoid legal Two dead, dozens trapped their advance has shocked the govern- surprised US officials. Taliban forces The United States has essentially the city of Kandahar and thousands proceedings. After skipping bail to after landslide in India ment and its allies. now control 65 percent of Afghanistan pulled all troops out of Afghanistan, of civilians from outlying areas had avoid extradition to Sweden alleged Taliban forces now control 65 per- and have taken or threaten to take 11 except those staying to protect the US taken refuge there, a resident said. sexual assault, he spent almost seven NEW DELHI: Two people have died cent of Afghanistan and have taken or provincial capitals, a senior EU offi- embassy and airport in Kabul, with Fighting was also taking place in years holed up inside the Ecuadorian and at least 12 were injured after a threaten to take 11 provincial capitals, cial said on Tuesday. The US official, the military mission set to end on city of Farah in the west, near the Embassy in the UK capital. landslide in the mountainous Indian a senior EU official said on Tuesday. speaking on the condition of anonym- August 31. (REUTERS) Iranian border, while the Ministry of On Wednesday, the 50-year-old state of Himachal Pradesh on US President Joe Biden urged Defence said in a statement security Australian listened in by video link Wednesday saw boulders tumbling Afghan leaders to fight for their home- forces had also battled Taliban in from London’s high-security Belmarsh onto a highway, hitting several land, saying on Tuesday he did not did not agree to a ceasefire with the hardline militants who emerged in the Laghman, Logar, Paktia, Uruzgan, prison. He was arrested in the embas- vehicles, Indian officials said. At regret his decision to withdraw, not- government. A commitment by the early 1990s from the chaos of civil war Zabul, Ghor, Balkh, Helmand, Kapisa sy in April 2019 after Ecuador with- least 25 people are still trapped, ing that the United States had spent Taliban to talk peace with the govern- and controlled most of the country and Baghlan provinces and 431 drew the asylum it had granted him. Abid Hussain Sadiq, a government more than $1 trillion over 20 years and ment side has come to nothing as they from 1996 to 2001, when they were Taliban had been killed. US prosecutors have indicted official in the Kinnaur district where lost thousands of troops. eye military victory. ousted by a US-led campaign for har- It gave no figure for casualties on Assange on 17 espionage charges and the incident happened, told Reuters. The United States was providing Some Afghans feel abandoned as bouring al Qaeda chief Osama bin the government side and a Taliban one charge of computer misuse over “We are in the middle of rescue significant air support, food, equip- the United States and other Western Laden. A new generation of Afghans, spokesman was not immediately WikiLeaks’ publication of thousands operations,” he said. “We expect the ment and salaries to Afghan forces, he powers withdraw, leaving the Taliban who have come of age since 2001, fears available for comment. of leaked military and diplomatic doc- rescue operations to continue said. The United States will complete to make their move. that the progress made in areas such The Taliban have captured districts uments a decade ago. The charges through the night, if not longer.” the withdrawal of its forces this “The US did not provide support ... as women’s rights and media freedom bordering Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, carry a maximum sentence of 175 Around 200 troops have been month in exchange for Taliban prom- now we see the result,” Dawlat Waziri, will be squandered. Iran, Pakistan and China, heightening years in prison. dispatched to aid in the rescue ises to prevent Afghanistan being a retired general and military analyst, UN human rights chief Michelle regional security concerns. Outside court, Assange’s partner, attempt, said Vivek Pandey, a used for international terrorism. told Reuters. Bachelet said on Tuesday reports of An EU official said on Tuesday Stella Moris, described him as an spokesman for the Indo-Tibetan The Taliban promised not to attack The Taliban advances have raised violations that could amount to war they now controlled 65 percent of “innocent man accused of practicing Border Police. (AGENCIES) foreign forces as they withdraw but fears of the return to power of the crimes and crimes against humanity the country. journalism.” Philippine vaccination hubs open 24 hours as Delta threat grows

