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Recent calls from some lawmakers for downsizing the Nepali Army and using the money thus saved for development works have courted controversies.  

On July 11, a National Assembly member and former minister for foreign affairs, Bimala Rai Paudyal, stood in the parliament in favor of downsizing the national army while taking part in a discussion on cost-cutting measures. Paudyal reasoned that Nepal did not need a big army in times of peace and that it would be impossible for the army to defend the country against either of the two neighbors even if the need arose, while also pointing out the army had not been able to protect the borders. 

Swarnim Wagle, an economist and lawmaker from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, has also been advocating for downsizing the national army as a means to reduce pressure on the economy. Citing Sri Lanka’s example, which reduced the size of its army by a third to combat the recent recession, Wagle argued during a meeting of the House of Representatives on June 20 that Nepal should consider similar measures.

These calls from the two parliamentarians, who are also PhD scholars, have sparked a series of discussions at the national level. While these are not the first such calls, it is the first time a debate has taken place in the parliament on the matter. Discussions about the national army are not unwarranted, but they should be contextual and based on facts. A state’s policies and plans determine the size and the structure of its army, so it will be far-fetched to take the army leadership as the sole factor in this. 

Development and expansion of any institute, including the national army, takes a long time, hard work, and investment, with the concerned state’s plans and policies playing a vital role in the whole process. Therefore, demands for reduction, structural changes, or removal of responsibilities should be based on careful consideration rather than momentary impulses, even if they are coming from scholars. Instead of arguing irresponsibly (without presenting solid proof to back their arguments) and eroding the morale of the army, policymakers should focus more on enhancing the army’s capabilities.

History and the way forward

The history of the Nepali Army is closely linked with the unification of modern Nepal. Founded by King Prithvi Narayan Shah to support the unification campaign, the army has evolved into its current form. It has a rich history of engaging in various wars and is considered the most experienced army in South Asia in terms of war experience. The army has played an important role in the Nepal-Tibet War, Nepal-China War, the war with East India Company (Anglo-Nepal War), quelling the unrest in Hyderabad at the request of India, ending the Indian Sepoy Mutiny as well as ending the Khampa conflict within the country and in controlling the 10-year Maoist insurgency. Apart from maintaining peace, the army is adept at military diplomacy. Helping the country overcome critical situations like the blockade along with the import of vaccines and health materials from neighboring and friendly countries during the pandemic are vivid examples of military diplomacy. Its important role in life and death situations like natural disasters and epidemics has not gone unnoticed. 

Internal or external crises are not something that can be predicted. That is why, the army must stand ready to deal with potential emergencies even during peacetime. Commendable work of the army during earthquakes, tornadoes, pandemics, floods, landslides, and fires demonstrates its significance in crisis situations. 

As underlined above, the army has different roles to play in different parts of Nepal and beyond. NA soldiers serve in the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions, provide security to infrastructure, guard national parks, conduct search and rescue missions during natural disasters and play different roles in development projects as per government directives. Therefore, before debating the number of soldiers required in Nepal, it is essential to understand the organizational structure of the army. On the other hand, while the situation of unemployment and youth migration is dire, young people are getting jobs and serving the country. Contrary to the expert MPs’ argument, the state’s investment in the army has not gone waste.

Of course, debates about the army are necessary. But such debates should not lower the morale of the army or weaken its structure. Rather, the debates should focus on making the army more and more capable by developing world-class military technologies and competing in the fields of information and technology. Policy-level discussions should explore the possibility of creating more jobs within the military structure so as to reduce the outmigration of young people. 

Summing up, those responsible for running the state should effectively mobilize available resources and explore sustainable resources for the future rather than advocating for the destruction of existing state structures in the pretext of an economic crisis.

The rush! Sita Dahal, wife of Maoist leader and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, died two weeks ago. Although people have a mixed opinion about PM Dahal and the armed rebellion he led, they generally sympathize with him because of his family tragedies. Parliamentarian Toshima Karki probably had not realized how her words of condolence could be doctored into a viral content. Many opinion makers, social media influencers as well as news consumers were quick to criticize her without listening to the full audio. Some of them later removed their posts. But, why did they rush in the first place? Would their intelligence be questioned if they were late in the commenting game?

Same incident, different picture: media person Krishna Kandel was so engrossed in showing himself offering prayers to the deceased that he forgot people were watching. Standing before the dead body, he fiddled with the camera his staff was carrying to keep the focus on him, which looked staged. There are others, super brave, who post pictures against the backdrop of people who just died in accidents. The logic probably is to let the world know that they were there. But the digital world has numbed their senses which is why they do not consider the impact those posts can create on the family members. The videos of mistreatment of two women in Manipur, India, is a global example of how perceived bravery can lead to spreading hatred and negativity at catastrophic levels.

There is no question that digital platforms have connected the world. At the same time, it has exposed the dark side too. The Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police, for example, publishes the cases of online child abuse, sexual abuse, harassment, character assassination, identity theft, blackmailing, and other cybercrimes almost on a daily basis.

