अमृत भण्डारी
बङ्लादेशको राजधानी ढाकादेखि झण्डै तीन सय किलोमिटर उत्तरपश्चिममा पर्ने गाइबन्ध जिल्लाका पाँच ग्राम युनियन परिषद्का -नेपालमा गाविस भनेझैं त्यहाँ ग्राम युनियन परिषद् भनिदो रहेछ झण्डै ६० वटा गाउँमा ग्रामीण सूचना कार्यक्रम अन्तर्गत इन्फो लेडीको अवधारणा अघि बढाइएको छ । गत मार्च महिनामा यस पङ्क्तिकारले ढाकादेखि विभिन्न जिल्ला उपजिल्ला हुँदै सो जिल्लाको पनि भ्रमण गर्ने अवसर पाएको थियो । उक्त कार्यक्रमको प्रभावकारिता र त्यसले स्थानीय युवामा दिलाएको अवसर निकै रोचक रहेछ । डिनेट भन्ने संस्थाले सहजीकरण गरेको त्यस कार्यक्रमलाई साघाटा उपजिल्लामा रहेको उद्ययन स्वाबलम्बी संस्थाले सञ्चालनमा सहयोग पुर्याउँदै आएको छ । त्यसका लागि विभिन्न दाताले सहयोग गरेका छन् ।
त्यस उपजिल्लामा १० जना मूलत एसएससी -नेपालमा एसएलसी भनेजस्तो) पास गरेका, कोही स्नातक गर्दै गरेका त कोही भर्खर आईए अध्ययनमा लागेका युवतीलाई स्वास्थ्य, कृषि, कानुन सम्बन्धी जानकारी, सूचनाको अधिकार, पशुपालन, माछापालनलगायतका विभिन्न विषयमा तालिम दिइएको छ । कार्यक्रमले मुख्यरूपमा महिलालाई अवसर प्रदान गर्ने लक्ष्य लिएको र समुदायमा पनि बढी भन्दा बढी महिलाका समस्याको सम्बोधन होस् भन्ने चाहना अनुरूप इन्फो लेडी कार्यक्रममा युवतीलाई प्राथमिकता दिइएको डिनेट संस्थाका कार्यक्रम सहायक गोपाल कुमार डेइले बताए ।
यसरी तालिम लिएका लेडीले खासगरी युवा, बालबालिका, महिला, महिला समूह तथा किसान र अन्य पेशामा लागेका समुदायका बासिन्दाका समस्या समाधानमा सहयोग गर्दै आएका छन् । ती समस्या समाधानका लागि संस्थाले यी लेडीलाई साइकल, छाता, मिनी ल्यापटप, मोडेम, क्यामरा, पि्रन्टर, तौल नाप्ने, मधुमेह नाप्ने, रक्तचाप जाँच्ने मेसिन र मोवाइल फोन लगायतका सामग्री उपलब्ध गराइएको छ । यसरी तालिम तथा सामग्री पाएका लेडीमा ज्ञान, सीप तथा सूचनाले समुदाय परिवर्तन गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने अटल विश्वास छ । आफूले पाएको सीप र ज्ञानलाई परिवारका अन्य सदस्यलाई समेत दिएर उनीहरूले नयाँ इन्फा म्यानपावर उत्पादन गर्नका लागि पनि सहयोग पुर्याएका छन् । ती इन्फो लेडीले विवाह तथा अन्य कारणले गाउँ छाड्न परेमा परिवारका अन्य सदस्यले समेत गाउँमा सेवा प्रदान गर्न सक्ने भएका छन् । त्यसले कार्यक्रमलाई दिगो गराउनका लागि सहयोग पुर्याएको छ ।