REUTERS Joan Carbonell, who works as a MANILA, AUG 11 supervisor in a Manila vaccination hub, said the decision by some hubs to Vaccination centres across the open at night was also to limit crowds Philippine capital Manila are trying in the morning as people scramble to to speed up inoculation rates, includ- get a shot. ing by staying open 24 hours, to help Last week, thousands queued out- combat a sharp rise in Covid-19 infec- side Manila vaccination centres after tions linked to the spread of the high- rumours spread that people would not ly contagious Delta variant. be able to leave their homes if they did With just over 10 percent of the not get their shots. country’s 110 million people fully The Philippines has reported more vaccinated, millions remain vulnera- than 1.67 million infections and 29,000 ble to infection amid efforts to fully deaths so far during the pandemic, immunise up to 70 million before the but the number of positive tests has year ends. been rising. Movement in metro Manila, an The positivity rate rose for a sixth urban sprawl of 16 cities home to 13 straight day on Tuesday to 21.9 per- million people, has been restricted to cent, up from around 15 percent at the try to contain the Delta variant. start of August, data from the health Salvador Camacho, 71, got over his ministry showed. initial worry about side effects and Meanwhile, more hospitals have decided to get his jab when a slot reported that their intensive care opened for a night appointment at one units, isolation beds and wards are of the 24-hour hubs. nearing full capacity, and some have “I do not really want to be inoculat- had to refuse new patients because of ed because I have a lot of sickness, but a lack of beds and ventilators. lately I see a lot of people older than Philippine hospitals with occupan- me getting vaccinations, and my child cy at critical levels rose to 289 on and wife told me to take my jab since Tuesday from 236 on Sunday, reaching AP/rss we never know when I might get more than a fifth of the country’s 1,290 A man reads a newspaper on the steps of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday. Australia’s second-largest city has extended its lockdown in a bid to infected,” he said. hospitals, government data showed. control Covid-19 while authorities in Sydney flagged restrictions easing for vaccinated residents despite the Delta variant continuing to spread. Multinational force fights to tame Greek wildfire flareups

ASSOCIATED PRESS forecast to last through Monday. (123,000 acres) lost, together with doz- electricity pole, and two have been KONTIAS, GREECE, AUG 11 At the other end of the ens of homes. Another 600 firefighters hospitalized in serious condition with Mediterranean, in Algeria, wildfires from Greece, the Czech Republic, burns. The health ministry said on Hundreds of firefighters from across Tuesday killed 42 people. Britain, France and Germany were Wednesday another three firefighters Europe and the Middle East worked Worsening drought and heat—both deployed on Wednesday near ancient required treatment for respiratory alongside Greek colleagues in rugged linked to climate change—have also Olympia and in Arcadia in the problems and light burns suffered in terrain on Wednesday to contain flare- fuelled wildfires this summer in the Peloponnese, assisted by 14 water-drop- the Arcadia fire. ups of the huge wildfires that ravaged Western U.S. and in Russia’s northern ping aircraft and volunteers. The causes of the blazes are under Greece’s forests for a week, destroying Siberia region. Scientists say there is A massive fire that broke out last investigation, and authorities say that homes and forcing evacuations. little doubt that climate change from week north of Athens has been limit- in at least one major blaze arson seems The spread of the blazes has been the burning of coal, oil and natural ed to a section of a national park on likely. Several people have been arrest- largely halted, officials said, but fronts gas is driving extreme events. Mount Parnitha, with mostly ground ed in different parts of the country still burned on the large island of Greece’s said a total 900 firefighters, forces trying to put it out with the help and charged with causing fires, in Evia and in Greece’s southern including teams from Poland, of a helicopter. Firefighters from some cases intentionally. Peloponnese region. Romania, Cyprus, Ukraine, Serbia, France, Qatar, Kuwait and Israel were The government has pledged a large The fires broke out last week as Slovakia and Moldova, were in action deployed there. compensation and reforestation pro- Greece had just experienced its worst on Evia, which is the country’s sec- Despite the massive destruction to gramme. In neighbouring Turkey, and most protracted heat wave since ond-largest island and linked to the forests, wildlife and livestock—and firefighters worked to early Wednesday 1987, leaving its forests tinder-dry. mainland by bridge. homes, although official estimates are to extinguish a wildfire in the south- Other nearby nations such as Turkey Evia’s rugged, forested northern not yet available—Greek authorities’ west Mugla province, which runs and Italy also faced similar searing part, with upland villages and small core policy of evacuating villages to along the Aegean Sea. At least eight temperatures and quickly spreading AP/rss seaside resorts, has suffered the great- protect extensive loss of life has paid people and countless animals have fires, while Spain and Portugal were A firefighter from Slovakia tries to extinguish a fire in Avgaria village on Evia island, about 184 est damage from this month’s blazes, off: One volunteer firefight died last died in more than 200 wildfires in on alert for wildfires amid a heat wave kilometres north of Athens, Greece on Tuesday. with an estimated 50,000 hectares week after being struck by a falling Turkey since July 28.

