Nepal Research Articles

A Paradigm Shift in ELT with Artificial Intelligence: A Review on the Current State in Nepal

A Paradigm Shift in ELT with Artificial Intelligence: A Review on the Current State in Nepal

Evaluation of Efficacy of Certain Pesticides and Black Plastic Mulch as an Approach of Developing Integrated Pest Management for Melon Fruit Fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae)

A field experiment was conducted at Pyuthan Municipality, Pyuthan district of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to develop an integrated pest management strategy against melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae). The experiment was laid out in two factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The first factor was different doses of pesticides; Spinosad (45% SC) @ 1ml/3l water, Cypermethrin (10% EC) @5ml/20l water and, botanical Jholmol @ 1:3 ratio (1 part Jholmol and 3 part water). The second factor was Black plastic mulch and no mulch. The pesticides were applied at 9 day intervals and data on fruit infestation, ovary damage, yield and, post-set damage were collected at 3 day intervals and the data analysed using R Studio. The result revealed highly significant differences among mulching and non-mulching plots. Mulching plots had the lowest fruit infestation (3.95%), lowest ovary damage (0.88%), lowest post-set damage (2.38%) and, higher yield per plot (21.25 kg) than non-mulched plots. Highest protection against melon fruit fly was observed by Spinosad at the third spray; percentage of fruit infestation (3.71%), ovary damage (0.76%) and yield (20.20 kg/plot) followed by Cypermethrin and Jholmol. The highest protection was obtained by the application of Cypermethrin (1.78%) at the post-set stage followed by Spinosad and Jholmol. The application of Spinosad, Cypermethrin alone with black plastic mulch provided superior protection than Jholmol and control. However, the pest reduction and yield observed on the treatments with the combination of Jholmol and black plastic mulch was satisfactory (21.87 kg/ha) than control (14.58 kg/ha). Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 12(3): 126-136.

Local Government and its Jurisdiction in Federal Nepal: A Theoretical Analysis

Local Government and its Jurisdiction in Federal Nepal: A Theoretical Analysis

The Level of Corruption in Democratic Republic of Nepal: An In-depth Analysis of Root Causes, Governance Impact, and Potential Solutions

This article critically examines the issue of corruption in Nepal's modern democracy, which poses a significant challenge to the foundational principles of transparency, accountability, and fair representation. Through an exploration of the root causes, impact on governance, and potential solutions, the study sheds light on the complexities of corruption within Nepal's political and administrative systems. The analysis identifies historical factors, including the lingering effects of past autocratic regimes and political instability, as contributors to the conducive environment for corruption. Furthermore, weak institutional frameworks, characterized by insufficient checks and balances, inadequate enforcement mechanisms, and political patronage networks, are identified as systemic issues fostering corrupt practices. The impact of corruption on governance is manifested in the erosion of public trust, economic consequences leading to resource misallocation, and impaired service delivery in essential sectors. These consequences collectively contribute to disillusionment among citizens, hindering the democratic process and perpetuating social inequalities. This study utilizes qualitative methods to analyze corruption in Nepal's democracy, identifying root causes and impacts while proposing solutions like strengthening institutions and fostering transparency. Secondary research study was performed to abstract potential solutions, emphasizing the need for strengthening democratic institutions, promoting transparency and accountability through robust measures and enforcement of anti-corruption laws, and fostering citizen engagement. Additionally, international cooperation is highlighted as a valuable avenue for sharing best practices and gaining insights from successful anti-corruption efforts in other nations. In conclusion, the study advocates for a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to address corruption in Nepal's democracy. By addressing root causes and fostering a culture of accountability, the nation can strive towards building a more resilient democratic system that effectively serves the interests of its people. The article underscores the importance of sustained efforts and a collective commitment to combating corruption for Nepal to realize a future where democracy thrives and fulfills its promises.

