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After the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal, India committed $250m in grant assistance for post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu said on Monday. “The grant was allocated in four different sectors—Housing ($100m), Education ($50m), Health ($50m) and Cultural Heritage ($50m). A JPMC (Joint Project Monitoring Committee) mechanism was set up in Aug 2017 to monitor the progress of these projects,” the statement added.

India and Nepal held the fifth meeting of the JPMC on post-earthquake reconstruction projects on Monday in Kathmandu. The Indian delegation was led by Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the Nepalese delegation was led by Padma Kumar Mainalee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of Nepal.

The meeting was also attended by several other representatives of the Governments of India and Nepal, consultants and other stakeholders engaged in implementation of the projects.

The meeting carried out a comprehensive review of the progress of the Government of India assisted post-earthquake reconstruction projects in housing, education, health and cultural heritage sectors in Nepal. It acknowledged the successful completion of the projects agreed under the housing sector in 2021 and the education sector in 2024.

According to the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, in health and cultural heritage sectors, both sides expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved and agreed to expedite the early completion of projects under these sectors.

Since the last JPMC meeting in Oct 2023, Government of India has handed over 26 projects in the education sector including Tribhuvan University Central Library in Kathmandu, 32 projects in the health sector and three projects in the cultural heritage sector, amounting to Rs 3.35bn.

In addition, 43 projects in the health sector and nine projects in the cultural heritage sector amounting to Rs 1.73bn have been completed during this period, as per the Embassy of India Kathmandu.

Both sides appreciated the positive socio-economic impact of the reconstruction projects, particularly in employment generation and extension of health and education facilities in remote areas.

AS (North) also visited the Gusthal Mahavihar reconstruction project, a cultural heritage site located in Guita Tole, Lalitpur Metropolitan City-8. During the visit, he reviewed the project’s progress and engaged with members of the user community.

Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the JPMC on a mutually convenient date.

Both the ruling and opposition parties are actively preparing their strategies for the upcoming winter session of Parliament, set to commence on Jan 31. Traditionally, the winter session is regarded as a ‘bills session’, but as usual, it is likely to be overshadowed by political disputes between the ruling coalition and the opposition.

The ruling parties, led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, are working to present a united front on key issues, particularly the government’s decision to introduce five ordinances just before the session. Prime Minister Oli has emphasized the need for all ruling parties and their leaders to defend the government’s decisions and policies. However, his concerns are growing as some senior leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) have openly criticized the government’s performance and its move to issue ordinances. NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged his lawmakers to refrain from publicly criticizing the ordinances, while the party has invited experts to brief lawmakers on the benefits of these ordinances.

Despite these efforts, dissatisfaction persists within the NC. During the party’s Parliamentary Party meeting, lawmakers expressed concerns over the government’s poor performance. While Prime Minister Oli has publicly thanked the NC for its support, senior NC leaders, including Shekhar Koirala, continue to criticize the ordinances and other government actions. NC Vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka has stressed the need for ruling parties to present a unified stance, avoiding conflicting opinions. Echoing this sentiment, UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula has called on ruling parties to highlight the advantages of the ordinances to justify the government’s decisions.

Meanwhile, opposition parties are gearing up to take a more aggressive stance in Parliament. They plan to strongly criticize the government’s decision to issue ordinances and raise other contentious issues, such as proposed changes to electoral laws aimed at introducing a threshold to prevent the emergence of new political parties. Additionally, the opposition will focus on the case of Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane, who is under investigation for alleged involvement in the misappropriation of cooperative funds. Opposition parties view this as political revenge and a targeted move against Lamichhane.

The opposition also intends to highlight the lack of progress on the constitution amendment process, which was agreed upon by the NC and UML. The Parliament Secretariat has prepared a two-week calendar for the session, with top leaders from all parties set to address the House on the first day. The ordinances introduced by the government will also be presented on the same day.