प्रत्येक दिन आˆनो पढाइको समय व्यवस्थापन गरेर ती लेडीहरू समुदायमा उत्पन्न समस्या समाधानका लागि आवश्यक सामग्री आफ्नो साइकलमा राखेर समुदायमा पुग्ने गर्दछन् । स्थास्थ्य सम्बन्धी विभिन्न किसिमका सीडी, अडियो भिज्युयल सामग्री बोकेर समुदायमा पुगी आफ्नो ल्यापटपबाट देखाउने गर्दछन् । खासगरी मातृशिशु, गर्भावस्थामा ध्यान पुर्याउनुपर्ने जानकारी गाउँ गाउँमा दिने गर्दछन् । रक्तचाप जाँच्ने मेसीनबाट रक्तचाप जाचेपछि एक जनाबाट पाँच टाका लिने गर्दछन् । रक्तचाप जाँचेपछि कसैको रक्तचाप अत्यधिक बढेको पाइएमा तुरुन्तै अस्पताल जानका लागि अनुरोध गर्दछन् । कहिलेकाहीँ त आफ्नो सम्पर्कमा रहेका डाक्टरलाई मोवाइल फोनबाटै कुरा गरेर बिरामीको नाम लेखाइदिने र समय मिलाउने काम समेत इन्फो लेडीले गर्दै आएका छन् । त्यसैगरी मधुमेहको जाँच गरेर कसैमा यसका लक्षण देखिएमा नजिकको अस्पताल वा डाक्टरसँग सम्पर्क गर्नका लागि सिफारिस गर्ने गरेको रिथि अक्तर, इन्फो लेडी बताउँछिन् ।
संस्थाले उपलब्ध गराएको मोडेमबाट ल्यापटपमा इन्टरनेट चलाउनसमेत सकिन्छ । यसरी इमेलबाट सम्पर्क गरी विदेशमा गएका गाउँबासीका छोराछोरीलाई समाचार पठाइदिने, स्काइपीबाट कुराकानी गराउने जस्ता सुविधा साघाटा उपजिल्लाका बासिन्दाले पाएका छन् । यस्ता सुविधा घरघरमा पुर्याउने इन्फो लेडिले न्यूनतम शूल्कमा गाउँबासीलाई सुविधा उपलब्ध गराउछन् । इन्फो लेडी सीमा अक्तर भन्छिन्-"हामीले केही निशुल्क सेवा प्रदान गर्दै आएका छौ भने केही सेवा उपलब्ध गराएवाफत् शुल्क पनि लिने गरेका छौं । जसबाट सुरुका दिनमा हामीले मासिक दुई हजार टाका कमायौ भने अहिले तीन देखि पाँच हजार टाकासम्म कमाइ हुने गरेको छ ।"
सूचना, सञ्चार र प्रविधिको क्षेत्रमा भएको विकासको विवेकपूर्ण फाइदा उठाउदै त्यहाँका इन्फो लेडीले गरिब समुदायका हजारौँको घरघरमा विभिन्न किसिमका सूचना दिँदै विश्वसँग जोडेका छन् । साथै अक्तर सम्झन्छिन्-"गाउँगाउँमा जाँदा थुप्रै मानिस विभिन्न किसिमको रोगले ग्रसित पाउँछु । उनीहरूको रक्तचाप बढेको हुन्छ । मधुमेहको लक्षणसमेत पाइन्छ, त्यस्ता मानिसलाई गाउँमा कुनै सेवा सुविधा उपलब्ध छैन । उनीहरूको सेवा गर्न र अस्पतालसम्म पुर्याई जीवन बचाउन पाउँदा खुसी लागेको छ ।" सुरुका दिनमा समाजले यी लेडीको सेवालाइ त्यति वास्ता नगरे पनि अहिले उनीहरूको सेवाबाट गाइबन्ध जिल्लाका मानिस निकै खुसी भएका छन् । त्यहाँका इन्फो लेडीहरू समाज परिवर्तन र सेवा प्रदान गर्नका लागि नेतृत्व दिन थालेका छन् । समाजले अहिले उनीहरूलाई प्रशंसा गर्न थालेको छ भने उनीहरूको सेवालाई स्वीकार पनि गरिसकेको छ ।
