How Nepal’s electrical accident compensation system leaves survivors paying the price
By Baala Shakya For survivors of severe electrocution, the Nepal Electricity Authority’s one-time compensation closes a case, but the financial and physical trauma continues for decades.
Buddhism studies drawing international students to Kathmandu
By Baala Shakya Foreign students are travelling thousands of miles to study Buddhism in Kathmandu, turning the national capital into a global centre of learning.
Meet the Nepali designer building a career with America’s most iconic brands
By Baala Shakya From a fashion apprenticeship in Kathmandu to the studios of Ralph Lauren and J Crew, Alina Shrestha has carved out a place in one of the world’s most competitive creative industries.
Schools are posting kids’ photos online. Parents say they didn’t consent
By Aarya Chand & Baala Shakya Despite regulations requiring parental consent, Nepali schools continue to have publicly accessible social media accounts filled with student photographs.
Nepal’s LGBTQI+ rights gains remain out of reach for many
By Baala Shakya Despite landmark court rulings and constitutional guarantees, members of the community state they still encounter discrimination when seeking documents, education, healthcare, and jobs.
Rights advocates appeal to UN as Nepal moves to dissolve National Child Rights Council
By Baala Shakya Civil society groups, lawmakers and former UN officials say the council oversees critical child welfare services affecting thousands of children and should be strengthened, not dismantled.