Open and constructive discussions, whether online or offline, are crucial and are part of a democratic atmosphere. However, social media has made it less decent, harsh, and targeted. We have seen how social media posts by the American President Donald Trump or our own Dharan’s Mayor Harka Sampang turned against them. Trump was banned by Facebook and Twitter. The respect Harka earned as a hard working mayor could dwindle as his arrogance can defeat him. Social media is a means to reach a wider audience, but you have to be courteous and think a number of times before posting anything for public consumption.

If you go to Twitter, most of the people are engulfed in fighting; the language they choose, the reactions they make, and the doggedness they display have reminded me at least to just be the observer. Negativity and hatred have found an easy place to be contagious, and they spread like wildfire. People have all sorts of interest, to make someone popular, to defame someone, to push their vested interests forward, or to advocate for a good cause.

At a time when the internet almost runs in our blood, it can be hard for us to know what is authentic and what is fabricated. In the name of freedom of expression and speech, we seldom watch our words used on social media. The digital footprint that we leave can come back and haunt us just like Harka Sampang’s posts from 2015.

It’s time for critical thinking and critical questioning to take place in every household as a way to promote social media literacy. Gone are the days when we proudly said what population in Nepal had access to the internet; time has come for us to say what population is using the internet safely and responsibly, and what we can do to make it a respectable place for everyone!

I used to frown upon parboiled rice when I was a young lad; honestly, I couldn’t stand it, nor did everybody in the family. Beggars can’t be choosers; we had to eat the rice since my dad, a diabetic, ordered the stuff, and whatever he said stood as sacrosanct then.

The smell, or rather, the stink, turned me off. When cooked, the disgusting odor permeated every nook and cranny of the house. That was way back in the 1960s, and the same parboiled rice was rationed to the lower echelon of the army and police cadets, to their utter dislike, too.

Times have changed, however. In the later years, the parboiled rice no longer carried that obnoxious smell and taste close to white rice, surprisingly, with better nutrient values. I switched from white rice to parboiled for over six years since it turned out friendlier to my glycemic index. Compared to white rice, it has a distinct odor as it’s steamed along with the paddy husk, but in no way offensive like it used to be in the earlier days. 

I went for the parboiled rice primarily because I’m a diabetic. Hold on. It does not hint at a no-go for non-diabetics, though. Parboiled rice bears fewer calories and carbohydrates but more fiber and protein than refined and polished white rice. That makes it a healthier alternative to traditional white rice. And food science backs it.

Given that rice is a mainstay of our daily diet, I decided to delve into its nutritional properties vis-à-vis white rice, which is more commonly consumed and preferred. Concerning nutrition, the findings established their edge over their white counterparts. To begin with, a little lowdown on the parboiled rice would be well-founded.

Regarding white rice, following de-husking in the mill, the paddy turns into white rice. Next, it goes through the final polishing measures. This process rids the rice of its layer of bran and the germ; consequently, much of its nutrition, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals, is lost, mainly leaving the starchy endosperm (the heart of the rice kernel).  

In contrast, parboiled rice, also known as converted rice, with a slight yellow hue, commonly consumed in Asian and African countries, undergoes three stages in the mill, such as soaking, steaming, drying, and finally de-husking. This process reduces its starch content, producing cultured grains that are less sticky and fluffier than white rice when cooked and, unlike white rice, shy of getting clumpy when stored in the refrigerator and reheated.  

The parboiling of paddy retains its micronutrients contained in the bran, which get usually displaced in white rice during whitening. This unique process preserves the parboiled rice’s natural vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, producing a nutrient-dense grain with better health benefits than refined white rice. Studies have shown parboiled rice boasts nearly twofold the amount of vitamins as against white or brown rice.

Nepal, India, or for that matter, all of East and Southeast Asia depend upon rice as a staple diet. Did you know about 50 percent of the world’s paddy production goes under parboiling, with close to 75 percent in India alone? The upside of parboiling is that it helps prolong rice storage, reduce broken grain, increase head rice yield, and reduce nutritional loss during the milling process. 

For potential health benefits, let’s scrutinize why parboiled rice has an edge over white rice. Parboiled rice packs nearly double the dietary fiber compared to white rice. And it's an exceptional source of niacin, thiamine, and magnesium and a moderate source of protein, iron, and zinc—thus securing the drop on white rice. 

Gut health

Healthy bacteria, or probiotics, help restore the natural balance of bacteria in our gut, like the stomach, small/large intestines, and rectum, to name a few. The starch content in parboiled rice functions as a prebiotic or resistant starch and promotes the growth of beneficial intestinal microorganisms in our bodies. 

Besides, it encourages the growth of healthy bacteria, or probiotics, in our guts, which benefits our overall health. Parboiled rice (partially cooked) before milling is lighter and easier to digest than white and brown rice. 

A safer option for diabetics

Studies have shown that parboiled rice has a lower impact on blood sugar levels compared to white rice and brown rice. Accredited dietitians and nutritionists maintain parboiled rice’s low glycemic index at 38, scoring lower than brown rice at 47 and white rice at 89 (source: Harvard Health Publications). 