C M Y K 07 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021

C M Y K THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 | 08 Sports Briefing Nagelsmann under pressure to Broad out of India Test, Brentford sign winger Wissa LONDON: Newly promoted English Anderson still a doubt Premier League club Brentford deliver 10th straight league title signed winger Yoane Wissa on a four- Agence France-Presse year contract on Tuesday. The 24-year- LONDON, Aug 11 old Congo international joins the The new coach, who replaced Hansi Flick, is still chasing his first victory with the west London club from French team England could be without their two Lorient for an undisclosed transfer Bavarian giants after three defeats and a draw from four pre-season friendlies. leading bowlers for the second Test fee. The deal includes an option for a against India at Lord’s starting on fifth season. Wissa scored 27 goals Thursday after James Anderson over the past two seasons in France missed Wednesday’s final pre-match and can play multiple positions. “He practice session. has that pace and power which we Stuart Broad will miss the remain- think is really important to be a der of the five-Test series with a torn threat in behind,” Brentford manager right calf, the England and Wales Thomas Frank said. “He has good Cricket Board announced. ability to take on players and create Broad suffered a calf problem overloads. He also has good pressing after pulling up during Tuesday’s abilities. He will need to learn our warm-up and a thigh injury prevented style of play, but he fits the pressing Anderson taking part in Wednesday’s criteria we want from a winger.” net session. Brentford kick off their first-ever The veteran new-ball duo, who both Premier League season by hosting featured in last week’s drawn series Arsenal on Friday. opener at Trent Bridge, are England’s two most successful Test bowlers of all time with a combined 1,145 wickets Man United forward Rashford from 312 matches. England have not undergoes shoulder surgery played a Test without either one of the pair since October 2016. MANCHESTER: Manchester United for- Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood, fresh ward Marcus Rashford has success- from playing in the Hundred for the Reuters fully undergone surgery on his shoul- Oval Invincibles, was added to the James Anderson (in picture) and Stuart der, the player said on Tuesday. The squad as cover for Board. Broad are England’s two most successful 23-year-old, who was hampered by the Anderson and Broad’s injuries are Test bowlers of all time with a combined injury during the second part of last bound to leave the England and Wales 1,145 wickets from 312 matches. season, confirmed on Twitter that the Cricket Board facing fresh questions procedure went well. “Thank you for over a domestic fixture schedule Mark Wood, Craig Overton and all the well wishes. I had my surgery ap/rss heading into a showpiece series in the all-rounder Sam Curran in vying for a on Friday morning and everything Julian Nagelsmann, a year younger than Neuer and only 13 months older than Lewandowski, is still waiting for the first major trophy as a coach. absence of red-ball county cricket. place in England’s pace attack. went very well. A little sore but other Mahmood, 24, is uncapped at Test England could make several chang- than that I’m feeling good...” he tweet- Agence France-Presse strength Bayern side. established “when I win titles. Only level but was named man of the series es for to a side that was largely out- ed. Rashford is set to be out for up to BERLIN, Aug 11 Having only celebrated his birthday then will I have really arrived at during the recent one-day internation- played in a rain-affected clash in 12 weeks and miss a chunk of last month, Nagelsmann is a year Bayern”. als against Pakistan after taking nine Nottingham—the first of a five-match United’s league campaign and the The new Bundesliga season starts on younger than club captain Manuel He is still waiting for the first major wickets in three games. He is the sec- series. Champions League group stage. The Friday with new Bayern Munich head Neuer and only 13 months older than trophy as a coach after his Leipzig ond additional call-up to the England Nottinghamshire batsman Haseeb forward initially put off the surgery coach Julian Nagelsmann under pres- star striker Robert Lewandowski. side lost last season’s German Cup squad following the inclusion of Hameed could force his way into a top in order to play for England at Euro sure to deliver a tenth straight league He will be measured in terms of final to Borussia Dortmund. However, off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali. three where both Dom Sibley and Zak 2020, where he made five substitute title for the Bavarian giants in his first titles at Bayern, where Flick set the Nagelsmann has a fierce desire to win Mahmood now joins Ollie Robinson, Crawley have been struggling. appearances for the Three Lions, who year at the helm. bar high by winning the treble of everything—even down to a round of lost to Italy in the final. Manchester With predecessor Hansi Flick hav- Champions League, Bundesliga and the family board game Ludo. “I can United host Leeds United in their ing left to take charge of Germany, German Cup in 2019/20. accept that I lose sometimes. But when England, India lose World Test Championship points opening Premier League game on 34-year-old Nagelsmann now faces the Bayern showed their faith by giving I start to be able to lose, I’m no longer Saturday. biggest challenge of his young coach- Nagelsmann a five-year contract after a winner,” he explained. LONDON: England and India have the allotted time, with teams penal- ing career. reportedly paying Leipzig 25 million Nagelsmann hails from the both lost two World Test Championship ised one Test Championship point for He proved his impressive ability euros ($29 million) for his services. Bavarian town of Landsberg am Lech, points and each been fined 40 percent each over short. Armstrong joins Southampton with stints at Hoffenheim and RB His most pressing job is to rebuild 60km west of Munich, and slept under of their match fees for maintaining a England captain Joe Root and India LONDON: Southampton have signed Leipzig, who he guided to the semi-fi- Bayern’s back four after the departure a Bayern duvet as a child. He dreamt slow over-rate in the series opener counterpart Virat Kohli pleaded guilty striker Adam Armstrong on a four- nals of the Champions League in of defenders David Alaba and Jerome of playing in the famous red shirt at Nottingham, the International and accepted the proposed sanctions, year contract from Championship 2019/20. But keeping the egos in Boateng. He will have to quickly inte- until injury curtailed his career pre- Cricket Council announced on meaning there was no need for formal Blackburn Rovers, the Premier Bayern’s star-studded squad in grate new signings like France cen- maturely, so coaching the club is “very Wednesday. hearings following charges levelled by League club said on Tuesday. British check, while maintaining the club’s tre-back Dayot Upamecano and close to my lifelong dream”. ICC match referee Chris Broad, the umpires. media reported the deal was worth insatiable thirst for success, will test England under-21 left-back Omar He has already begun winning over the former Test batsman and father The points deductions could yet around 15 million pounds ($20.75 mil- him fully. Richards. Bayern’s stars. “Nagelsmann can of England paceman Stuart Broad, have a bearing on whether England or