How a conversation around the length of one’s hair exposed the toxic environment of a Kathmandu school
By Ankit Khadgi & Samiksha Baral Considered one of the most prestigious schools in the country, St. Mary’s, former and current students say, reeks of toxicity, with many having had to go through years of harassment, queerphobia, and public humiliation.
Harassment, misogyny still all too common for women
By Samiksha Baral The law has ensured women’s representation in the political sphere but attitudes have not changed.
They spoke up and they are receiving threats
By Samiksha Baral Harassment, death and rape threats, and bigotry against women are a silent epidemic affecting their right to speak up against issues, women activists say.
Fed up with injustice and inaction, women march to demand end to impunity
By Samiksha Baral Activists calling for justice and equity decry authorities’ failure to address discrimination and violence against women.
Proposed travel rule change may not help control women’s trafficking, experts say
By Chandan Kumar Mandal & Samiksha Baral Immigration official tries but fails to convince protesters that the government is not trying to curtail anyone’s rights.
New rule for under-40 women’s foreign travel draws ire as patriarchal and preposterous
By Chandan Kumar Mandal & Samiksha Baral In what is described by members of public and rights defenders as a regressive move, the government says women under 40 years of age must take consent from family to fly abroad on visit visas.
Poverty and lack of awareness and access forcing many to resort to unsafe abortion
By Samiksha Baral Even 19 years after legalisation, women’s struggle for safe abortion continues. As a result, they put their health at risk and are unable to exercise their rights, experts say.
Stigma towards mental health remains a barrier to accessing care
By Samiksha Baral A new government nationwide study finds that a whopping 94 percent of people with mental health issues never visit a specialist for help.
Fear of infection still keeping patients away from hospitals across the country
By Samiksha Baral Doctors worry patients avoiding hospital visits for fear of contracting Covid-19 could lead to far worse consequences in cases of heart and stomach problems and cancers.
Online classes come at the cost of eye problems for students
By Samiksha Baral Doctors fear the risk of myopia, and predict that visits to doctors with eye complaints will soar in the coming days as restrictions on movement loosen.
For marginalised, access to media and information a major challenge during pandemic
By Samiksha Baral The Danuwar community in rural Sindhuli is deprived of information regarding Covid-19 and facts are overshadowed by rumours.
Lockdown leaves private hostel owners, students in a fix
By Samiksha Baral Hostel operators seek help from the government and money from students to stay afloat. But the government hasn’t helped, and students themselves are under financial stress.
Couples locked down together are likely to have more sex, but contraception is difficult to come by
By Elisha Shrestha & Samiksha Baral The lockdown has disrupted access to contraception, especially in rural areas, where there are still taboos against contraceptive use, and premarital sex.
Super-easy peanut butter cookies
By Samiksha Baral These are the perfect accompaniment for your afternoon cup of tea--they're completely customisable too.
Easy to make work-from-home recipes
By Samiksha Baral Five ideas for when you’re not sure what to make but still want something more substantial and tasty while at home.