Five years of local democracy in federal Nepal (2017–2022)

AbstractNepalʼs 2015 federal constitution empowers local governments with significant autonomy, power, and resources for local policymaking, developmental programs, and public services. This research examines this new landscape of local governance as experienced during the first electoral tenure from 2017 to 2022, exploring the quality of local democracy in Nepal. Designed as interpretive research and analysed through a set of participatory democracy frameworks, the findings uncover mixed progress in the capacity of local democratic institutions to utilise constitutionally guaranteed power and resources. The findings of this study offer fresh academic and professional insights on Nepalʼs local democracy, participatory governance, and federalism.

The Performance of Local Governments in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality of Syangja District, Nepal: An Assessment

Since the establishment of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the Constitution of Nepal 2015 has given the local governments a great deal of power and authority. Consequently, a lot of changes have been noticed in most of the local levels. The present study is about the performance level of local government of Kaligandaki Rural Municipality of Syangja District in Gandaki Province, Nepal. The main issues and objectives that encouraged this study are to identify the types of achievement the local government has made during its tenure from 2017 to 2022, and to explain how it has accomplished the performance. The government has carried out different development activities related to public goodness in the study area. The activities related to passing and enacting laws, and improving education, drinking water, health care, insurance, farming, roads, irrigation, job opportunities and people’s increased participation in decision-making level have been successfully implemented. The study demonstrates that the local leaders of this municipality have accomplished their tasks among the grassroots by encompassing inclusive development models. The findings of the study conclude that besides exercising democratic practice and democratic institutionalization, the local government has displays high level of performance regarding local development in this rural municipality, and this performance indicates the significance of empowering local levels in Nepal.

Does Downward Accountability Work? An Assessment of Local Governance Practices in Nepal

The articulation of downward (social) accountability to the local government (LG) has been established by the new constitution of Nepal (2015) and further elaborated in the Local Government Operational Act (2017). LGs in Nepal have gained more autonomy, role, and responsibility for providing public services to local citizens following the state restructuring into federal Nepal. What does local governance practice look like today in terms of downward accountability? This paper examines the existing patterns of downward accountability, particularly in the same cases of local government in the Kailali district in the Sudurpaschim Province. Two separate field-based studies were conducted in different periods. Initially, the study assessed the compliance of social accountability tools in three local units (2019). The second attempt was a study focused on the practices of the monitoring mechanisms of four LG units (2021). The analysisused the observation check-list, key informant interview, and questionnaire schedule for data collection. The respondents to the study were the elected representatives, staff of LGs, and service-receiving citizens. This observation shows doubt about the practice of downward accountability at LG and its compliance, which appears to be ambiguous. LG elected representative's perception of downward accountability and the compliance mechanism must be clarified and specific. However, both elected representatives and the citizens have taken monitoring action in support of the downward accountability of LG. Effective service delivery has slowed due to a lack of a standardized downward accountability system.

Local-Self Governance in Federal Nepal: A Critical Review

This paper sheds light on local self-governance in Nepal, including its structure, components, practice, prospects, and limitations critically, while raising questions such as: what were the reasons for transforming the unitary system of governance into the federal structure, what are the principles of local government, and how does it work under the federal framework? It is a descriptive and analytical paper that best uses data from secondary sources and observing functions of local governments. The study's theoretical foundation is based on good governance principles, aimed at improving the quality of service delivery by the local government in Nepal. The elected representatives of the local government make plans and policies for public welfare, utilizing the power conferred on them by the law. By evaluating the historical landscapes, practices, and outcomes of local self-governance, it has been concluded that the quality of the government is the result of a continuous interface among system capabilities, public response, and accountability.

The Practicing of Parliamentary Democracy in Federal Nepal

This article assesses how the parliamentary democracy (PD) in federal Nepalworks. Nepal's federal parliament spent six years, but the notion and practice of PD are gradually fading. It descriptively analyzes the condition of cabinet, the parliament session, the role of the opposition parties, and the motion of confidence. The federal parliament practices the old-fashioned types political culture and the absence of democratic traits. The House session works for 364 days within 43 times meeting adjourned. The federal parliament also faced two times parliament dissolutions and one time PM failed to secure the vote of motion. Likewise, 41 times cabinet had been reshuffled and lower representation of women ministers. More than 50 times federal parliament obstructed, protested, and encircled. It studies qualitative methods of descriptive and analytical design. The source of data is secondary. Hence, this paper concludes that the practice of PD in the federal parliament survived but no reasonable outcomes were achieved.

