KATHMANDU, JUNE 14
Design Kathmandu Contest organized by Revoscience Media in collaboration with the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has successfully concluded with a participation of 57 groups from across the country.
A total of 116 students from Grades 10, 11, and 12 participated in the event where they had to submit a written report on designing the future of Kathmandu.
In the Grade 10 category, Yurisa Varjacharya, Suvika Hamal, and Riga Sharma's teams secured first, second and third spots respectively. Meanwhile, in the grade 11 category, Kritagya Ghimire, Dilisha Thapa, and Ishita Dahal groups secured first, second and third places respectively.
Similarly, Timila Dangol, Vicky Kumar Jha, and Raunkaranjan Mishra's groups secured first, second and third places respectively from class 12.
The first, second, and third placed winners from each class group of the competition will be awarded 10,000, 5,000, and 2,000 cash prizes and certificates respectively.
The chief guest of the program was the Vice-Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha who said that the design and planning made by the students should be sent to various responsible agencies.
"NAST has started work in the coming days not only in such new areas but also in other areas of agricultural productivity," said Shrestha.
Former Science and Technology Minister Ganesh Shah suggested that NAST should take such programs to every local level in the coming days.
"Even if it is not possible to take it to the local levels, a contest should be organised at least on how to develop the state capital," he said.
"Today's student's imaginations are based on the Western-style, so the future sesign of Kathmandu should focus on Nepal's original identity," said Educationist Bidhyanath Koirala.
Former Vice-Chancellor of NAST Prada Jivraj Pokharel, said that the plan to keep the students' environment clean and to include old items in the new house was excellent.
Design Kathmandu Contest was a free intellectual competition inviting participation from all over Nepal conducted via an online platform.
The contestants had participated in the contest individually or in groups. Students had to imagine a futuristic city and prepare a report of around twenty pages.
NAST's secretary Dr. Mahesh Kumar Adhikari said that foreigners consider Kathmandu as a 'Land of Gods' and there should be a plan on how to manage it. Secretary Adhikari mentioned that it would be important for the youth to be involved in the protection of flora and fauna and resources of the city.
Dr. Suresh Dhungel, a scientist from NAST, while evaluating the writing and imagination of the students participating in the contest, said that their thinking would be a cornerstone for the development of Kathmandu.
Among the winners, Kritagya Ghimire, who is studying in class 11 at South Weston College, said that he has made a ten-year action plan according to futuristic technology.
Timila Dangol, a 12th grader at St. Xavier's College in Kathmandu, saw the state failing to protect our heritage and she addressed that in her report.
Editor of the RevoScience media, who is also the organiser of the Design Kathmandu Contest, said that student prepared the report researching Design, Geography, Architecture, Society and Civilization, Science and Technology and Culture, Environment and Wildlife, Policy and Planning, Heritage and Conservation Measures, Research and Development and Innovation, Religion and Education System, among others.