That factor aids in checking sudden blood sugar spikes and helps improve insulin sensitivity, benefitting type-2 people with diabetes. There is more—refrigerated parboiled rice, or the leftovers, eaten after heating even lessens the impact on blood sugar levels.

When people with type 2 diabetes ate about 1 1/8 cups (185 grams) of cooked parboiled rice after fasting overnight, their increase in blood sugar was 35 percent less than when they ate the same amount of regular white rice (healthline.com).

Benign to hypertension 

Food science advocates that one cup of parboiled rice meets the daily dose of calcium, potassium, iron, and manganese required by our body. The rich manganese content helps lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attacks. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com). 

As a balanced diet, parboiled rice is an intelligent choice for those who strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Its low-fat and zero-cholesterol quality offers a heart-healthy eating regimen. 

Boosts immune system

Loaded with antioxidants and phytonutrients, the high content of anthocyanins present in parboiled rice helps reduce inflammation and the risk of cancer. 

When all is said and done about the nitty-gritty of parboiled rice, switching to it could be a healthier option than other types of rice.   

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the above text are solely research-based; the author solicits reader discretion and cross-reference

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The recent news of sexual exploitation of children in a care home in Kathmandu has stirred-up the society. It is a most cruel and tragic occurrence and a serious infringement of a child’s rights to health and protection. But it is not the first news and my prayers would be futile if I wished it to be the last. Similar incidents have occurred in the past in different parts of Nepal, neighboring countries and in the world. Though a heinous act against humanity which spreads rage for a few days, the incident repeats. It has been so for ages. The easy access to the news and information sharing might have made the perpetrator think twice and increased awareness on child sexual exploitation in the public.

The World Health Organiaztion (WHO) defines Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) as “the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society”. It ranges from fondling, inappropriate touch to sexual penetration. Studies have shown that one in five women and one in 13 men reported being sexually abused as a child. CSA is a silent health emergency that is prevalent everywhere. Generally, it goes unnoticed, under-reported and poorly managed as it is surrounded by a culture of silence and stigma. Some victims do not recognize that their experience was CSA until adulthood. The main contributing factors are poverty, family separation or being orphaned at a young age, lack of awareness, armed conflicts, among others. Poverty and lack of awareness could be the factor for the recent event in Kathmandu. 

Though it looks unreal, CSA often occurs in places normally considered safe: Homes, schools, places for leisure activities. Children lack maturity to understand and report sexual abuse. In addition, they are coerced, sworn to secrecy or threatened by the perpetrator. The habitual perpetrator is usually someone who is known and trusted by the child, is within or close to the family or who has authority over the child. They include fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, domestic servants, teachers, peers, family friends, employers and others.

There are numerous short-term and long term consequences of CSA affecting physical, mental and social health. Some to list are physical injury, sexually transmitted infections (e.g. HIV/AIDS), unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion with its complications, regressive behaviors like bed wetting and thumb sucking, emotional trauma, depression, anxiety, phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use, suicide attempts, poor school performance, rejection by family and society, family disharmony leading to poor parenting and abusive behaviour by the victim in the later life.

The assessment part along with management is very sensitive. The taboo against talking with children about sexuality makes the tasks of prevention programs challenging and discourages sexually abused children from disclosing their abuse. Most of the times, children are inappropriately inquired or examined by the family members for the possible sexual abuse which can be counter-productive, that they will not open up even with the specialists. First thing to be done is reassurance and safety of the child by removing them from being in contact with the perpetrator. These may necessitate measures such as making alternative living arrangements for the child, with relatives/extended family, with whom the child feels safe and comfortable. We should respond in a sensitive manner and prevent re-traumatizing victims. 

The government of Nepal has OCMC (One-stop Crisis Management Center) in all the districts. The main aim of the OCMC is to provide comprehensive care for the victim, from examination, psychosocial counseling, management and placement in safe-house if required, all free of cost and from within the same place. Confidentiality throughout the process of management and speedy trial of offenses against children by OCMC has encouraged victims to reach those centers and seek help. If not able to visit OCMC due to threat to life, they can even call the center (phone numbers are available on the internet). In addition, there is a toll-free number (1098) to report child abuse.

Prevention strategies include improving children’s understanding of their bodies, appropriate and inappropriate touch, and who they could reach out to if they have concerns about someone’s behavior, along with body safety training programs in school or community. Strong preventive law and policy and its implementation at the grass-roots is necessary. Everybody in the society should be responsible to identify the children in stress, their change in behavior and report any suspicious activity to concerned authorities.  We should not make judgmental comments, always take it seriously what the child is saying, and assure them that they did the right thing in telling. We should tell the child that he or she is not to blame for the sexual abuse and offer them comfortable and protected environment. 

It is equally inhumane, to involve in the act of sexual exploitation or not to involve in the act of prevention!

The author is a resident doctor at the Department of Psychiatry, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur