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The Constitution of Nepal has stipulated the right against child marriage as a fundamental right. Nepal is also a party to various international treaties against child marriage. In this sense, it falls within the theoretical scope of human rights. According to the existing laws of Nepal, marriage under the age of 20 is defined as child marriage. There is also a provision for imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 30,000 for those who commit marriage-related offenses, including child marriage. These provisions notwithstanding, instances of child marriage are not hard to find in Nepal.

An alarming picture

According to the statistics of the Nepal Police, in 2022, 52 complaints related to child marriage were registered in Koshi province, 10 in Madhes province, 10 in Bagmati province, five in Lumbini province, 10 in Sudurpaschim province, two in Gandaki province and nine in Karnali province.

These figures are merely representative records. Whether it is the parents who get their children married off to avoid responsibility or the children themselves opting to tie the nuptial knot, there is a widespread practice of covering up child marriages in families or societies by not filing complaints.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that Nepal still has a sizable population that disregards the minimum marriageable age and sees marriage only as a matter of obligation, maybe because of illiteracy also.

According to the 2011 census, child marriage, which stood at 27 percent, came down to 21 percent (per the 2021 census). One can take a little bit of solace in these data. Still, child marriage remains a matter of concern with rural and marginalized communities still opting for it in the name of tradition and culture.

I myself had the pathetic experience of child marriage, so I am committed to playing a concrete role in reducing child marriage by empathizing with the overall development of girls from ordinary families. A resolution registered in the House of Representatives aims to initiate a concrete and diagnostic debate on the abolition of child marriage in Nepal. It is necessary to debate whether the abolition of child marriage is possible, not its reduction.

In our society, child marriage is not limited to any specific community or geography; it has spread throughout the country, depriving the children, first and foremost, of their right to education.

No matter how strict the law is, traditional thinking and socio-economic environment encourage child marriage with factors like poverty, inequality, lack of education and gender discrimination all playing their respective parts.

Various researches show that child marriage increases the risk of early pregnancy, maternal mortality, malnutrition, school dropout rates and violence. It is also a subtle and distorted form of gender violence. Child marriage is both a cause and a consequence of poverty.

In terms of the right to education, child marriage effectively ends the formal education of children. Child marriage in lower and middle-class families leads to the compulsion to have children and shoulder the responsibility of parenthood. Not only this, most of the men and women, who marry at an early age, have their decision-making capacity diminished, which impacts their participation in the ‘economic cycle’ necessary to sustain the life cycle.

On account of factors like these, 193 countries expressed commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and set various goals with 17 indicators to set global development priorities by 2030, in 2015. ‘Target 5.3’ under the SDGs talks about ending child marriage within the deadline.

We have enacted laws against child marriage but our campaigns and programs aimed at ending this scourge do not seem to have reached sections of the society that are lagging behind in terms of human development indexes like literacy. We need to be more serious vis-a-vis child marriage, also to achieve SDGs by aligning our efforts with the United Nations and various donor agencies working to end child marriage. 

With all three tiers of the government—central, provincial and local levels—lacking a clear vision, will we be able to achieve these goals within the deadline for SDGs? 

The way out

Let’s make it mandatory for every youth to obtain an ‘adult registration certificate’ from the ward office of the concerned municipality for marriage upon completing 20 years of age. This kind of arrangement can bring about desired positive changes. Just as the state provides birth certificates, citizenship or other official documents, our policy initiative should be toward making it mandatory to obtain an adult registration certificate from the ward before marriage after attaining the minimum marriageable age. Some local levels appear to have implemented this system, which is quite commendable. A legal system governing this throughout the country will make way for its integrated implementation and a measurable impact. 

The author is a lawmaker

You can never have too many cookbooks but you also only need one or two to become a pro in the kitchen with an arsenal of recipes up your sleeves. Over the past few years, I’ve amassed quite a few cookbooks as I’ve developed a sort of fascination with learning different cooking tricks and tips. I find cookbooks extremely helpful on that front. Every cookbook author has his/her own unique ways in the kitchen and it’s fun to pick up unconventional ways of doing things.

I recently got my hands on a copy of ‘The Great Indian Thali’ by Nandita Iyer who is a doctor, nutritional expert, wellbeing advocate, and columnist. In the past 15 years, she has written three books on health, nutrition, and food. She is also the founder of the popular blog ‘Saffron Trail’ that has many healthy, vegetarian recipes. I had wanted to buy this book when I was in Delhi, India, some time ago but I had already bought way too many books so I had simply put it back on the shelf. Despite being enthralled by the pictures in the book, I thought the thali was something Nepalis didn’t need help with and I wouldn’t be missing out. But now I know how wrong I was.

Though the book, at the beginning, teaches you to make steamed rice, dal, khichdi, green chutney and the likes (recipes you’d roll your eyes at), it also has recipes of many other dishes that you’ve only enjoyed at restaurants or when traveling and never thought of making yourself. You’ll learn to make a variety of dosas, pickles, sweets, and snacks. The recipes are also categorized according to the season so you know which dish is most suited for which weather. I’d never come across a cookbook that has done this before. It shows how Iyer views food: as something that can work as medicine when taken in the right form and time.

One thing I like about cookbooks is their ability to double as decor or a coffee table book. The Great Indian Thali is no different. This beautifully illustrated and bound hardcover book is a visual delight. With colorful pages separating each section and full page photographs of food, the book is a fun one to just flip through when you are in need of some kitchen inspiration. There are great, heartwarming recipes of snacks, soups, and desserts that you can quickly whip up in minutes. The ingredients are clearly listed out and the instructions are easy to follow. There are many handy tips as well that will make you a pro in the kitchen. All in all, The Great Indian Thali, which feels like a culinary tour of India, is a must have if you are looking to eat healthy and want to learn how to make some delicious vegetarian food at home. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123509645-the-great-indian-thali 

The Great Indian Thali

Nandita Iyer

Illustrations: Abhilasha Dewan, Anita Verma

Published: 2022

Publisher: Roli Books

Pages: 191, Hardcover

Life can get unnecessarily difficult at times so it helps to simplify things whenever possible. Little things can go a long way in making everyday life easy. Here are some simple ways to reduce the complexities of life. They might not solve your larger problems but they will definitely give you more time to focus on what’s important and clear up mental space for you to deal with the bigger issues.

Meal prep in advance

Meal prepping is the easiest way to shorten your time in the kitchen and make healthy meals accessible. So take some time out, once a week or once every two to three days, to wash and chop your veggies, marinate chicken, and soak or stream pulses and grains. Having healthy ingredients on hand will make cooking seem less like a chore. You can also batch make tomato puree and ginger garlic paste and freeze this to use when you need, saving valuable time. Invest in some lightweight containers to store chopped vegetables in the fridge.

Invest in an air fryer

Kitchen gadgets help reduce the time you spend cooking by making chopping, blending, frying etc. easier and efficient. In many cases, they also save the time you would spend cleaning afterwards. A blender is a necessity in the kitchen. This will make everything—from making purées to juices—easy and effortless. It’s good to have a microwave as well as this will help you reheat food in minutes and without the need for extra pots and pans. But what we especially recommend is an air fryer. It’s a game changer and can promote healthy eating habits as well. An air fryer eliminates the need to use a lot of oil. In some cases, you don’t need oil at all. It’s a great time-saving alternative to frying that can be messy and time consuming and you can make basically everything from French Fries to Grilled Chicken in it.

Deal with clutter on a regular basis

You might not realize it but clutter can make everyday activities a hassle. You might struggle to find your keys or wallet as you leave home or lose or misplace things on a daily basis. By clearing out clutter—throwing mail you don’t need or storing things away—you will be creating more space in your life for things that matter and also make your home more aesthetically appealing. Take 10 to 15 minutes a day, every morning or before you go to bed, to put things away and toss things like receipts and wrappers that have gathered from the day. You will find that a cleaner home makes life so much smoother.

Schedule one day a week for grocery shopping

As we go about our busy days with a gazillion things to deal with, there is often the added pressure to do things like shop for food, buy toilet paper or soap etc. Although they might seem like small things, they take up mental energy and time. Scheduling a weekly grocery run simplifies things and saves you the trouble of having to run to the store for one thing or the other time and again. Make a list of things you need and shop in one go. You can also try stocking up on essentials like toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and the like to have to buy them once a month and not every or every other week.

Have a go-to bag of essentials near the door

More often than not, it’s a mad rush to get out of the house. As we run about gathering things we need, we keep forgetting something or the other and thus moving about the house to find them. Having a bag of essentials near the door or in a drawer by the door or shoe cabinet will ease this tedious process. Grab a large pouch and put things like tissues, lip balms, masks, pens, hair ties and other things you might need when you are going out in it. This will be your go-to bag of sorts that you can quickly grab things from when you are running late and find that you haven’t carried something you need. Keep this where you keep your keys or at least nearby so that it’s easily accessible. We guarantee this will help you reach wherever you are going on time.

Maintain an organized bedside table 

An organized bedside table can make you more productive as well as make your early morning or bedtime routine more comfortable. Not only does a well kept bedside area make your bedroom seem calmer and more put together, it also saves you the trouble of having to get up to fetch things as you wind down for the day. It’s a convenient space to store your essentials that you might sometimes even need in the middle of the night. You don’t want to go waddling through the house for a glass of water or a painkiller during the middle of the night. Place a nice glass tumbler with water next to your alarm clock and book and some basics like painkillers, creams, and throat lozenges in a tray in the drawer below it. The idea is to keep everything you need close by so that you don’t have to keep getting out of bed at night. 

As Nepal advances toward its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and national plans, one target stands out as both urgent and ambitious: achieving net zero carbon emissions. This goal, though complex, is not impossible—especially if Nepal harnesses one of nature’s most powerful, yet often overlooked, climate allies: the Vetiver grass system.