Law Making for Women Empowerment in Gandaki Province, Nepal

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the status of women's empowerment through lawmaking in Nepal's Gandaki Province. Women face oppression and battle for empowerment. According to Nepal's new constitution, women now enjoy legal protections and rights. Similarly, major political parties such as Nepali Congress, Nepal Communist Party UML, and Nepal Communist Party Maoist, which have led the Nepal government from time to time now have the chance to hold positions of leadership, including those of chief justice of the supreme court of Nepal, speaker of the House of Representatives, and President of the federal democratic republic of Nepal. Even though Nepal's Dawarika Devi Thakurati was the first minister in 1959. The Constitution of Nepal (2015) has made the provision of 33% inclusion of women in all the sectors of government including the federal, the provincial, and the municipal. Women are participants at various levels such as legislature, executive, professors of universities, civil servants, Nepal police, Nepal Army, and teacher. Women are currently involved in planning, implementing, and formulating policies. However, they have to overcome many obstacles in order to pursue their opportunities. Nepal is a developing nation that has made an effort to empower women and has given them good opportunities for the country's overall development. In Nepal, women have equal access to opportunities in the social, economic, political, and cultural sectors as well as Nepal's economic development. The present study reveals that the Gandaki province's legislators have played a crucial role in the overall development of this province, and just like the women legislators in the other seven provinces, they empower themselves and institutionalize women's rights by upholding democratic values and norms.

The Changing Dynamics of Nationalism: A Reading of Select Fiction from Nepal

The monarchy, Nepali language, and Hinduism have been instrumental in the development of Nepali nationalism, and issues related to ethnicity, language, race, and region have been systematically ignored in the formation of the Nepali state. Likewise, the national literature of Nepal until the 1990s was dominated by writers from the Hindu upper caste who spoke primarily of and for the ruling class, often undermining the diversity of an otherwise heterogeneous nation. However, the political upheavals witnessed by Nepal in the 21st century have led to an upsurge of groups searching for ‘national identities’ on ethnic and regional grounds. This has also brought key changes to the literary landscape of Nepal, and contemporary writers have been increasingly drawn to the emerging new voices and identity movements aimed at questioning the prevalent notion of ‘inclusive nationalism’ with its central axis on the monarchical base and Parbatiya supremacy. Against the backdrop of a renewed debate on nationalism and the structure of the state in Nepal, this paper seeks to examine the changing dynamics of Nepali nationalism as encapsulated in contemporary fiction from Nepal. The paper examines the rising ethnocultural and regional nationalism in Nepal in two contemporary novels, Karnali Blues (2010) and The Wayward Daughter (2018), by two prominent Nepali writers, Buddhisagar Chapain and Shradha Ghale, respectively. Karnali Blues has been hailed as a pioneering work in introducing ‘new regionalism’ in the context of Nepali literature. It narrates the story of mid- and far-western Nepal and aptly captures the lives of groups belonging to the margins. Shradhe Ghale’s The Wayward Daughter focuses on a Janajati family and portrays a rich cross-section of Nepali society influenced by the lived realities of class and caste. The paper explores the diversity of life, region, and population in Nepal as depicted in both novels, thereby validating the necessity to understand Nepali nationalism in terms of region, class, religion, and ethnicity. This is also reflective of the changing narrative of Nepali nationalism.

