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In a police lockup in Nawalpur, a district in Nepal’s Gandaki Province, detainees can often be seen engrossed in books. Not only does it help them pass time but reading might even be their ticket to getting out of custody sooner.

“People are kept in lockup for 25 to 90 days, based on the nature of offence. We will consider shortening their sentences depending on how many books they read,” says SP Prakash Malla, District Police Office, Nawalparasi East.

‘Hirasat ma Kitab’, that provides reading materials to detainees, is one of SP Malla’s five initiatives, a part of the police program Working Extra Mile to bring positive changes in the community. The idea behind this particular initiative was to ensure a more humane treatment of those in lockup, prevent custodial deaths, and reduce stress that can build up in a closed setting.

“Reading helps bring about a shift in people’s perspectives. I think it’s especially necessary for those who have been involved in crimes,” says Malla. Since at any given time there are 10 to 15 people in the small space, and they are only required to work for an hour or two every day, reading keeps them engaged. Otherwise, they would have spent the rest of the hours sleeping, he adds.

However, getting those accused of various offences to read is also Malla’s attempt at a different kind of policing—one that prioritizes a change in mindset over retributive punishment.

Today, there’s a decent sized library of sorts at the police station in Nawalpur with over 500 books, both in English and Nepali. The books have been donated by local authorities, police, community folks, as well as Malla’s friends. They have even brought in books like Subin Bhattarai’s ‘Summer Love’ and ‘Saaya’ based on requests by the detainees.

“Surprisingly, people wanted to read and asked for specific books. Some wanted English novels. Quite a few seemed to gravitate towards spiritual books. We try to get them what they want,” says the SP.

Fiction is popular because most detainees are under the age of 25. Malla says that’s when stories appeal to you the most. There are also some who ask for books on law and religion as well, and spend all their time poring over those.

The station keeps a record of who has read what and how much time each of the detainees has spent reading. Based on their reading habits and subsequent behavior changes, the detainees might be able to go home sooner than expected. This acts as an incentive to read as much as they can. One detainee, Malla says, has read 19 books already.

Malla hopes they give continuity to their reading habit when they are eventually back to their regular lives. So, the plan is to have someone from the station check in on them six months after they are let out.

Malla has also been using his network to promote this system of reading beyond his station. The program has been replicated in two other municipal stations in Nawalpur—Gaidakot and Dumkibas. He recently got calls from the police headquarters inquiring about the initiative as well.

As an avid reader, Malla is always reading something. He recently finished Yuval Noah Harari’s ‘Homo Deus’ and is currently reading ‘The Origins of Political Order’ by Francis Fukuyama. It’s his love for books and the compulsive need to read, he says, that gave birth to ‘Hirasat ma Kitab’.

“I used to find fiction entertaining and read a lot of it at one point in my life. Today, I prefer non-fiction—books on politics, economics, and history—because I think they have a lasting impact,” says Malla.

You could also say ‘Hirasat ma Kitab’ is being run with an ulterior motive. Malla hopes it will change how people view the police as well as improve the relationship between the two.

The reality is that people are mostly scared of the police. As law-enforcers, their job demands they put up a strict front. Malla’s initiatives, of which ‘Hirasab ma Kitab’ is a small part, are focused on cultivating respect and understanding between the police and the public as well as making people aware of violence, its causes, consequences, and how it can be prevented.  

“I believe a reading habit can be the start of many positive changes and a great deterrent for crime as well. Also, people will read if they have the means to do so. We are exploring that avenue as well,” concludes Malla.

Six members of an Indian family have been arrested in Saptari for acquiring Nepali citizenships by submitting false details. Their citizenships have been annulled.

The district court on March 23 gave a verdict that Indian national Gangadhar Yadav, chief of the family, had obtained Nepali citizenship by claiming his Nepali mother-in-law as his own mother. His two sons, two daughters-in-law and a grandson had acquired citizenship by descent.

Gangadhar, 70, his son Kamaldev Yadav, 50, daughter-in-law Gulabidevi Yadav, 45, the other son Amarendra Yadav, 40, daughter-in-law Mamtadevi Yadav, 35, and Kamaldev's son Vivekananda Yadav, 20, have been convicted.

A bench of district judge Rita Bakhrel sentenced Gangadhar to three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000, Kamal Dev and Amarendra to two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each and Gulab Devi, Mamta Devi and Vivekananda to one year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each.

Arun Kumar Yadav of Dakneshwari Municipality-2, Saptari had filed a complaint against the family alleging that they had obtained fake citizenship by submitting false details. After Arun lodged a complaint on November 3, the District Administration Office, Saptari, wrote a letter to the police on November 4 to proceed with investigation.

Gangadhar was married to Subhadra Devi of Dakneshwari Municipality-2 of Nepal 50 years ago. Later he also married an Indian woman whom he has kept in India. When Subhadra went to live with her mother in Nepal instead of going to Gangadhar’s house in Ghoghadiha of Bihar, India, Gangadhar used the name of Subhadra 's mother Bilti Devi to make a Nepali voting card for himself. Later, he even got citizenship by falsifying documents.

