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With visas in their hands and time slipping out of their hands quite fast, about 1400 workers selected under the Employment Permit System are awaiting to fly to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) for jobs. 

According to reports, this grim situation has arisen because of the inability of the global sales agent for Korean Air (South Korea’s flag carrier), Universal Tour and Travels, to provide flight tickets to these people. 

Meanwhile, the ‘responsible’ authorities have not been twiddling their thumbs in a difficult situation, if the EPS Section of the Department of Foreign Employment is any indication. 

Rather, they have found some excuse this time also, at a time when things at the Tribhuvan International Airport things are very far from hunky-dory, with the airport undergoing major upgradation that is expected to take months. 

A report quotes Kamal Raj Shrestha, spokesperson for the section, explaining the reason behind the workers’ plight: Between Dashain and Tihar, a large number of migrant workers had their visas issued and this has affected their departure. While very few flights operated in November, we have already received a schedule for sending 650 workers (to South Korea) in December. 

Under the existing scheme of things, the selected workers have to arrive in South Korea within three months from the date of issuance of their visas. Apparently, workers do not want to miss the deadline and lose the jobs that have come their way. 

At present, Korean Air operates three direct flights along the Kathmandu-Seoul sector and the workers selected under the EPS and traveling on relatively cheaper tickets cannot enjoy transit facilities along the journey. While Universal charges these workers about 1.19 lakh rupees for each flight ticket, it charges others flying the same sector around 1.5 lakh rupees per ticket. 

This is not the end of air travelers’ woes, though. Amid major upgradation of the TIA, passengers’ difficulties have only increased, what with unauthorized hikes in the prices of tickets.

It’s sad that the government has not only failed to retain the youths for giving Nepal a turnaround, it has also failed to ensure a relatively comfortable journey to those workers, who wish to toil abroad and send remittances home. 

Responsible authorities like the Civil Aviation of Authority of Nepal and the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation should bring a semblance of order before absolute chaos reigns supreme at the aviation sector.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

This year’s monsoon proved more fatal than the previous year’s.

Government data don’t lie, do they?

According to the  National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs, this year's monsoon disasters caused the highest human casualties in Nepal since 2009 and five times more than the last year’s.

This year’s monsoon, which entered earlier compared to previous years but stayed 10 days more than usual, wreaked unprecedented havoc between June 10 and October 12 in an ill-prepared and multiple disasters-prone country standing shakily on a seismic fault-zone.  

During the period, 494 people lost their lives (marking an increase of 537 per cent compared to the last year), 66 went missing and 532 suffered injuries in 2,136 monsoon-related incidents that affected 5,937 families.

This monsoon, floods affected 2,227 families in 397 locations, with 90 human casualties, 18 cases of missing and 45 injuries. In 943 reported landslides, 343 people died, 48 went missing and 276 sustained injuries, directly impacting 1,561 families, according to the authority.

Incidents of heavy rainfall recorded in 538 locations killed nine people and caused injuries to 38 others, affecting 1,814 families. 

In 258 incidents of lightning recorded during the period, 52 people died and 164 suffered injuries, affecting 335 families, per the authority’s data.

From June 14 to October 15 last year, the authority recorded 891 monsoon-related incidents that killed 92 people, 30 went missing and 168 suffered injuries.

It’s clear that stepped-up disaster preparedness could have minimized the scale of the monsoon tragedy in a country that is very susceptible to natural disasters worsened by climate change.

After the monsoon havoc, the winter has arrived, exposing a large number of survivors, including children, women and senior citizens, to multiple challenges like food shortages, lack of shelters, health and hygiene issues and disruption of education.

The onus is on government authorities at federal, provincial and local levels to act in tandem and take urgent measures to ensure the survivors’ well-being, and prove the opening line entirely wrong in this context. 

As the 29th United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29) approaches in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nepal’s delegation under President Ram Chandra Paudel is set to represent the nation’s climate challenges. Nepal, one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, faces rising threats from floods, landslides and unpredictable weather patterns. Yet, while Nepal’s participation aims to spotlight these urgent issues, the participation fails to reflect the voices of those most affected. Like always, this year’s COP preparation also exposes the troubling disconnect between official representation and grassroots needs.