गाउँका घरघरमा पुग्ने त्यस्ता लेडिले मानिसको मात्र उपचार गर्दैनन्, कृषि तथा पशुपालन पेशामा हुने समस्याका बारेमा बनेका विभिन्न सिडि, भिसिडिसमेत बोकेर आफ्नो ल्यापटपमा देखाउने गर्दछन् । अक्तर भन्छिन्-"हामी गाउँगाउँमा जान्छौ, समूहमा रहेका महिला तथा पुरुषलाइ कृषि तथा पशुपालनका क्रममा भएका समस्याका बारेमा सोध्छौ । अनि हामीसँग भएको जानकारी उपलब्ध गराउछौ । हाम्रो सूचनाले समाधान नहुने भए तुरुन्त कृषि तथा पशु सेवा विज्ञसँग सम्पर्क गरी समस्याको समाधान गर्न सहयोग गर्छौं ।"
अहिले यस्ता इन्फो लेडीलाई गाउँघरमा नचिन्ने कोही छैन । उनीहरूसँग भएको मोवाइल फोनले सेवा पुर्याउन निकै सहयोग गरेको छ । कुनै समस्या पर्नेवित्तिकै गाउँलेले उनीहरूको मोवाइलमा फोन गर्दछन् । त्यसपछि आफ्नो साइकलमा आफ्ना सामग्री बोकेर इन्फो लेडी गाउँलेको सेवामा पुगिहाल्छन् । 'प्राक्टिकल एक्शन'ले पनि आफ्नो प्राविधिक ज्ञान सेवा कार्यक्रममार्फत ग्रामीण किसानको क्षमता अभिवृद्धि गर्ने उद्देश्यले विभिन्न कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गरेको छ । जुन कार्यक्रम नेपालमा 'रिड नेपाल' र 'प्राक्टिकल एक्शन'को साझेदारीमा कैलाली, बाँके, चितवन र नवलपरासीमा सञ्चालन भैराखेको छ ।
गाइबन्ध क्षेत्रको यात्राका अवसरमा ६ जना इन्फो लेडीसँग कुरा गर्ने मौका मिलेको थियो । कुरा गर्ने क्रममा उनीहरूमा देखिएको साहस, उत्साह र सेवाले नेपालमा पनि यस्तै कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गर्न सरकारले कुनै सक्रियता देखउला कि भन्ने कुराले मनमा तर्क वितर्क उठ्नु स्वाभाविकै हो । नेपाल र बङ्लादेशको गरिबी पनि मिल्दोजुल्दोखालको भएकाले इन्फो लेडीको अवधारणालाई नेपालले पनि अवलम्बन गर्नसक्ने हो भने दुर्गम क्षेत्रका बासिन्दाले अलि सहज महसुस गर्न पाउने थिए । बङ्लादेशको जमिन अलि बढी उत्पादन हुने खालको रहेकाले त्यहाँ सूचना मात्रले पनि निकै सहयोग गर्न सक्ने रहेछ । नेपालमा पनि दुर्गम गाउँका बासिन्दा आफूले गर्ने कृषि तथा पशुपालनबाट आवश्यक मात्र फाइदा उठाउन सकिरहेका छैनन् । महिलाले असुरक्षित रूपमा बच्चा जन्माउने गर्दछन् । भएका स्वास्थ्य चौकीमा पनि राम्रो सुविधा छैन । कहिलेकाहीँ त बच्चा जन्माउने क्रममा आमा तथा शिशु दुबैको मृत्यु हुने गरेको छ । समयमै गर्भमा रहेको बच्चाको स्वास्थ्य र आमाको स्वास्थ्यका बारेमा गाउँमै उपचार र सूचना पाएमा अकाल मृत्युबाट हजारौं महिलाले ज्यान गुमाउनु पर्दैन थियो होला । इन्फो लेडीको अवधारणालाई नेपालमा पनि अवलम्बन गर्ने हो भने यसले केही राहत दिन सक्थ्यो कि ?
