A Rising Young Leader, Ujawal Jha, Opens Up About South Nepal's Community Building
Mahottari, Nepal – Date:- 2025-05-18
Grassroots activist and new generation rural leader in Mahottari District of Nepal, Ujawal Jha, is quickly becoming a key player in rural development efforts focused upon addressing the most intractable social problems in the district. With a history of success in disaster relief, health awareness programs, and welfare activities, Jha is seen by many as part of a new generation of rural youth leaders shaping rural Nepal's future.
Balwa Municipality resident Ujawal Jha was born in 1992 into a politically active family. He belongs to the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre) and spent his past ten years organizing among poor communities in Nepal's Tarai-Madhes region. He has worked in areas from raising awareness of snakebite-related deaths, a common problem in Nepal's south, to providing free medical kits during religious processions like Mithila Madhyamik Parikrama.
Jha's new initiative in post-fire rehabilitation work in Matihani Municipality has been welcomed by civil society organizations in Nepal. He was able to arrange delivery of crucial relief items — including food, blankets, and medicines — to affected families in time. Coordination with shelters such as Manavseva Ashram by him also ensured support to elderly persons and homeless populations.
Outside Nepal, Jha has also connected Nepali diaspora to grassroots organizations in Nepal. He has facilitated humanitarian efforts in more than 20 countries through international outreach and cyberactivism. Community members as well as outsiders make note of the frequent presence of Jha in the field and his ability to engage directly with vulnerable populations. 'He's not giving empty speeches,' said a health volunteer in a community. 'He's there, listening and responding to what the community needs.'
Analysts describe such leaders as Jha as representing a broader trend in Nepali politics towards localized, service-oriented leadership. With politics increasingly drawing people in, leaders such as Jha are presenting themselves as pragmatic problem solvers, rather than partisans.
Unobtrusively promoting nothing for himself, Ujawal Jha works quietly but persistently, building support groups and mobilizing resources where they are needed most. His style — informed as much by politics as by community outreach — is already becoming a model of youth leadership in the district.
TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
09-07-2025
Rescuers search for 19 missing and recover 9 bodies after flooding in Nepal
KATHMANDU, Nepal -- Dozens of rescuers searched the banks of a mountain river Wednesday looking for people missing after monsoon floods swept away Nepal's main bridge connecting to the country to China and caused at least nine deaths. Police said dozens of rescuers were already at the area and more are expected to join the rescue efforts. Nine dead bodies have been recovered from the river. Security forces have rescued 55 people, including four Indians and a Chinese person so far, according to the Rasuwa District Administration Office. Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, along with top ministers and officials, flew to the area. Oli called an emergency meeting Tuesday night and instructed all security forces and government offices to assist the rescue and recovery efforts. The flooding on the Bhotekoshi River early Tuesday destroyed the Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadi, which is 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Kathmandu. Several houses and trucks that were parked at the border for customs inspections also were swept away. Hundreds of electric vehicles imported from China had been parked at the border point. The 19 missing are 13 Nepali citizens and six Chinese nationals, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The Chinese and eight of the Nepalis were workers at a Chinese-assisted construction project on the Nepali side of the border, according to the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, quoted by state media. The destruction of the bridge has halted all trade from China to Nepal through this route. The longer alternative is for goods to be shipped from China to India and then brought overland to Nepal.
Los Angeles Times
08-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Monsoon floods sweep away 20 people and the main bridge linking Nepal to China
KATHMANDU, Nepal — A mountain river flooded by monsoon rains swept away the main bridge connecting Nepal with China on Tuesday, leaving 20 people missing, Nepali authorities said. Rescue efforts were underway and an army helicopter was able to lift people stranded by the flooding. Police said dozens of rescuers were already at the area and more are expected to join in rescue efforts. Security forces have rescued 55 people, including four Indians and a Chinese person so far, according to The Rasuwa District Administration Office. Nepal's prime minister, Khadga Prasad Oli, along with top ministers and officials flew to the area. The flooding on the Bhotekoshi River destroyed the Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadi, which is 75 miles north of the capital, Kathmandu. Several houses and trucks that were parked at the border for customs inspections also were swept away. Hundreds of electric vehicles imported from China had been parked at the border point. The 20 missing are 14 Nepali citizens and six Chinese nationals, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The Chinese and eight of the Nepalis were workers at a Chinese-assisted construction project on the Nepali side of the border, according to the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, quoted by state media. The destruction of the bridge has halted all trade from China to Nepal through this route. The longer alternative is for goods to be shipped from China to India and then brought overland to Nepal. Monsoon rains that begin in June and end in September often cause severe flooding in Nepal, disrupting infrastructure and endangering lives. Gurubacharya writes for the Associated Press.
Time Business News
05-07-2025
- Time Business News
Indo-Nepal Relations Ever-Expanding, Says Senior Indian Official
Kathmandu- The relationship between India and Nepal continues to grow stronger and more dynamic, described as 'ever-expanding' Additional Secretary (Northern Division) of India's Ministry of External Affairs. Addressing Nepali and Bhutanese journalists in New Delhi, Mahawar emphasized the special nature of Indo-Nepal ties, which are rooted in shared history, culture, and deep people-to-people connections. Highlighting the enduring friendship, Mahawar noted that the two nations have maintained frequent high-level engagements, with 17 exchanges at the head-of-state or head-of-government level since May 2014. These diplomatic interactions underscore the commitment of both countries to nurturing closer cooperation in every sphere, from infrastructure to energy to people-centric development. One of the key pillars of this ever-growing relationship is the remarkable progress in connectivity infrastructure. Projects such as the Motihari–Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline, new railway links like Jayanagar–Bijalpura–Bardibas, and multiple Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Bhairahawa are transforming the physical connectivity between the two countries. These developments are fostering trade, tourism, and cross-border mobility, bringing direct benefits to the people of Nepal. Another significant area of cooperation is energy collaboration, where Nepal has made notable strides in hydropower development. Mahawar highlighted India's support in hydropower projects like the 480 MW Phukot Karnali and 669 MW Lower Arun, which will enhance Nepal's energy capacity while promoting clean energy trade in the region. India has also facilitated Nepal's electricity exports to Bangladesh, reflecting trilateral cooperation. In addition to physical and energy connectivity, digital financial integration has emerged as a new frontier in Indo-Nepal ties. Since March 2024, UPI payments have been accepted in Nepal through interoperability with FonePay, making transactions seamless for Indian visitors. Further agreements are being pursued to simplify cross-border remittances, benefitting Nepali workers in India. Mahawar also stressed the institutional depth of the relationship, noting that more than 40 bilateral mechanisms are operational between India and Nepal. These cover a wide range of issues including border management, economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and development projects. While the long-pending Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) Report awaits formal acceptance, the overall diplomatic engagement remains vibrant and constructive. Concluding his remarks, Mahawar reaffirmed India's strong support for Nepal's development journey through financial assistance, infrastructure development, and cultural partnerships. As both nations continue to build on their historical ties with renewed cooperation in emerging sectors, Indo-Nepal relations are poised to reach new heights in the years ahead. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
