HELLO NEPAL

The Kathmandu Post 27 October 2017 SPEED UP More than two years have passed after the earthquake devastated Nepal in April 2015, killing more than 8,000 people and destroying thousands of houses and historic monuments. Most of the affected people were forced to take shelter in make- shift camps and they are still in these temporary shelters waiting for support from the government.  The victims suffered severely during the last two winters and monsoons. The government formed the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) to take charge of the reconstruction process. It took several months for the NRA to become operational due to politicisation of this organisation. The UML led government appointed its favoured candidate Shushil Gyewali as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who was subsequently criticized for not working affectively. He was replaced by the pro-Nepali Congress candidate Govind Raj Pokharel soon after the NC-Maoist coalition partnership toppled Oli led gove...

The Himalayan Times 26 October 2017 Foreign junkets It was not surprising but unfortunate to read the news concerning foreign junkets of bureaucrats and ministers at a time when the country is gearing towards holding two crucial elections in another three weeks time. Millions of rupees are spent from state coffers every year on their foreign visits. However, it does not seem so far that the nation has benefitted out of these trips. Their priority seems to be visiting foreign countries rather focusing on issues concerning general public “Bureaucrats’, ministers’ foreign junkets top Cabinet agenda” (THT, Oct. 25, Page 1). Surprisingly, during the last three cabinet meeting in the last fortnight, 25 out of 78 agenda were about bureaucrats’ and ministers’ foreign visits; 10 out of the 26 agenda that the cabinet discussed on last Monday were related to foreign visits. Defence Secretary Shreedhar Sapkota flew to Japan to inspect wheel loader track dozer that Nepal wanted to buy...

The Kathmandu Post 13 October 2017 HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMME The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) made a welcome move a few months ago regarding universal health coverage. This bill has now been endorsed by Parliament, opening the door for the government to implement this policy throughout the country (“House nod to landmark bill to ensure universal care” October 11, Page 1). MoHP had started this programme as a pilot project in a few districts and the response have been positive. This new law will come into force once the President authorises it. This is an important step towards ensuring health care services for all citizens as envisioned by the new constitution. The whole idea of this programme is to ensure that all citizens have access to preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services. According to this programme, a household of five has to pay an annual premium of Rs. 2,500 to get services worth upto Rs 50,000. For each additional member, Rs 425 h...