From East to West: National Rescue Tour Ignites Hope from Mechi Bridge 

1,000+ km Humanitarian Journey: Saving Lives Across Nepal 

JHAPA — Under the solemn glow of ceremonial lamps at the historic Mechi Bridge, a profound humanitarian mission was officially launched at Nepal’s eastern border. The Mechi-Mahakali National Rescue Yatra, a collaborative initiative between the Manavsewa Ashram and the Ani Choying Drolma Foundation, arrived in Jhapa to begin its ambitious, nationwide sweep. 

The journey commenced from Kathmandu on May 11, 2026. The active rescue operations began at the Mechi Bridge on the eastern border, with plans to cover the country until reaching the Mahakali Bridge in the west. 

The Yatra operates under a critical, time-sensitive directive: "No one should be on the roads during this rainy season." Running from May 10, 2026, to June 5, 2026, the campaign targets the elimination of street dependency. It aims to clear public spaces of vulnerable individuals before the impending monsoon arrives. 

A Unified Front for the Homeless 

Before deploying rescue teams across the Jhapa district, organizers, local authorities, and security heads gathered at the border to formally inaugurate the journey. The high-profile event drew a diverse coalition of support, including: 

• Shivaram Gelal (Jhapa Chief District Officer) 

• Deputy Chief of Mechinagar Municipality 

• Deputy Chief of Birtamod Municipality 

• Chiefs of local security agencies 

• Prominent journalists, social activists, and Ashram guardians 

Chief District Officer Shivaram Gelal praised the campaign's dedication to rescuing street-dependent individuals. He pledged the full, unwavering support of the local administration to ensure the operations face no bureaucratic or logistical hurdles. 

 Active Kindness: A Call to Action 

The inauguration was marked by moving appeals from the campaign’s leadership, emphasizing both personal commitment and collective responsibility. 

"To be directly involved in this level of social service is a profound privilege of my life," said Ani Choying Drolma, renowned singer, social worker, and Chairperson of the Ani Choying Drolma Foundation. 
 

Ramji Adhikari, Central President of Manavsewa Ashram, added, "We urge the police administration, local representatives, and the general public to help us identify and rescue those left in a difficult situation, lying on open roads, public squares, and monastery premises. We must look out for the strandees from Mechi to Mahakali." 

Milestone to 2083 BS 

The Jhapa-centric rescue operation serves as a critical testing ground for a much larger national goal. The Manavsewa Ashram is currently driving toward a historic milestone: declaring Nepal completely free of street-dependent, helpless individuals by the year 2083 BS. 

As teams move westward from the banks of the Mechi River, this month-long campaign is designed to build the operational foundation, community networks, and administrative precedents required to turn that vision into reality. 

The Mechi-Mahakali National Rescue Journey 2083 (2026), launched by Manavsewa Ashram, is a landmark humanitarian campaign aimed at making Nepal "street-dependent human-free" by 2083 BS (mid-2026). [1, 2] 

Key Highlights of the 2083 (2026) Campaign: 

• Mission: A "revolution of compassion" rescuing street-dependent individuals for rehabilitation. 

• Coverage: East-West Highway traversal from Mechi Bridge (Jhapa) to Mahakali River (Kanchanpur). 

• Duration: ~3 weeks, starting May 11, 2026 (Baishakh 27, 2083). 

• Scope: Third edition of the tour, involving 26 volunteers in 2083, following 10+ years of work. 

• Impact: Over 10,000 rescued nationwide, with high-level government support to eliminate unsheltered dependency by mid-2026.  

This initiative focuses on rehabilitation, medical care, and reuniting citizens with their families, championed by singer Ani Choying Drolma and Ashram founder Ramji Adhikari.