Rather than including those directly affected by climate change—the farmers, local leaders and activists who confront these impacts daily—Nepal’s delegation comprises primarily political insiders and elites from NGOs and INGOs. Despite claiming to advocate for the vulnerable, these organizations have not extended a real invitation to those at the frontlines of climate change. Pre-COP meetings are being held in star hotels with closed doors to grassroots representatives, the very people whose insights and lived experiences could bring authenticity and urgency to the global stage. Instead, the delegation’s composition reflects political favoritism, not the inclusivity that should define climate advocacy.

The exclusion of affected communities, civil society and media professionals specializing in climate reporting raises serious concerns. Nepal’s most vulnerable regions are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Yet their voices remain unheard. UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs have largely ignored calls for transparency in the selection process, leaving the delegation stacked with privileged individuals who may lack genuine engagement with climate challenges on the ground.

For Nepal’s participation at COP29 to be meaningful, it must represent more than political interests. The experiences and insights of those facing climate-induced hardships must drive Nepal’s agenda, pushing for adaptive solutions rooted in the realities of vulnerable communities. Without grassroots representation, Nepal risks losing credibility on the international stage and, more critically, missing a vital opportunity to advocate for true climate justice. It is time for a change, ensuring that those directly affected by climate change have a seat at the table.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s claim that his government achieved 70 percent of its goals in the first 100 days highlights underlying challenges in governance. The period saw some important developments, particularly in governance reforms and handling of the economy. Oli said the government could have performed even better if it were not for the devastating floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains toward the end of September.

Although the floods and landslides wreaked havoc, claiming 391 lives, and affecting over 2,555 families, the government swiftly responded by offering financial assistance. Essential services like water, electricity and communication were restored within 15 days in affected areas. Economic reforms formed a cornerstone of Oli’s early tenure. Long-pending payments to dairy and sugarcane farmers were cleared. The government also facilitated release of outstanding payments worth around Rs 6.75bn to different construction entrepreneurs, which is expected to stimulate development projects. The government also launched an innovative youth startup loan program, offering collateral-free loans of up to Rs. 2.5m to 165 young entrepreneurs, aiming to boost youth-led businesses and employment.

Authentication of the Transitional Justice Bill and the formation of a recommendation committee to establish two transitional justice commissions show the government is serious about taking the peace process, which began 17 years ago, to its logical end.

On the broader economic front, signs of recovery were visible, with the formation of an Economic Advisory Commission fostering confidence in the private sector. A significant achievement during this period was securing investment commitments worth Rs 34bn in over 200 new industries. Federal government spending saw a modest increase, reaching Rs. 329bn, while revenue mobilization grew by 13.3 percent, totaling Rs. 248bn. These figures reflect a cautious but steady recovery from earlier economic instability.

Oli’s government also made strides in healthcare and social welfare. Free treatment for burn victims and the expansion of cancer treatment services to all seven provinces were notable achievements. The government increased compensation for the families of deceased migrant workers to Rs 1m, up from Rs. 700,000, and extended the benefit to families of those who died after returning to Nepal.

In energy and infrastructure, the trilateral agreement reached with India and Bangladesh for the export of 40 MW of hydropower to Bangladesh is an important milestone in regional energy cooperation. Tunneling breakthroughs in three major road projects have also been listed as achievements of the government. Additionally, over 4,000 km of roads were repaired, and 32.5 km were blacktopped.

Oli’s government also prioritized digital and banking inclusion, extending fiber-optic internet (FTTH) to all 77 districts and ensuring banking access in all 753 units. On the international front, streamlined procedures allowed foreign investors to gain approvals quickly, which has helped position Nepal as a more business-friendly destination.

Despite facing criticism and rumors of instability, the government has focused on systemic reforms rather than populist measures. However, the true measure of success will be in transforming these initiatives into visible improvements in people’s lives.