Government Framework for Agriculture Service Delivery at the Local Level in Nepal

This paper examines the policy, institutional and legal aspects of agriculture service delivery (ASD) of local government in federal Nepal. The aim of this study is to recommend an appropriate framework for improving ASD unit efficiency in delivering agricultural services to citizens. The paper seeks to answer the question of whether the ASD unit of municipalities facilitates a local government framework while discharging their agriculture services to the citizens. To achieve this, both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were collected through structured interviews of agriculture service takers using stratified random sampling and were accompanied by participant observations, FGDs and KIIs. Secondary data were obtained from government documents. A convergent parallel mix method research design was adopted, which implied abductive reasoning with pragmatist research philosophy. The study found that despite poor facilities and structures at the local level, the client experienced extended agricultural service delivery. Local governments are undergoing a transition in harmonizing institutional and legal policies, as evidenced by the differences in service delivery and expertise. The study identified three areas of demand from people with local authorities viz; infrastructure for basic services, quality extension from professional experts, and prioritization of the agriculture sector. Based on the findings, an enhanced ASD framework at the local level is recommended to meet the quality service needs of diversified clients. In this regard, enhanced municipal capacity is crucial.

Policy change to improve access to safe abortion care in federal Nepal.

In Nepal's constitution, safe abortion care is recognized as an essential component of a comprehensive approach to fulfill individuals' sexual and reproductive health and rights. In the current context of transition to a three-level governance (federal, provincial, and local), there are opportunities to accelerate decentralization and devolution of decision-making power, increase access to and coverage of safe abortion services, and improve health outcomes. This article documents the processes and results of the policy change undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Population in collaboration with development partners to decentralize the approval process of safe abortion sites and providers with the objective to increase access to and coverage of safe abortion services. With the decentralization of certification, the approval process for safe abortion service sites and providers has become simpler, less time consuming, and less expensive by reducing cost of traveling to Kathmandu or approaching authorities at the federal level. This has resulted in expanding safe abortion services across the country including remote areas with marginalized populations. Evidence-based advocacy enabled policy change for decentralization of the approval process. Collaboration among stakeholders has been vital for implementing the policy change, including issuing directives from the federal to provincial levels and capacity strengthening of provincial level officials in understanding the requirements for approval of sites and providers.

Intergovernmental Interaction in Federal Nepal and Challenges in the Transitional Period

Federalism is a power-sharing political system, which designates power through various layers of government. Powers are delegated and decentralized by the constitution over the different layers of government. In federalism, intergovernmental or inter-province relations are very crucial for better delivery of the federal system. The provinces in Nepal are at loggerheads and as they are facing internal conflicts, and the inter-governmental relations are not so smooth. The provinces are attempting to make their internal cooperation better but this is not achieved due to political transition. Given this complex context, poor intergovernmental relations and conflicts between the three layers of government in Nepal have become one of the key challenges for the successful implementation of federalism. Limited knowledge, short experience with federalism and lack of legal and policy issues have created these gaps. The contexts have further jeopardized inter-governmental relations. Weak intergovernmental relations in federalism would ultimately pose a challenge to federalism and result in political instability in Nepal.

Discussion on the Political Status of Hinduism in Modern Nepal

Until 2006, Nepal was the only Hindu state in the world. During the abolition of the monarchy, the country was proclaimed secular, but this step was opposed by certain segments of the country's population. The article analyses the relationship between Hinduism and state in Nepal, examines the arguments of supporters and opponents of the proclamation of a secular state. The author comes to the conclusion that for centuries Nepalese kings had used Hinduism for the legitimization of their rule and the creation of national identity. As a result, the process of eliminating the institution of the monarchy necessitated the proclamation of a secular state. At the same time, the discussion about the status of Hinduism itself began long before 2006 and was caused by dissatisfaction with the state religious policy on the part of the representatives of lower castes and non-Hindus. Now, however, the opponents of Nepal's status as a secular state begin to set the tone in the discussion. They are trying to understand the consequences of this step. On the one hand, the functions of the king, including religious ones, were taken over by the president of the country, interpretation of a secular state in the Constitution is rather favorable for Hindus. On the other hand, the popularity of other religions, especially Christianity, increases in Nepal. There is still an ongoing debate, and lack of closure in the discussion on the subject is also evidenced by the fact that not only individual activists, but also representatives of the largest political forces of the country bring up the topic of Hinduism in Nepal in their speeches.