The government aims to enact over a dozen laws during this session, but the political environment remains highly polarized, with sharp divisions between the ruling and opposition parties. Despite the opposition’s protests, the NC and UML, with their strong numerical strength, are well-positioned to pass legislation. Currently, 12 bills are pending in the House of Representatives, and six are in the National Assembly. To expedite the law-making process, the NC and UML have established a two-party mechanism, with UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai and NC leader Jiwan Pariyar leading the effort.

“Today we suffer from the success of having “conquered” nature,” says Ashim Sharma, a mental health counselor who specializes in trauma, somatic experiencing, and drug rehabilitation. He

reflects on the increasing disconnection between humans and nature and its direct impact on our mental well-being which can be traced back to a biological/evolutionary level. 

Research has shown that exposure to nature reduces stress by activating the parasympathetic nervous system because of people’s innate connection to nature. In other words, we move from a fight-flight response (which alerts us to danger) to a rest-digest response (which decreases our heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels). 

Spending time in nature also impacts our thoughts and emotions and creates the feeling we get when we take a walk around the neighborhood “to clear our head”. This was supported by a functional neuroimaging study that found decreased blood flow in the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for complex thought) which correlated with decreased “rumination” (repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings) after a 90-minute nature walk compared with an urban area walk. 

When it comes to the relationship between nature and mental health, the concept of nature exposure has been prioritized as seen in the studies mentioned above. However, the concept of “nature connectedness” has surfaced in research in recent years. Nature connectedness is a psychological construct that measures individuals’ subjective sense of connection to nature and has been found to be stronger than nature exposure in predicting mental well-being.  It has been found to influence the relationship between mental health and natural exposure itself. 

This means we can not only reap the benefits by pausing to experience nature with our senses but also by reflecting and remembering the experiences through our preferred medium of expression whether it be poetry or painting. And through it feeling an increasing connection to nature.

This essence of nature connectedness is reflected through initiatives such as PsychHike by My Quest Foundation, where participants are led by a counselor/psychologist for a short hike. Throughout their journey, they receive basic psychoeducation while being simultaneously encouraged to connect with various natural elements.

Anjal Bhatta, a counseling psychologist/trainer who has been serving as the lead coach for PsychHike since 2013, shares his experience “During the hike, with each step there is movement, and with it is an opportunity to connect.” He asserts that the natural elements act as support for people to express and reflect on themselves, something your conventional workshop that is limited to four walls might not be able to provide you with.” 

To those used to the conventional approach, the hike can be quite challenging, however he reports feeling quite rewarded after seeing them overcome it. 

The countless benefits of nature-based experiences have been explored through research in environmental psychology, which has revealed that such experiences have a positive impact on attention, mood, self-regulation, and stress. It is also seen to increase generosity, cooperation, and our sense of social connection. 

Bidhan Parajuli, a sound healer and counseling psychologist who has been an active participant/ assistant coach during PsychHike from My Quest Foundation expresses feeling healing on a spiritual level, the feeling of being one with nature while also being able to reflect on personal development “I feel like my thinking and feeling patterns change every time I go.”

Small things such as spending time at community parks, pausing to notice the small things in nature such as adding plants to indoor spaces, paying attention to our five senses, or even watching videos of nature if we are unable to go outside. 

Neha Adhikari, a yoga instructor, and psychosocial counselor, shares about how the balance of five elements, air, water, space, earth, and fire are directly related to our mental well-being and how we can access them through simple daily acts such as going to our rooftops and practicing mindfulness about the sun/moon and the air and the fact that a simple shower can help balance our need for water element.

“I go to my terrace to relieve my headache after a long way of working indoors. I feel the air, space around me, sunlight if it is daytime or moonlight if it is night.”

As with other health-related activities, it is important to schedule time for this. The deep biological, psychological, and spiritual benefits of exploring our connection with nature can profoundly impact our overall well-being. It might be challenging to prioritize something so quietly existing around us, especially considering the vast amount of information fighting for our attention all throughout the day whether it be at work or at rest. However, it can be as easy as setting out for a few minutes to notice the trees or birds on your way to work or limiting your screen time during rest to go outside and notice the air and space around us sipping our favorite hot beverage. And soon we might start noticing the impact on our attention, mood, and stress levels.