The article can be read in the following link of Gorkhapatra Daily.
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=61383&cat_id=18
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Technology Challenging Poverty
AMRIT BHANDARI
While a significant number of efforts have been expended both from government and private sectors to improve the country’s agricultural system, no such noteworthy achievements however have been experienced when it comes to automatisation and industrialization of the agriculture in the truest sense. While growing number of farmers are making it as a living, agriculture remains under exploited profession for majority of Nepalese, despite it offering tremendous potential for country’s economy and people’s financial and physical wellbeing. Lack of access to information, modest use of technology, and lack of robust infrastructure such as roads are primary obstacles in motivating farmers to become more engaged and involved in commercial agricultural farming. Modern technology has brought significant changes in the agricultural sector; nonetheless there are few cynicisms in the process of its proper and genuine application such as proportionate use of pesticides and other medicines. Notwithstanding the loopholes of technology, systematic practices around the world have proved that technology definitely contributes to the betterment of agricultural productions.
It was on last April, I afforded to visit Joshipur, a village of Kailali district where a large number of local farmers are engaged in vegetables farming, which has produced a sound return on investment for them. Upon recommendation of few famers and general public including social activists, I made my way to see Layak Ram Chaudhary, one of the most enthusiastic farmers I have ever come across with a knack for technology and innovation. Just with a small patch of land, I am overwhelmed to see him making fortunes, winning public laurels and becoming an inspiration for those around him and beyond. His contribution to the community, economically and socially is substantial, his willingness to help others goes beyond word and his friendliness is contagious. But he doesn’t’ end his journey to commercial agriculture here as they say sky is the limit. He has bigger plans and projects in offing. Listening to his ideas and lofty dreams makes me not only spellbound but fueled with vigor as if I want to be the country’s top farmer. He has craving for more in life, he wants to change his life and famers like him and others around the community. What an enthusiasm!
Layak Ram offered me to see his poly-house and off-farm cultivation and proudly explained how he has been successful in vegetable farming. "I have bought a tractor," exuberant Layak Ram showing a pile of appreciation certificates granted by various organisations says,"The land is stretched only in 2 Kattha. The paddy we cultivated here for long time would hardly feed 11 members of my family for 3 to 4 months “A lot of questions bombard into my mind, however, his finesse and spontaneous offering of how he has evolved out to become a cynosure of all eyes shut my mouth," I was compelled to work as a wage labourer for many years just to meet the ends. Sir, when I got an opportunity to participate in the vegetable cultivation training, I learned about the poly-house cultivation."
Poly-house is a small technology that has brought tremendous changes in the life of Layak Ram and many others. While he is definitely a shining example of how a small use of technology along with training and education can make paradigm shift in agriculture farming, there are hundreds of other families who have benefitted from this technology. A project financially supported by the European Union and implemented by Practical Action, when administered in Kailali district literally remade the lives of a number of farmers. Layak Ram is at the forefront of practice- he has been highly successful in learning well and applying it right. "My father originally resented the idea when I told him about the poly-house and vegetable farming in the land where we have been growing paddy conventionally for a long time," shares Layak Ram," it was very difficult to convince him as he did not believe that the poly-house and vegetables farming can turn our life towards prosperity." In spite of his father's disinclination, Layak Ram risked to give it a chance. He collected bamboo batons available locally, bought plastic and ropes in the local market and constructed a poly-house.
"I have learned various technologies during 10-day training about the vegetables farming help me do things right. During the first year, I planted cauliflowers and tomatoes in my land and earned Nrs. 10,000.00, my family’s happiness knew no bound. The earnings gave a new sight to my father and he also encouraged me to further pursue. The next year observed sharp increase in my income to Nrs. 70,000.00 just to offer me more motivation to buy a tractor in instalment payment. Since then, I have never looked back in life. I continue to raise my production levels and generate more earnings helping me to educate my children and sisters with pride" attests Layak Ram. The poly-house has now become a main source of income and it is the appropriate technology to farmers especially those who possess only a small patch of land. The story of Layak Ram is one to represent many farmers in Kailali and a model that can be replicated across the nation. It is also testament to educators, developers and policy makers alike that the relevant technology and corresponding training can pave the way hundreds of thousands in the nation who pursue agriculture as their main business for prosperity.
The construction of poly-house is an easy task. Ropes and plastic along with bamboo's batons and land are enough to construct a poly-house; however, the requirement of materials depends on the size of ploy house. The poly-house should have a clearance height, where anyone can easily enter into to look after the crops or vegetables they grow. The roof of plastic cover can offer the sun rays enter into the house. One needs to be careful while constructing the bamboo's poly house to ensure the house is strong enough to resist rain and wind. The plastic covering makes the house temperature controlled and protects produces from harsh daylight heat, incessant downpour and chilled morning dews.
Poly-houses can be made of up with locally available materials that can significantly reduce the construction cost as affordability becomes a major concern for many farmers. The most discerning benefit of the poly-house is that the farmers can grow both seasonal and off-season vegetables at the same time – off seasons vegetables fetch an attractive price. The design of poly-house requires to be based upon the sound technical principles to ensure the controlled environment for the plant growth. Though a small investment and labour is required to erect it first time, excellent earnings from off-season produces can well offset such investment," affirms Ashik Mandal, technical assistant, District Development Office, Kailali. The construction site must be a firm land and free from potholes as the bamboo's sticks may decay in the loose and moist land and house may fall apart. These houses generally last for three years.
The use of new technology and its access to the poor farmer living in the rural areas of Nepal has proved that it can be one of the important tools in the process of poverty reduction programme in Nepal. Increasing the access to information, expanding applied technologies and raising awareness, government entities and non-government organizations can truly live up to their mission of reducing poverty and developing Nepal’s villages and communities.
As I continue to study, explore and decipher the Nepal’s development landscapes and efforts made by individuals and organizations to change and enrich the lives of many around the country, I can’t help but thank to Mr Ernst Friedrich Fritz Schumacher, an economist in Britain and the author of “Small is Beautiful, 1997”- a study of economics as if people mattered is among the 100 most influential books published since world war and the man behind the Intermediate Technology Development Group, now called Practical Action. Both through his book and Practical Action, Schumacher’s vision and ideas continue to generate increasing momentum in how appropriate technology can challenge the poverty by pulling poor farmers out of grave poverty and famine. On the occasion of his 100th birthday, my wonderful wishes are due to him while I also offer congratulatory mention to our local hero, Layak Ram for his extraordinary and exemplary work.
The writer works at Practical Action Nepal Office.
abamritofficial@gmail.com
While a significant number of efforts have been expended both from government and private sectors to improve the country’s agricultural system, no such noteworthy achievements however have been experienced when it comes to automatisation and industrialization of the agriculture in the truest sense. While growing number of farmers are making it as a living, agriculture remains under exploited profession for majority of Nepalese, despite it offering tremendous potential for country’s economy and people’s financial and physical wellbeing. Lack of access to information, modest use of technology, and lack of robust infrastructure such as roads are primary obstacles in motivating farmers to become more engaged and involved in commercial agricultural farming. Modern technology has brought significant changes in the agricultural sector; nonetheless there are few cynicisms in the process of its proper and genuine application such as proportionate use of pesticides and other medicines. Notwithstanding the loopholes of technology, systematic practices around the world have proved that technology definitely contributes to the betterment of agricultural productions.