Issues and Challenges of Implementing Fiscal Federalism Faced Under the Reform of A Federal State in Nepal

After entering the federalism of Nepal, there was a debate about how the budget transfer would be state and local governance for the development of works. In the early days, although the central government would manage the budget, more problems started to appear in the financial transfer process, according to the policy of gradually leaving the responsibility of all the work including infrastructure development and physical construction to the central government. It seems challenging to establish political commitment in the distribution of resources according to the division of powers in the federal system. Instead of transferring resources, the tendency to centralize resources and manage the work of other levels of government by themselves has not gone away. In the top leadership, the tendency to understand federalism as decentralization rather than division of state power between the levels of government prevails. The second challenge of fiscal federalism is the balance, clarity and inter-level cooperation between the levels of government in matters of taxation and revenue. The revenue source at the state level is very low. All levels of government have distributive allocations, high expansion of current expenditure and weak public fiscal accountability. It seems that the allocated efficiency and productivity of public expenditure should be improved. There is no hesitation to rationalize public expenditure by cutting unnecessary expenditure that does not contribute to public services and financial contribution. A balance is needed between the distribution of responsibilities and financial power. For the successful implementation of financial federalism, it is appropriate to give work responsibilities along with spending arrangements. Based on job responsibilities, it is necessary to arrange resources and develop the ability to perform accordingly. A healthy financial system is the backbone for the successful and proper implementation of federalism in any country. There is no choice but to emulate the federalism of Nepal, which is still a milk child, and move forward with the economic, social and cultural development of the country through a transparent, balanced and predictable financial federalism. For that, we should consider the national interest as the motto to prepare a suitable or implementable action plan and move forward.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Federal Nepal: A Critical Analysis

The technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Nepal is one of the much discussed agenda for its contribution to socio-economic development of the country. Historically, Nepal’s TVET system is striving for being innovative and compatible with the global trends. With the Nepal’s Constitution 2015, it has received a considerable attention, as the Constitution (in article 51, h, 1) highlights the notion of TVET along with the allocation of TVET responsibilities to all three tiers of government. However, due to differing understanding among the policy makers, including existing several issues and concerns, the development of TVET sector in Nepal has been slow off the mark. Yet, Nepal has many opportunities for reforming the TVET sector in the coming days. There is an urgent need of paradigm shift in action, thoughts and visions in line with the Constitution to harness the benefit of TVET sector - to achieve the goal of socio-economic prosperity of the country.

The Anthropology of Enthnationalism: The Politics of Difference

Along with the emergence of Maoist-insurgency in Nepal ethnic awareness pervaded through the society which advanced to the form of movement even it delivered a sharp stroke at the threshold of Constitutional assembly and till it is under tide passion. The project of nation state (re)structuring of federal Nepal is on the progress. This enterprise essentially demands for some common consensus in understanding the contested notions behind the politics of identity versus difference vis-a-vis ethnic nationalism or a liberal concept of civic state before venturing the most controversial debate in searching the federal-strands in order to form a consolidated nation state. Constitutional assembly and the major political parties found largely engaged with talking about people’s ethnicity, their culture and languages as the major constructive principles pivoting around at which the federal nations were conceived. While the constitution of Nepal was announced without identification of its federal provinces because of these undercurrent emotions.
 Ethnic classifications are rather arbitrary, they are changing over time - today's ethnicities are yesterday’s races, and they are different in different countries. While the dubiety on those dimensions to the extent of their nature of fluidity and situational applicability may supply sufficient ground for a clear-cut demarcation of a territorial boundary for any ethnic groups in Nepal. It is equally important to remind to this detail that how the globalized forces of hybridization is taking place. Hybridization is considered a powerful blurring process through which the elements of ethnicity, identity and purity with their boundary limitation becomes indistinct. Further, transnational and supranational context of inescapable globalized processes are of the great significant domains to this concern too.
 In this regard, rendering with some common conceptual references of intellectually satisfying literatures, this paper aims to have recourse in searching common unifying and embracing dimensions of an integral nationalism, a collective overarching Nepalese identity woven within a common national sovereignty through which all the differences and commonalities can be shared, practiced and recognized so that may create pressure to sublimate bare political yearnings and therefore, pleads for the people in public-spheres and the social scientists, intellectuals to broach and share their views.