As we age, our brain function declines. This is one of the reasons why old people aren’t as sharp as young ones. But it’s not something that is inevitable. With the right approach, you can train your brain to function at its best throughout your life. Your brain has the capacity to learn and grow even as you age, but you have to take care of it. Studies have shown that those who keep learning new skills or taking up challenging tasks have better cognition and don’t suffer from memory lapses as they age. But the earlier you start, the better. Here are some things you can consider if you want to boost memory, focus, and concentration.

Build your vocabulary

A good vocabulary is always a plus point. You will appear smarter and be more confident. But it also has another benefit that you don’t want to miss out on. Learning new words can be a stimulating brain game. Research shows that main areas of the brain are involved in tasks that involve vocabulary, particularly those that are important for visual and auditory processing. To start with, learn a new word or two every day and try to use those words in your conversations for the next few days. You can also make a list of words as you learn them—maintain a separate document or notebook for it—and come back to it to quiz yourself as your vocabulary expands.

Solve the Rubik’s cube 

Most of us have this fun thing at home but not all of us can actually solve it. Learning to solve the Rubik’s cube can be highly stimulating and it’s a skill that will make you feel smarter while working your brain muscles. There are many YouTube tutorials that can teach you how to try and solve the cube but each is different and you will really have to work your brain muscles. It will take time for you to learn this skill and you will also need to practice it to master it. The good thing is you can carry a Rubilk’s cube with you and practice whenever you have some time. Once you know how to solve it, you can challenge yourself to finish it within five minutes or less.

Do a jigsaw puzzle

Jigsaw puzzles are fun. It’s also a great way to exercise your brain muscles. These days, you not only get a 100 piece puzzle like you used to earlier but there are many 500 or a 1000 piece puzzles in the market as well so there is really no limit to just how intensive and immersive doing a jigsaw can be. Looking at different pieces and trying to figure out where they fit in the larger picture recruits multiple cognitive abilities. It can also be a meditative practice, calming and nurturing your brain. This is also a fun activity to do with family or friends. We suggest you start with a simple one consisting of 100 or less pieces and then try more complex ones. You can also create your own puzzles by printing a photo or picture you really like and cutting that into little pieces.

Learn a new language

Multiple studies have shown the overwhelming benefits of being able to speak in two or more languages. It’s believed to delay the onset of age related mental decline while also improving memory, creativity, and visual-spatial skills. Learning and using multiple languages in your day to day life is shown to be good for your cognitive reserve, which is your brain’s ability to compensate for damage caused by injury or diseases. It also strengthens neural connections, thus facilitating learning and information retention. If you don’t want to join a physical class, there are many online courses available as well. Alternatively, language learning apps or YouTube tutorials can be great tools if you are undecided about which language to learn.

Listen to or play music

Studies have shown that music has powerful effects on the brain. From stress reduction to sleep quality improvement, music has far reaching impacts. Music can improve memory and concentration by stimulating brain areas involved in learning and information recall. Music is structural and mathematical with one note connecting to the next. You might not be aware of it but your brain actually does a lot of work to make sense of it. Experts suggest listening to different kinds of music to reap its myriad benefits. Often, we listen to the same kind of music as we did when we were in our teens but unfamiliar music forces our brain to restructure itself.

Do things differently

We are creatures of habit and our days follow more or less the same pattern. While routine and discipline are essential for a good life, doing the same thing over and over again can limit mental growth. Try tweaking things up by changing your morning routine, taking a different route to work, or changing the kind of content you watch on the internet. If you are used to doing a certain thing in a particular way, see if you can do it some other way. The idea is not to be stuck in a rut. Your brain will benefit from simple changes and experts say that you will be surprised by how change can promote critical and creative thinking as well.