After receiving the complaint, local authorities found that the citizenship number 71022614 issued in the name of Bilti Devi, which was mentioned in her land ownership certificate, was submitted as one of the supporting documents.

Did your list of resolutions for 2021 include eating more fruits and vegetables and cutting down on meat? And were you by the end of January back to your old eating habits—the apples you bought during your weekly grocery trip slowly rotting in the fruit bowl and your freezer stuffed with packets of all kinds of processed meats? Worse, did you have a strong sense of déjà vu—you had done this before, last year and the year before that?

Supriya Bhattarai, clinical nutritionist and co-founder, Mitahara, says she has many clients who are striving to make the switch from a non-vegetarian lifestyle to a vegetarian one. She too has been trying to cut down on meat for the past six months. There are good days and there are bad days. It’s definitely not easy.

Supriya Bhattarai

But there are a lot of upsides to a vegetarian diet and therein lies its allure, says Bhattarai. A vegetarian diet, she adds, lowers the risk of many non-communicable diseases, like stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal issues, as well as various cancers. Studies suggest a meatless diet could also help slow down aging.

“A plant-based diet is particularly good for those with heart problems. Removing meat from your diet is great for overall wellness,” she says.

Bhupal Baniya, nutritionist at Nepal Police Hospital, too recommends a vegetarian diet. He says if you can, you should definitely give up meat because its consumption comes with a fair share of long-term health issues.

The problem with meat today is that a lot of poultry and animals are bred and raised to be slaughtered. Animal cruelty aside, they are given hormones and antibiotics which we ultimately end up consuming.

“There are many antibiotics that were earlier used to treat diseases in humans, like tetracycline, that we are now resistant to. That’s because we consumed drug-fed poultry,” says Baniya. A meat-rich diet could potentially lead to kidney, liver, and heart problems, he adds.  

Bhupal Baniya

“It’s not just meat, how we consume it is also problematic,” he says. Most of the times, we grill or deep fry meat (think sizzling barbeque or chicken lollipops). This coats your food with carcinogens.

Take it slow

Dr Ruby Bajracharya, dietician, ayurvedic doctor, and founder of Lotus Ayurdeva, supports Baniya’s claims. She says a non-vegetarian meal is acidic in nature and an acidic diet is what causes health problems, including cancers. On the other hand, a vegetarian diet, if you keep it as colorful as possible, could help prevent many illnesses.

“Try to include different kinds of vegetables in your diet. If possible, eat different things for lunch and dinner every day of the week,” says Dr Bajracharya. It would also be a good idea to have foods in their closest natural states, which is possible with fruits and vegetables.

According to the ayurvedic doctor, a simple home-cooked meal can be your key to wellness. If that doesn’t include meat, all the better. But she stresses on the need to be practical about your eating habits. If you have been eating meat, say daily, for as long as you can remember then you probably wouldn’t be able to give up cold-turkey. And neither should you.  

Dr Ruby Bajracharya

“What you can do is reduce the frequency or the portion size and then slowly try to eliminate it from your diet. This is a far more sustainable way to give up meat in the long run,” she says.

Nutritionist Bhattarai agrees that if you want to give up meat it’s important not to rush it. The mantra here is to cut back and work on making meat less tempting. For instance, you could opt for pan-grilled meat instead of the fried version which is more addictive, making it harder for you to give it up altogether. You will, over time, find meat less palatable when you come to associate it with bland dishes.

The body, she adds, takes time to adapt to new foods and flavors. By lessening the quantity of meat and increasing the portion of vegetables, you will slowly develop a taste for vegetarian food as well.

“Start by paying attention to how you are eating meat and try to change that. You could also try abstaining from one item, like mutton, to start with,” she says. It’s what she has done: she has first given up red meat.

Find your why

Experts agree that it helps if you are clear about why you want to cut out meat from your diet. Is it because you love animals and want your meals to be cruelty-free? Is it because you are concerned about the meat industry’s impact on the environment? Or do you think a vegetarian/vegan diet is healthier and want to feel good in your body?

When you have a solid reason for doing something—especially something that requires a lot of discipline and behavioral changes—you are more likely to see it through.

Founder of Vegan Diary Nepal Kajol Sethia says she turned vegan because she loves animals. A plant-based diet has made a lot of difference in how she feels. Besides losing weight, a diet rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals has made her more energetic. Bloating, something she struggled with earlier, isn’t an issue anymore. She claims she is fit enough to run a 5k or 10k marathon and still not feel drained out. For that, she credits her food choices.

 Kajol Sethia

“Many people think being vegetarian or vegan is difficult as it limits your food options. But, in fact, it’s about removing certain things from your plate and replacing them with something else,” says Sethia.