Governing TVET in Federal Nepal: Centralized or Decentralized Management ?

With the increasing recognition of the need for skilled human resources in developing countries, the role of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has been an important part of the education system. However, in spite of such a vital role of TVET, challenges exist in designing, planning and implementing it while governing effectively. Such context has raised the issue of governing TVET among educationists, policy makers and all stakeholders to achieve its intended goals. The TVET governing issue has been of serious concern to its stakeholders in Nepal with the introduction of the federal structure in 2015. Hence this paper aims to explore the governing issue of TVET in the context of federal governance of Nepal. For this, this paper employs qualitative research approach in analyzing policy and practice of TVET in Nepal. This paper explores that the process of governing TVET in Nepal has remained highly centralized in spite of rhetoric of decentralization as the main agenda of governing development over the decades. Arguably, there is a reluctant tendency in devolving TVET as per the new structure of federal governance. Instead, conflicts among three levels of governments – federal, provincial and local – are emerging in the case of TVET similar to other development sectors. Hence, for sustainable operation and management of TVET this paper argues that the policy and practice of the TVET need to be guided by the concept of multilevel governance with collaboration among the three levels of government as envisaged by the new federal constitution.

Growth Characteristics of Woman Radiation Oncologists in South Asia: Assessment of Gender Neutrality and Leadership Position

Historically south Asia had the second highest gender disparity in the world which reflected in professional attributes, like medical practice as well. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth pattern and leadership position of woman radiation oncologists (WRO) in South Asia; and, if applicable, forecast the time required to achieve gender neutrality in these countries.Out of the eight countries - viz., Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh (BD), India (IN), Nepal (NP), Pakistan (PK) and Sri Lanka (SL) constituting South Asia, only the last five countries have radiation oncology (RO) facilities. To calculate the growth pattern of oncologists, registration data from national associations in IN, BD, NP and SL were analyzed. PK has none and hence we used data from published literature. Growth rate of WRO and male radiation oncologists (MRO) were calculated based on time function of registration of ROs of different sexes. Based upon calculated growth rate, numbers of WROs and MROs are forecasted for next 10 years. Number of WROs in leadership position was derived from multiple sources.The total number of oncologists in the region was 4074 with 91.8% of it belonging to IN. Ratio of WRO to MRO was 1: 2 (1370 WROs and 2704 MROs). Incremental annual growth in the number of WROs was the highest in India (12.7/yr) and the least in Nepal (0.4/yr) with no data available for Pakistan. With the current growth rate, Indian radiation oncologist community will achieve a gender neutrality by 2027. For other countries, gender neutrality is unlikely in foreseeable future with present growth rate of WRO and MRO and their existing numbers at present. Leadership position: Presently WROs lead ≈ 64 of the 430 centers (≈15%) in IN, while the corresponding figures are BD = 1, NP = 0, SL = 1, and PK = 0.In all the South Asian countries, patriarchal values and social norms keep gender inequalities alive. Gender equality is a human right which is a must for sustained growth in a peaceful society. With the gender equality index ≈50%, south Asia is the 2nd highest gender disparity region in the world marginally above East-North Africa. With the present growth rates of WROs and MROs, India will achieve the gender equality within a decade; however, rest of the countries may not achieve so in the near future. Presently the % of WRO in IN is better than the developed nation like United States where population of WRO is 26%. Analysis of RO registration with national body reveals radiation oncology is a preferred choice of super specialization for woman clinicians, with an encouraging growth observed in the last 5 yrs compared to previous decades, especially in BD, SL and IN.