lion). Armstrong, 24, who joined “If I don’t win anything here, it’s Bayern have won the Bundesliga build something here,” insisted imposed the sanction after both India qualify for the second World Blackburn in 2018 from Newcastle down to me,” he bluntly told the club’s every year since 2012/13 and landing a Germany forward Thomas Mueller. sides were ruled to be two Test Championship final at the finish United, scored 29 times in the sec- magazine. tenth straight German league title is Nagelsmann has a talent for nurtur- overs short of their targets after time of the 2021-23 cycle of matches. ond-tier Championship last season, His first competitive game is at mandatory for the fans and the board. ing talent, like Bayern midfielder allowances were taken into Australia missed out on a place in finishing as the league’s second-high- Borussia Moenchengladbach on “At Bayern, success has to come Jamal Musiala, who only turns 19 in consideration. this year’s inaugural final partly as a est scorer. Earlier on Tuesday, Friday to kick off the new league very quickly,” insisted Oliver Khan, February. A rain-marred fixtures at Trent result of being docked points for a Southampton signed striker campaign. the club’s new CEO. “Our rivals are Musiala received a “nice, motivat- Bridge ended in a draw after the slow over-rate during the 2020 Boxing Armando Broja on loan from Chelsea Nagelsmann is still chasing his first going to hunt us like never before, so ing message” from Nagelsmann after whole of Sunday’s last day was washed Day Test, which, after a 2-1 series loss as Hasenhuettl looks to strengthen win with Bayern after three defeats we’ve got to be ready for that. We want Germany were knocked out of the out, with the second Test of a five- to India, pushed New Zealand into his forward line following the depar- and a draw from four pre-season to continue to belong to the top three Euro 2020 finals at the last 16 stage. match series starting at Lord’s on second place in the table. ture of Danny Ings to Aston Villa. friendlies. A 2-2 draw against Ajax in Europe,” he added, even though The teenager says Nagelsmann has Thursday. New Zealand became the first Southampton travel to Everton for came amid losses to Cologne, Bayern went out in the quarter-finals already “done a lot of work” improv- Under ICC regulations, players are World Test champions after defeating their opening Premier League game Moenchengladbach and Napoli, who of the Champions League last season. ing his “first touch, my vision and fined 20 percent of their match fees for India in the final at Southampton in on Saturday. (AGENCIES) won 3-0 in Munich against a near full- Nagelsmann knows he will only be co-ordination”. every over their side fails to bowl in June. (afp) After a good start in Rio, Olympic golf hits stride in Tokyo

Associated Press which reported her heart averaged 128 beats KAWAGOE, Aug 11 per minute during the final round, and hit 154 when she was on the podium. Her heart rate hit its peak only when Nelly Both competitions had playoffs—Inami for Korda stood on the Olympic podium, not the silver medal over Lydia Ko, while CT Pan when she had a putter in her hand with a gold had to go four extra holes to win a seven-way medal hanging on every shot. playoff for the bronze. Six days earlier, the father of Xander It was different in Rio. It’s rare to find a Schauffele was the essence of calm as he 1-2-3 finish with no ties at any tournament, shared his views in German and English, and it happened in both events at the 2016 depending on who was asking. But as his son Olympics. Rose and Henrik Stenson were tied turned to face the three flag poles to the left going to the 18th and Rose won it with a pitch of the 18th green and the Star-Spangled to 3 feet for birdie. Matt Kuchar shot 63 to win Banner played, Stefan Schauffele was an the bronze by four shots over fourth place. emotional mess. He could barely say Park led by at least three shots the entire “anthem” without choking up. back nine. “Nobody is going to play the anthem for For the most part—and this was never you when you win the Masters, right? That more evident than two weeks at Kasumigaseki level of pride doesn’t exist in the Masters,” Country Club—golf moves like a tanker the father said. “It’s not a fifth major. But the across the ocean for three days, and then the importance of it is just like a major.” shell of the ship breaks apart and it trans- The second edition of golf ’s return to the forms into a speed boat for the final two Olympics captured a spirit of the Games that hours. is sure to build over the next three years until It can be exciting. It just takes a while. Paris, and then onward to Los Angeles and All that’s missing from the Olympics is a Australia. It’s not the fifth major, or even the team medal, and International Golf sixth one. Federation officials are optimistic that will Schauffele wouldn’t know the difference be in place for Los Angeles in 2028, presuma- because while the gold medal elevated him bly at Riviera. into the elite in golf, he has yet to win a major. Some players will have their doubts. Adam It felt no less special. Scott, among three players who have twice Korda won a major and a gold medal in a turned down their spots, doesn’t believe golf span of 42 days, and even she doesn’t know belongs in the Olympics at the expense of the difference, not does she care to make the other sports that don’t have four majors a distinction. “It’s amazing to be a gold medal- year. list, to even just be an Olympian and to repre- Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland didn’t sent your country,” she said. “You have to be like being forced to choose between Ireland the top of the top to come to the Games. But I and the UK. He famously dismissed the wouldn’t say one win is more special than the Olympics in 2016 when he said he had no other because they all are special.” regrets about not going. And while he would The only difference is they have a trophy watch on TV, golf probably wouldn’t be on his that only two others have—Justin Rose and list. “Probably the events like track and field, Inbee Park from Rio de Janeiro in 2016—and swimming, diving, the stuff that matters.” no one else can get until the Olympics go to He showed up for the Tokyo Olympics and Le Golf National outside Paris in 2024. That’s changed his mind in a big way, long before he what makes the Olympics unique, even if it was eliminated in the seven-way playoff. looks and feels like any other tournament. “I made some comments before that were Golf will never get away from 72 holes of probably uneducated and impulsive,” he stroke play, nor should it. The Olympics is said. “But coming here and experiencing it, about finding the best player, not about find- seeing, feeling everything that goes on—not ing a fancy format to get attention. just Olympic golf but just the Olympics in And this time, it delivered. general—that sort of Olympic spirit has defi- Both winners had a three-shot lead on the nitely bitten me. back nine only for it to be decided on the final “I need to do a better job of just giving hole. Schauffele made a 6-foot birdie putt on things a chance, experiencing things, not the 17th hole to regain the lead and won by writing them off at first glance,” he said. getting up-and-down from 98 yards. Korda “That’s sort of a trait of mine, but I’m happy closed with five pars and was helped by Mone to be proven wrong.” Inami making bogey on No 18 from a plugged Not quite as happy as Schauffele and lie in the bunker. Korda wears a Whoop band, Korda, but no less excited about Paris.