With rising temperatures, rapidly melting Himalayan glaciers, unpredictable monsoon patterns, and an alarming increase in landslides and flash floods, Nepal is already living the harsh realities of climate change. While industrialized countries focus on energy transition, electric vehicles, and technological carbon capture, countries like Nepal—with limited industrial emissions but high vulnerability—must champion nature-based solutions that are affordable, scalable, and regenerative.

This is where Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) offers a uniquely powerful opportunity. Traditionally known for its use in soil conservation, erosion control, and slope stabilization, vetiver is now gaining recognition as a natural carbon sink. Its dense and deep root system, which can grow over three to five meters underground, allows it to sequester large quantities of atmospheric carbon dioxide into the soil.

Recent studies have shown that Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) has the potential to sequester 15 to 20 metric tons of CO₂ per hectare per year—a rate that rivals or even surpasses many tree-based afforestation projects. What sets Vetiver apart is its rapid growth cycle and its massive, fibrous root system, which penetrates 3 to 4 meters deep into the soil within a single growing season. Unlike trees, which can take decades to reach maturity and store significant carbon, Vetiver achieves measurable carbon sequestration in just months.

The deep-rooted nature of Vetiver is critical: carbon stored below 1 meter in the soil is far less likely to be disturbed by erosion, fire, or agricultural tilling, meaning the captured CO₂ remains stable and locked in the ground for decades, if not centuries. This makes Vetiver not only effective, but a highly reliable long-term carbon sink.

Moreover, the Vetiver System allows multiple planting and harvesting cycles per year depending on climatic conditions and management practices, which further accelerates carbon absorption. Each cycle contributes fresh biomass, organic matter, and root expansion—deepening the soil’s carbon bank.

From a land-use perspective, Vetiver can be strategically integrated into a variety of landscapes to maximize both environmental and economic benefits. On degraded and barren lands, Vetiver plays a crucial role in restoring soil fertility while sequestering significant amounts of carbon. Along flood-prone riverbanks, it stabilizes the soil, reduces erosion, and captures sediment-rich carbon, contributing to cleaner waterways. When planted on road and highway slopes, Vetiver prevents erosion and helps create resilient green corridors. Additionally, when used along agricultural field boundaries, it serves as a protective buffer that not only shields crops from wind and water damage but also enhances carbon storage capacity, supporting sustainable farming practices.

A major advantage of Vetiver is its low maintenance: it requires minimal irrigation, no pesticides, and thrives in poor soils. This makes it ideal for large-scale deployment in Nepal, especially through community forestry programs, local governments, youth cooperatives, and eco-enterprises.

In a time when Nepal seeks to meet its Net Zero Carbon target within the next five years, adopting the Vetiver System at scale could be the most cost-effective, nature-based, and scientifically sound strategy available.

Nepal’s net zero ambition is bold—but it is within reach. In Vetiver, we have a low-cost, high-impact, nature-based solution already tested across different terrains of Nepal. As the world looks for scalable climate solutions, Nepal has the chance to lead by example—not by waiting, but by planting. The Vetiver System is not just about green landscapes; it’s about a green future.

With the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions within the next five years, the vetiver system in Nepal shows promising potential. In 2022, Nepal emitted approximately 56.7m metric tons of CO₂ equivalent greenhouse gases. According to studies, vetiver grass can absorb around 15.24 metric tons of carbon per hectare per year. Based on this, Nepal would need to plant vetiver across approximately 333,335 hectares to offset its annual carbon emissions.

To achieve this goal within five years, vetiver would need to be planted on 66,667 hectares of land annually. Out of Nepal’s total 4.1m hectares of arable land, the proposed plantation area represents only 8.13 percent, making it both practical and achievable. To help visualize these facts clearly, a visual infographic has also been prepared, showing how Nepal can realistically achieve its net-zero target using the vetiver system.

To maximize impact, strong policy support and cross-sectoral alignment are essential. The government should formally recognize Vetiver systems within national carbon offset strategies and incorporate Vetiver-based interventions in future updates of Nepal’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Additionally, it is crucial to facilitate streamlined carbon credit certification mechanisms, allowing local communities, municipalities, and private firms to access benefits from global carbon markets. By taking these steps, Nepal can accelerate progress toward its net zero targets while simultaneously unlocking significant opportunities for climate finance and green investment.

While carbon sequestration is a central focus, Vetiver offers multi-dimensional value across environmental and socio-economic domains. It plays a vital role in soil and water conservation by reducing erosion, restoring fertility, and enhancing groundwater recharge. In the context of disaster risk reduction, Vetiver strengthens slopes and embankments, offering natural protection against landslides and floods. It also generates livelihood opportunities through its use in handicrafts, essential oil extraction, composting, and livestock fodder. Moreover, Vetiver supports biodiversity and ecological regeneration by reviving degraded landscapes and fostering the growth of native flora and fauna.