It was on last April, I afforded to visit Joshipur, a village of Kailali district where a large number of local farmers are engaged in vegetables farming, which has produced a sound return on investment for them. Upon recommendation of few famers and general public including social activists, I made my way to see Layak Ram Chaudhary, one of the most enthusiastic farmers I have ever come across with a knack for technology and innovation. Just with a small patch of land, I am overwhelmed to see him making fortunes, winning public laurels and becoming an inspiration for those around him and beyond. His contribution to the community, economically and socially is substantial, his willingness to help others goes beyond word and his friendliness is contagious. But he doesn’t’ end his journey to commercial agriculture here as they say sky is the limit. He has bigger plans and projects in offing. Listening to his ideas and lofty dreams makes me not only spellbound but fueled with vigor as if I want to be the country’s top farmer. He has craving for more in life, he wants to change his life and famers like him and others around the community. What an enthusiasm!
Layak Ram offered me to see his poly-house and off-farm cultivation and proudly explained how he has been successful in vegetable farming. "I have bought a tractor," exuberant Layak Ram showing a pile of appreciation certificates granted by various organisations says,"The land is stretched only in 2 Kattha. The paddy we cultivated here for long time would hardly feed 11 members of my family for 3 to 4 months “A lot of questions bombard into my mind, however, his finesse and spontaneous offering of how he has evolved out to become a cynosure of all eyes shut my mouth," I was compelled to work as a wage labourer for many years just to meet the ends. Sir, when I got an opportunity to participate in the vegetable cultivation training, I learned about the poly-house cultivation."
Poly-house is a small technology that has brought tremendous changes in the life of Layak Ram and many others. While he is definitely a shining example of how a small use of technology along with training and education can make paradigm shift in agriculture farming, there are hundreds of other families who have benefitted from this technology. A project financially supported by the European Union and implemented by Practical Action, when administered in Kailali district literally remade the lives of a number of farmers. Layak Ram is at the forefront of practice- he has been highly successful in learning well and applying it right. "My father originally resented the idea when I told him about the poly-house and vegetable farming in the land where we have been growing paddy conventionally for a long time," shares Layak Ram," it was very difficult to convince him as he did not believe that the poly-house and vegetables farming can turn our life towards prosperity." In spite of his father's disinclination, Layak Ram risked to give it a chance. He collected bamboo batons available locally, bought plastic and ropes in the local market and constructed a poly-house.
"I have learned various technologies during 10-day training about the vegetables farming help me do things right. During the first year, I planted cauliflowers and tomatoes in my land and earned Nrs. 10,000.00, my family’s happiness knew no bound. The earnings gave a new sight to my father and he also encouraged me to further pursue. The next year observed sharp increase in my income to Nrs. 70,000.00 just to offer me more motivation to buy a tractor in instalment payment. Since then, I have never looked back in life. I continue to raise my production levels and generate more earnings helping me to educate my children and sisters with pride" attests Layak Ram. The poly-house has now become a main source of income and it is the appropriate technology to farmers especially those who possess only a small patch of land. The story of Layak Ram is one to represent many farmers in Kailali and a model that can be replicated across the nation. It is also testament to educators, developers and policy makers alike that the relevant technology and corresponding training can pave the way hundreds of thousands in the nation who pursue agriculture as their main business for prosperity.
The construction of poly-house is an easy task. Ropes and plastic along with bamboo's batons and land are enough to construct a poly-house; however, the requirement of materials depends on the size of ploy house. The poly-house should have a clearance height, where anyone can easily enter into to look after the crops or vegetables they grow. The roof of plastic cover can offer the sun rays enter into the house. One needs to be careful while constructing the bamboo's poly house to ensure the house is strong enough to resist rain and wind. The plastic covering makes the house temperature controlled and protects produces from harsh daylight heat, incessant downpour and chilled morning dews.
Poly-houses can be made of up with locally available materials that can significantly reduce the construction cost as affordability becomes a major concern for many farmers. The most discerning benefit of the poly-house is that the farmers can grow both seasonal and off-season vegetables at the same time – off seasons vegetables fetch an attractive price. The design of poly-house requires to be based upon the sound technical principles to ensure the controlled environment for the plant growth. Though a small investment and labour is required to erect it first time, excellent earnings from off-season produces can well offset such investment," affirms Ashik Mandal, technical assistant, District Development Office, Kailali. The construction site must be a firm land and free from potholes as the bamboo's sticks may decay in the loose and moist land and house may fall apart. These houses generally last for three years.
The use of new technology and its access to the poor farmer living in the rural areas of Nepal has proved that it can be one of the important tools in the process of poverty reduction programme in Nepal. Increasing the access to information, expanding applied technologies and raising awareness, government entities and non-government organizations can truly live up to their mission of reducing poverty and developing Nepal’s villages and communities.
As I continue to study, explore and decipher the Nepal’s development landscapes and efforts made by individuals and organizations to change and enrich the lives of many around the country, I can’t help but thank to Mr Ernst Friedrich Fritz Schumacher, an economist in Britain and the author of “Small is Beautiful, 1997”- a study of economics as if people mattered is among the 100 most influential books published since world war and the man behind the Intermediate Technology Development Group, now called Practical Action. Both through his book and Practical Action, Schumacher’s vision and ideas continue to generate increasing momentum in how appropriate technology can challenge the poverty by pulling poor farmers out of grave poverty and famine. On the occasion of his 100th birthday, my wonderful wishes are due to him while I also offer congratulatory mention to our local hero, Layak Ram for his extraordinary and exemplary work.
The writer works at Practical Action Nepal Office.
abamritofficial@gmail.com
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
डाक्टर आफैं संक्रमित - कान्तिपुर दैनिक
काठमाडौ, आश्विन १६ -
नेपालमा अधिकांश अस्पतालले सरसफाइलाई मानव स्वास्थ्यसँग जोडेर हेरेको पाइँदैन । अस्पतालमा अवलम्बन गर्नुपर्ने न्यूनतम सरसफाइको समेत ख्याल गरेको पाइँदैन । अस्पतालमा यत्रतत्र फोहोर फालेको पाइन्छ । बिरामीका आफन्तदेखि चिकित्सकसम्मले सरसफाइमा ध्यान नदिनाले बिरामीमा संक्रमण बढेर रोग निको हुन पनि निकै समय लागेको पाइन्छ । अस्पतालमा न्यूनतम रूपमा चिकित्सकबाट हुनुपर्ने सावधानी अपनाएको पाइँदैन । जस्तो कि काठमाडौंकै अधिकांश अस्पतालमा काम गर्ने चिकित्सकले आफूले बिरामी उपचार गर्ने समयमा लगाउने एप्रोन लगाएर बाहिर धुलो उडिरहेको सडकमा आउने तथा रेस्टुरेन्टमा खाजा तथा खाना खान जानाले झन् संक्रमण बढाउँछ भन्ने बुझेको पाइँदैन । डाक्टरहरू एप्रोन लगाएर क्यान्टिनमा आउँछन् । अस्पतालको हाताभित्र त अलि कम संक्रमण होला । तर टिचिङ अस्पताल महाराजगन्ज वरपरका रेस्टुरेन्ट तथा होटलमा जाँदा अधिकांश डाक्टर एप्रोन लगाएर त्यहाँ आएका हुन्छन् । अस्पतालबाहिर सडकमा पानी जमेको हुन्छ । वषर्ाको समयमा पानीले संक्रमण बढाएको हुन्छ भने पानी पर्न छाडेपछि गाडी हिँड्दा निकै धुलो उडेको हुन्छ । यस्ता सडकमा बाहिर आउँदा डाक्टरले लगाउने एप्रोनमा कति संक्रमण हुने गर्छ । अझ अस्पतालको बाहिरपट्ट िफोहोरको थुप्रो देखिन्छ । त्यसले संक्रमण बढाउनका लागि झन् ठूलो योगदान पुर्याउँछ ।
