Tek Singh Bhat

Looking at Langtang Lirung Whenever I travel, especially to the mountains, I feel like I have reached the root of life . The clean air, cool breeze, flowing water, and peaceful surroundings give a deep sense of calm and energy. But this time, something felt different. As I stood there looking at the beautiful mountains, I also saw deep scars from landslides, melting snow, and dried patches where there used to be glaciers. Behind the beauty, there was danger. I couldn’t help but think, are we heading towards another GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood)? Are these signs of what’s coming? I am not writing this blog with facts or data. This is about what I felt. A mix of peace and fear. Joy and concern. As someone who works in the development field, I have seen how climate change is quietly but strongly affecting our mountains. These mountains are more than just pretty sights. They are lifelines for the people who live there and for all of us. They give us fresh water, herbs, food, and c...

Photo : Dr. Manjurul Karim Nepal is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Our rugged mountains, monsoon-fed rivers, reliance on natural resources for daily living, and unplanned development have all made us vulnerable. Now, with global climate change accelerating, that vulnerability is only growing. Temperatures are rising. Rainfall patterns are becoming increasingly erratic. Air pollution is worsening. Glaciers are melting faster, swelling glacial lakes to dangerous levels and increasing the risk of sudden floods. The signs of climate change are no longer distant; they are here, and they are affecting us now. We're seeing more intense rainfall in shorter periods and longer stretches without any rain. These extremes have caused frequent and severe disasters. Our water sources are drying up, impacting everything from food security and drinking water to biodiversity, public health, and energy supply. Infrastructure, hydropower, urban development, and even agricultur...

Migration Status of Nepal In the Nepali year 2080 (from 2023-07-17 to 2024-07-15), a total of 741,297 (with re-entry) labor approvals were granted, with 11% of these being female workers. The approvals were processed by Nepal's Department of Foreign Employment. Of the total, 62% (460,102) were without re-entry into the labor market, including 12% female migrants. Among those without re-entry, 71% migrated to four Gulf countries, with Malaysia receiving 18%, Qatar 9%, Saudi Arabia 16%, and the UAE 28%. This data highlights the fact that Nepali migrants are heavily concentrated in the Gulf countries. Looking at the skill categories of these labor approvals, it is concerning that 19.63% of migrants were unskilled laborers, while 0.10% were highly skilled, 0.37% were professionals, 8.11% were semi-skilled, and 71.78% were classified as skilled. The four Gulf countries are key destination countries for Nepali labor migration, as shown by the figures (326,435, 71% in four countries: Ma...

A Shocking Afternoon in Bangkok Yesterday, a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar near Mandalay, sending tremors across the region. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude of 7.7, though some media outlets cited it as 8.2. The quake, with a depth of 10 km, was impacted as far as Bangkok, Thailand. The destruction in Myanmar was catastrophic. Reports indicated at least 1,002 deaths, with over 2,376 injured. Authorities feared the toll could surpass 10,000. In Bangkok, city officials confirmed six deaths, 26 injuries, and 47 missing persons. The under-construction 30-story skyscraper, located near Chatuchak Market, collapsed, with most casualties from the construction site. My Personal Experience: Confusion and Realization At the time of the earthquake, I was traveling to the Kronos Building for official work. While on the highway, I initially didn’t feel the tremor. Suddenly, I noticed hundreds of people gathering on the streets. My first thought was that a VIP or ...

The development sector is facing an unprecedented crisis. Recent global developments indicate a drastic reduction in funding, leading to potential job losses, project closures, and uncertainty about the future of humanitarian aid. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that millions of students are currently pursuing degrees in development studies, anticipating careers in this sector. Having spent over a decade in the development field, I have always been aware of the inherent risks and uncertainties. From the very beginning of my career, I understood that while we teach farmers and entrepreneurs about resilience and risk anticipation, we, too, must be prepared for a sector that may not offer long-term job security. However, if development work is truly a passion, survival will be possible, albeit through the principle of 'survival of the fittest.' The USAID Fund Crisis and Global Aid Cuts : The recent decision by the U.S. government to impose a 90-day pause on al...

Pic. 1: Landslide-prone area, high-risk village, and continuous excavation.    While traveling from Simara to Kathmandu, an unsettling sight caught my attention. As I observed out of the window, a particular village came into view that left me both shocked and thinking more about it. It seemed as though the people living there were waiting for their fate to be sealed, their existence hanging by a fragile land. At the same time, others were unknowingly digging their way into disaster, oblivious to the looming catastrophe. Curious to know more, I tried to capture a clear image of the place. However, due to the distance, the quality of my camera, and the rough road conditions, I couldn’t get the perfect photo. But what I did capture was meaningful to get the reality of that village. Later, upon checking the location, I found that it lies in Godawari Municipality-7, Devichaur, Babiyagaun, Lalitpur, Nepal . The village lies on a landscape that shows all the signs of near-future c...