For instance, if you are a non-vegetarian transitioning into vegetarianism, you could simply remove meat from your plate and replace it with eggs, cottage cheese, or mushroom. Similarly, if you are trying to go vegan then use oil in place of ghee and have tofu instead of cottage cheese. 

The passionate vegan believes it has never been easier to find alternatives—with the concept of mock meats (a meat-like substance made from plants) and many online businesses delivering any fresh produce you could want at your doorsteps. Also, a dish is tasty because of the spices we use to temper it. Anything can be made mouth-wateringly delicious with the right technique.

Arm yourself with information

However, Sethia confesses that earlier she was ignorant about her food habits and consumed a lot of junk food. That took a toll on her health. Since 2015 she has made it a point to educate herself about food and nutrition, which has helped a lot. It is what she advises everyone to do before embarking on a new diet.

“You have to be aware of what you are putting in your body and how that can affect you. So, do your research to figure out what works for you,” she says.

But Google can be a rabbit hole, with a lot of myths and false claims. Where your health is concerned, you can’t afford to take chances. Consulting an expert at the start of your vegetarian or vegan journey might be a good way to go about it. A dietician or nutritionist will give you specific information and tailor a plan for you.

“You run the risk of nutritional deficiencies when you go plant-based or if you have been a vegetarian for a long time,” says nutritionist Baniya. You have to be especially careful about monitoring your vitamin B12 levels, ensure you are getting the needed essential amino acids, and meet your protein requirements through adequate intake of lentils and grams.

Making sustainable changes

Experts’ unanimous opinion is that these are minor hiccups that can be easily addressed. These days supplements are easily available to meet your nutritional requirements. A handful of nuts and seeds daily—like walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, to name a few—can be a good source of healthy fats that might be lacking in a vegetarian diet.

For a transition into vegetarian or vegan lifestyle to work, the best thing you can do is make small, sustainable changes that can become habits over time. Dr Bajracharya suggests making a change and diligently sticking to it for 21 days (three weeks) to build a habit and then for 49 days (seven weeks) to make it a part of your lifestyle.

Bhattarai suggests being a little more mindful about food and letting your body adapt to new flavors and ways of eating. For Baniya, a slow and steady approach is the best way. If you consume 10 kilos of meat a month, try having only five kilos for the next few months and then further reduce that, to eventually get to zero when you feel you are ready.

Sethia swears by cultivating a healthy relationship with your body and food. Food, she says, should make you feel good and be light on your body and conscience.

“If you want to follow a more plant-based diet but haven’t been able to do so, you haven’t found the right reason and approach yet. Work on them. And find innovative ways to include more greens in your diet,” she concludes.

The development expenditure of the Sudurpaschim (far-western) provincial government, which was not able to exceed 70 percent in the last two fiscal years, has been low this year as well. Only 20 percent of the development budget has been spent till February of the current fiscal year, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General's Office, Kailali.

“Only 20.73 percent of the budget has been spent on the capital side and 22.85 percent on the current side,” informs Basudev Joshi, province comptroller. “Although there has been some improvement on budget spending compared to last year, it has not been as expected.”

Joshi also informs that as of mid-February last fiscal year, the development budget was 17.26 percent, but this year it reached 20 percent around the same time. “It cannot be said that it has improved much, but it has increased on a percentage basis,” Joshi says. Two ministries in the province have been vacant for two months after the dispute in the ruling communist party over the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

Chief Minister Trilochan Bhatta had dismissed the Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Pathan Singh Bohara claiming that he was in favor of Prime Minister KP Oli. Shortly afterwards, the state's economic affairs and planning minister, Jhapat Bohara, resigned. Bohara is also a central member of the Oli faction.

“The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development is responsible to spend the major part of the capital budget. It has no minister right now,” complains Ran Bahadur Rawal, parliamentary party leader of Nepali Congress. “The chief minister has not been able to appoint a new minister, nor has he been able to run it himself or regulate how the development budget is implemented.”

Rawal further accuses the provincial government of not having a vision for development. “The provincial government has employees and subordinate bases, but why only 20 percent of the expenditure? This government is a failure. It has no mission or vision,” Rawal says.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, which is allotted the largest budget, has achieved 25 percent financial progress by mid-February. In the development budget of Rs 11 billion, the ministry has been able to spend only Rs 2.82 billion.

Other large-budget ministries too have not been able to make financial progress in the province. The Ministry of Social Development has a capital budget of Rs 2 billion. But it has been able to spend only Rs 360 million by mid-February, which is only 17 percent of the allotted budget. The Ministry of Social Development covers health, education, women's development, and sports.

“Now the problem is, 83 percent of the budget cannot be spent within the next four months. There is a tendency in Nepal to remain silent for ten months and rush to do everything in June and July, the last two months of the fiscal,” says economist Shivahari Mudbhari. “It seems this trend of budget spending will not change.”

Total 450 million in capital budget has been allotted to the office of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers alone. Of that, only Rs 18 million—a mere 3.98 percent—has been spent till February.