C M Y K 09 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 Sports | Medley

Briefing Tuchel takes Messi eyes European crown with PSG responsibility for Read Madrid’s Ceballos sidelined with injury The 34-year-old Argentina forward, who was unveiled as a Paris Saint-Germain player on Wednesday after signing a Abraham’s lack of MADRID: Real Madrid midfielder Dani two-year deal with the option for a third season, said he was ‘in the right place’ to win another Champions League trophy. Ceballos returned from the Tokyo playing time Olympics with a serious ankle injury, Associated Press the team said Tuesday. The club said PARIS, Aug 11 tests showed a “complete tear” of Real Madrid ligaments. He injured his left ankle Lionel Messi said he’s “in the right during Spain’s first match at the place” to win another Champions Olympic Games but stayed with the League trophy and cited a reunion president denies squad, who won the silver medal with Neymar as a key factor in his after losing the final to Brazil. decision to sign with Paris Saint- Madrid said Ceballos’ recovery Germain. influencing “will continue to be assessed,” but The 34-year-old Argentina star similar injuries usually sideline spoke at his introductory news confer- Messi’s departure players for several weeks. Madrid ence at Parc des Princes stadium on make their Spanish league debut on Wednesday, the morning after signing Reuters Saturday at Alaves. Ceballos was out a two-year deal with the option for a MADRID, Aug 11 of action for several matches last third season after leaving Barcelona. season because of injuries. “My goal and dream is to raise Real Madrid president Florentino another Champion’s (League Trophy) Perez has denied that he had any and I believe that I am in the right influence on Barcelona’s decision to Williams sisters, Kenin place to have the best chances to allow Lionel Messi to leave the club. withdraw from Cincinnati achieve that,” Messi said. “When you Messi had been set to stay at Barca CINCINNATI: Serena Williams, Venus see this squad, you really want to play after agreeing a 50% reduction in Williams and Sofia Kenin on Tuesday with them because there are so many salary, only for a dramatic U-turn to AFP/rss withdrew from the upcoming Western possibilities,” he added. “We have the occur last Thursday, resulting in the British media have linked Tammy Abraham & Southern Open. Kenin and Serena same goal. And Neymar of course did Argentine forward joining French with a move to Serie A club AS Roma. Williams are hampered by injuries. a lot and was important for my side Paris Saint-Germain on a free The reason for Venus Williams’ choice.” transfer on Tuesday. Reuters withdrawal was not disclosed. They Qatari-backed PSG have been des- Jaume Llopis, a former board LONDON, Aug 11 join Roger Federer and Novak perate to win the Champions League, member of the Espai Barca project Djokovic as high-profile stars who’ve falling just short when they lost the resigned his position in the wake of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said withdrawn from the Cincinnati event, 2020 final to Bayern Munich. Messi Messi’s departure before accusing he understood striker Tammy which starts Saturday. Serena helped Barcelona win four Champions Laporta of bending to Perez’s will. Abraham’s frustration over his lack Williams has not competed at any League trophies. “Messi’s departure is a move that of playing time last season and took tournament since retiring from her Messi’s arrival gives PSG formida- helps Florentino. Imagine that some responsibility for it, as first-round match at Wimbledon after ble attacking options as he links up (Kylian) Mbappe now signs for Real speculation grows over the England injuring her right leg on June 29. with not only Neymar—his former Madrid,” he told La Vanguardia international’s future at the Premier Serena Williams said she hopes to be teammate at Barcelona—but also newspaper. “It’s a coincidence that League club. back on the court “very soon.” Kenin, France World Cup winner Kylian new CEO Ferran Reverter is a British media have linked Abraham a 2019 semi-finalist in Cincinnati, Mbappe. long-time friend of Perez’s and that with a move to Serie A club AS Roma, said she is rehabbing a foot injury “I’m going to play with best players, between them they managed to who are managed by former Chelsea and hoping to be able to play in the it’s very nice, it’s incredible to be able convince Laporta to change his mind boss Jose Mourinho. US Open later this month. to experience this,” said Messi, who and stop negotiations.” The 23-year-old ended last season as also cited Argentina teammates and Perez, via a statement issued by Chelsea’s joint-top scorer with 12 goals PSG players Angel di Maria and Real, insisted that he has only met in all competitions but found himself Nadal pulls out of Toronto Leandro Paredes. “Obviously, one of Reverter twice before—once four marginalised at the London club since the reasons (I came) was the locker months ago and another last Saturday Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as Masters due to injury room: Neymar, Di Maria, Paredes, at a dinner where Laporta and the manager in January. TORONTO: World number four Rafael whom I know.” AP/Rss Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli Chelsea have also been reported to Nadal on Tuesday said he had with- Messi said he is “ready” to start Lionel Messi’s arrival gives the Parisians formidable attacking options as he lines up with was also present. “The statement and welcome back Belgium striker Romelu drawn from the Masters 1000 hard- playing with PSG, who host Strasbourg his former Barcelona teammate Neymar and France World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe. decision regarding Messi had already Lukaku from Inter Milan, a move court event underway in Toronto due on Saturday night. “When I feel it, been taken and released by this time,” which would further cut short to persistent pain in his injured left when the staff thinks I’m ok, I’ll be Barcelona and was granted a tearful is a fantastic moment for us.” Perez said. “Thus, it’s impossible that Abraham’s opportunities. foot. The injury kept the 20-time ready. I’m willing to play,” he said. exit news conference on Sunday to “Everybody knows Leo... He makes I’ve had any influence on Messi’s exit, “I will not comment on the actual Grand Slam champion out of Messi became the most high-profile signal the end of an era. Only the football magic, beautiful and he’s a or indeed any other decision that situations—how far this is and if it’s Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics free agent in football history after his Cristiano Ronaldo in the current era winner. It will be very exciting for our Barcelona have taken. I would hope true and not true,” Tuchel said before this year and played a role in his attempts to stay at Barcelona were challenges Messi’s status as an supporters and the fans worldwide,” that Llopis rectifies his false Wednesday’s Super Cup match against shock third-round exit at the rejected last week by the Spanish all-time great. he added. ”We have big ambition.” statements as soon as possible.” Villarreal. “Tammy is right now in the Washington Open last week. “I have league because the salary would not While PSG had to pay 222 million Messi said it was “very hard” to squad. “He was clearly not happy with had this issue for a couple of months, comply with financial regulations, euros (then $261 million) to sign leave Barcelona after so many years the last half a year and maybe he has as people know,” said Nadal, a with the Catalan club burdened by Neymar from Barcelona in 2017, there but added “the moment I arrived here reason also not to be happy. Maybe it five-time winner of the event which debts of more than 1.2 billion euros was no transfer fee for Messi. No sala- I felt very happy.” was also my fault not to push him, not was cancelled last year due to the ($1.4 billion). ry details were given, but a person PSG supporters have seen their club to trust him on the same level I maybe Covid-19 pandemic. “Of course, it is PSG moved quickly to sign the with knowledge of the negotiations transformed over the last decade since trusted other players. not a happy situation after all the suc- Argentina star. The team, Messi said, earlier told The Associated Press that the influx of Qatari sovereign wealth “I can absolutely understand that cess that I had here in Canada, not “positioned themselves and Messi is set to earn around 35 million investment linked to the emir. Once he wants more minutes. So the deci- being able to play this year after miss- everything went really fast and it was euros ($41 million) net annually. The Messi’s Barcelona contract expired— sion will be ‘how do we plan, what are ing a year.” Nadal has said he has easy. It happened in little time. It was a person said on condition of anonymi- and the Catalan club was unable to Tammy’s plans, does he fight his way been dealing with a recurring foot difficult situation and they were ty before the contract was signed. afford to keep him—PSG were one of back into the team from the position issue since 2005, which returned at efficient.” PSG will be hoping not only that the few clubs that could finance a deal where he ended last season or does he this year’s Roland Garros, where he PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino Messi helps the team regain the to sign the six-time world player of the want to change club to have the chance fell to eventual champion Novak quickly made contact with his fellow French title they lost to Lille last sea- year. Messi will wear the No 30 jer- of being a regular starter?’” Djokovic in the semi-finals before Argentine after Barcelona announced son but finally win the Champions sey—the same number he wore in his Tuchel was tight-lipped over the deciding to sit out two of the year’s last Thursday that Messi would be League. first two seasons with Barcelona imminent signing of Lukaku, who is biggest events. Nadal will now turn leaving the club he joined as a 13-year- Paris Saint-Germain president before switching to No 19 and then the REUTERS reported to return to Chelsea after his attention to getting fit ahead of old boy. Nasser Al-Khelaifi praised “a historic prized No 10, which Neymar gets to Real Madrid President Florentino Perez. seven years in a club-record 115 mil- the US Open in New York. (AGENCIES) Messi won every major honour with day for the club, football world and it keep at PSG. lion euro ($134.79 million) deal. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) ** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** Aries people approach life as if it were an It’s okay to withdraw from the world today, Tend to yourself today, Libra. Rather than send Let yourself go into full on productive Capricorn adventure in a hero’s journey. Of course, this Cancer. You’re likely to be craving quiet time to your energy out into the world, seek to center mode today. The moon’s presence in bal- courageous approach can feel isolating. reconnect with family members and the sanctu- some nurturing attention on your feelings, ance-bringing Libra encourages you to direct Thursday’s skies remind you of the importance ary that is your home. Let yourself spruce up health, and body. Luna’s presence in your sign your energy towards making strides on the of intimate relationships, as the moon floats your living space, reach out to your closest of signals this call to move inward and prioritize career front. through other-oriented Libra. kin, or simply take it easy. your own needs.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) **** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** You’re ready to apply yourself and take care of As a Leo, you’re born to bring your own creative Pull away into a private world of your own Break free from the mundane today, Aquarius. business today, Taurus. The moon saunters visions to life. Thursday’s skies remind you to today, Scorpio. You don’t owe anyone an expla- You were born to be eccentric and let your through balance-seeking Libra all day, encour- do just that, as the moon glides through artistic nation; you just need to restore your energy freak flag fly—so, why are you continuing to aging you to tackle your to-do list and return to Libra. levels and catch up on some downtime and submit yourself to limiting, mundane life a state of emotional equilibrium. reflective thought. circumstances?

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) ** Thursday’s skies find you in the mood to get on Put some of your talents to the test today, Virgo! Reach out to your community of friends today, Slip away into a world of your own today, Pisces. your own stage and shine, Gemini. The moon’s The moon’s presence in logical Libra implores Sagittarius. There’s no need to keep tirelessly You’re not likely to be in the mood for meaning- presence in artistically-inclined Libra encourag- you to activate any dormant skills.You may find pushing ahead with your career goals right less small talk or light and fluffy encounters es you to reconnect with your passions and yourself concerned with finances and now—especially when you’re running low on with other people. The moon cruises through sense of play, rather than dutifully submit your- resources in general, but by getting back into inspiration. The moon’s presence in sociable other-oriented Libra. self to mundane responsibilities. your talents. Libra encourages you to trade stories. Crossword Sudoku

Yesterday’s Solution

C M Y K THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 | 10 Culture & Lifestyle (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 A voice from nowhere: Battling for rights away from Kathmandu Manoj Ram, a Parsa-based Dalit rights activist, believes it’s his moral duty to struggle against all odds for his community.

SRIZU BAJRACHARYA caste villagers came to know of this, they dis- KATHMANDU mantled the tap claiming it being impure as a Dalit had touched it. The villagers then physi- n his crusade for justice, Manoj cally abused the man. Ram, who was 21 at the Ram is used to making people time, was one of the youths who had urged the around him uncomfortable. He police to register a complaint. is also used to being in crowds “But when the case finally went to court, the where his voice is the only one victim was penalised. They overturned the asking people to speak up and case against the victim by saying he had Odefy discrimination. washed fish at the temple’s tap, which, we were In his village in Mahuwan Gau, Dalit Tole in told, is considered impure on religious Parsa, many families don’t exactly approve of grounds,” recounts Ram. “It was ridiculous, Ram’s ways of doing things一which are radical but everyone went along with it. For us Dalits, at times. When he reminds his fellow villagers justice is hard to come by.” of the importance of fighting for equality and However, Ram’s first encounter with casteism the need to send their children to schools, happened when he was only 15. To prepare for many of them try to ignore him and some even his SLC, Ram had moved to Pokhariya ask him to stop sharing his thoughts with Municipality. “While looking for a room to rent, them. a friend told me that to get a room, I should not But Ram isn’t someone who would let his reveal my caste to landlords,” says Ram. villagers’ reluctance stop him from doing his This was a rude awakening from the ideal duty. Always clad in neatly tucked plain colour- life Ram had dreamed. “That episode made me ed shirts, an unfettered Ram walks around his realise that for us Dalits challenges are plenty village urging people to assert their rights. and opportunities are rare,” he says. “It’s not easy to get people of my community More than a decade after the incident, little to talk about the injustice they face. Years of has changed for Dalits who live in the remote systemic oppression and injustice has made parts of the country, says Ram. many of our people believe that they are inferi- “Voices of people like us who live in far- or and that they need the support of non-Dalits flung parts of the country and face casteism on everything from getting employment to just Photo courtesy: Manoj Ram daily are missing in many of the leading Dalit surviving on this earth. Caste discrimination Manoj Ram (bottom fourth right) with members of Dalit Dabab Samuha during a Dalit empowerment programme organised by Peace4Dalits Foundation Nepal. movements. What happens in Kathmandu is deeply entrenched and a complex subject. So, stays in Kathmandu. It’s the Kathmandu-based when I talk about change and try to encourage relief to Dalit communities in Parsa and across problems of casteism. finally raise their voice against the systemic organisations that get all the funds, and in people to work on it, many think doing so Province 2. So far, we have provided food relief “Working like this is not easy at all. It’s oppression, it didn’t take long for the momen- communities like ours, we don’t see the works would only invite problems,” says Ram. to 21,000 families and financial support to 2,000 exhausting because sometimes your voice tum to fizzle out.” of these organisations,” says Ram. “But I take this as my moral duty. I know families with the help of different internation- reaches nowhere. And it’s not possible to leave One of the more recent examples of it is the From his makeshift office, which is more of that many people aren’t happy with the kind of al non-governmental organisations,” says everything and focus solely on this aspect of uproar in the wake of the death of Bijay Ram, a temporary shack, Ram says he has been things that I have been doing and some have Ram. our work because we all have to make a living who died last year after being brutally tortured doing his best to raise funds for his organisa- even threatened to take my life. However, I “People here didn’t receive much aid from to fulfil our responsibilities at the end of the in police custody in Rautahat. The brutality of tion so he can continue helping the communi- need to continue doing what I do for my people the government, and whatever little aid our day. And it doesn’t help when the state does not the death caused the community to raise its ty’s people who need it the most. For furniture, who are still unaware of how the problems of organisation received, we made sure that it bother to think about the plights of Dalits. voice against oppression, and one of the people the office has a table and chair. Outside the caste discrimination will follow them through went to people who need it the most, and we are Instead of addressing our demands, the state is leading the protest was Ram. Protests erupted office is a worn-out banner bearing the name their lives and the lives of their children and continuing to help those who need it. Many more eager to see our movement lose momen- not just in Rautahat but also in the neighbour- of the organisation’ Peace4Dalits Foundation beyond,” he adds. people have lost their lives not just because of tum by remaining indifferent and wearing out ing districts of Parsa and Bara. Nepal’. For the last fourteen years, Ram, a Madhesi Covid-19 but also because of hunger. The pan- the people involved in the movement,” says a “The days of protests put immense pressure Regardless of the dire state of his office, Dalit and an active social campaigner, has been demic has only made our community’s chal- frustrated Ram. on the government to investigate the case. But Ram’s work over the years has helped him voicing issues of the Dalit community at the lenges more acute than it already was,” says One of the more pressing issues in his com- as days passed, the protests lost momentum, attain a sort of celebrity status. He has 5,000 grassroots level. He founded Peace4Dalits Ram. munity, he says, is the lack of awareness of the and now the case is in court. Justice has always friends and more than 1,800 followers on Foundation Nepal, a not-for-profit organisa- Besides food aid, Ram’s organisation has importance of education. been delayed in the case of Dalits,” says Ram. Facebook, which he uses to share news of tion, about a year ago, of which he is the cur- also started Dalit Bachha Siksya ko Pahuch “As soon as children turn teenagers, parents “And this has happened many times with other injustices suffered by Dalits across the country, rent chairperson. He is also a science teacher Tatha Vidyalaya Tikau Abhiyaan, as a call to would rather have them work and earn a living Dalit discrimination and killing incidences. In Dalit rights movements, and his views on vari- at Shree Ram Charitra Bhagat Madhyamik action programme to advocate how education than go to schools,” he says. “Another issue is many cases, matters are usually resolved inter- ous social issues. Vidyalaya, located 16 kilometres from his is one of the most important tools to fight our people’s reluctance to speak about the nally with money. And it is not the people’s “Sometimes it gets taxing when you have to home. structural caste-based discrimination. And as injustice they face.” fault because they live such a hard life. keep telling people of the problems our com- Until last year, Ram’s work in his communi- a response to the increasing violence against The larger understanding has always been to Families who protest and speak out are often munity continues to face, and many are unwill- ty remained in the shadows. His work came Dalits, including the series of Dalit killing keep quiet no matter the injustice they have to ostracised and forced into situations where ing to accept it. But I tell myself that I have to into prominence last year as the Covid-19 pan- incidences in the country last year, the organi- deal with daily, says Ram, because that way, the they have no choice but to give in. And many of keep working on this because the majority of demic ravaged his community, like many other sation has brought together people from differ- Dalits can still work and pay their bills. us don’t have the time to struggle through this our people are uneducated and are entangled small villages across the country. In those test- ent Dalit communities and created Dalit Dabab “Making people angry would mean your hardship. And that is what the state people and in this vicious cycle of casteism without the ing times, Ram arranged relief programmes Samuha to address cases of discrimination loss. And the ones who do speak out are made governance take advantage of.” tools needed to break the shackles that bind through Peace4Dalit Foundation Nepal, hoping and violence against Dalits. to pay the price. That has been our reality for a Eight years ago, in a village not far from them,” says Ram. “I know change has not come to lessen the suffering the pandemic caused in Ram has also been engaging Dalit women in long time. That is why people here are reluc- Ram’s, a man from Dom caste drank water today, but I am hopeful that change will come, his community. Dalit empowerment discussions and in the tant to do anything about the reality,” he says. from a tap in a temple in Parsa’s Jagatpur and we will all look back and say our hardships “Our team have been working to provide process has been making them aware of the “Even on occasions when the community did Mananpur village. When the so-called upper and struggles did not go to waste.”

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