एप्रोनमा टाँसिएका जीवाणुबाट बिरामी पर्न सक्ने असरका बारेमा चिकित्सक आफैं अनविज्ञ हुनु लाजमर्दो अवस्था हो । होटल, रेस्टुरेन्ट, सडकमा आवतजावत गर्दा हुने संक्रमणसहित एक डाक्टर बिरामी जाँच गर्न अस्पतालमा पस्दा हुने बिरामीको क्षतिका लागि कसले जिम्मेवारी लिने ? शिक्षण अस्पतालमा कार्यरत डाक्टर, नर्स तथा विद्यार्थीले नै यतिसम्म ख्याल गर्दैनन् भने ग्रामीण भेगका अस्पतालको हविगत कस्तो होला । अस्पतालमा डाक्टरले गर्नुपर्ने सामान्य किसिमको पनि सरसफाइ गरेको पाइँदैन । आईसीयूजस्तो बिरामीलाई अति सुरक्षा र संक्रमणविहीन अवस्थामा राख्नुपर्ने स्थानमा बिरामीका नातेदार वा कुरुवा जुत्ता लगाएर भित्र जाने गरेको पाइन्छ । अस्पतालको चर्पी हेर्ने हो भने उस्तै दुर्दशा छ ।
डाक्टरले घरबाट लगाएर आउने कपडामा समेत संक्रमण हुन सक्छ । त्यसका लागि अस्पताल प्रशासनले डाक्टरले अस्पतालमा लगाउने कपडामा समेत निगरानी राख्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । कपडालाई निसंक्रमित राख्नका लागि गर्नुपर्ने सावधानीका बारेमा चिकित्सकलाई अभिमुखीकरण तालिम दिँदा पनि उपयुक्त हुन सक्छ । जुनसुकै पेसा भए तापनि मानिसका लागि उत्ति नै महत्त्वपूर्ण हुने गर्छ । आफूलाई ठूलो, राम्रो पेसामा लागेको प्रतिष्ठा देखाउनका लागि एप्रोन लगाएर अस्पतालबाहिर आउँदा हुने क्षतिका बारेमा चिकित्सक आफैं सावधान हुनुपर्ने हो । शिक्षण अस्पताल महाराजगन्ज त एउटा उदाहरण मात्रै हो । चाहे सरकारी होस् वा निजी रूपमा सञ्चालन भएका अस्पताल होऊन्, चिकित्सक एप्रोनसँगै होटल, रेस्टुरेन्ट वा सडकमा आएको पाइन्छ । यसका लागि स्वास्थ्य विभाग वा स्वास्थ्य मन्त्रालयले पनि कुनै किसिमको आचारसंहिता बनाएर यस कार्यलाई तुरुन्तै नियन्त्रण गर्नुपर्ने देखिन्छ । साथसाथै अस्पताल प्रशासनले पनि यस्ता कार्यलाई निरुत्साह गर्नका लागि चिकित्सकलाई सावधान बनाउनुपर्ने अवस्था छ । अस्पतालमा बिरामी कुरुवादेखि डाक्टरबाट हुने लापरबाहीका कारण कुनै पनि बिरामीले जीवनभर सास्ती बेहोर्नु नपरोस् भन्नका लागि तुरुन्तै सम्बन्धित निकायले कुनै किसिमको पाइला चाल्न सकेमा यसबाट भविष्यमा हुने खतरा टार्न सकिन्छ ।
प्रकाशित मिति: २०६८ आश्विन १७ ०८:४६
http://www.ekantipur.com/kantipur/news/news-detail.php?news_id=253712
नेपालमा अधिकांश अस्पतालले सरसफाइलाई मानव स्वास्थ्यसँग जोडेर हेरेको पाइँदैन । अस्पतालमा अवलम्बन गर्नुपर्ने न्यूनतम सरसफाइको समेत ख्याल गरेको पाइँदैन । अस्पतालमा यत्रतत्र फोहोर फालेको पाइन्छ । बिरामीका आफन्तदेखि चिकित्सकसम्मले सरसफाइमा ध्यान नदिनाले बिरामीमा संक्रमण बढेर रोग निको हुन पनि निकै समय लागेको पाइन्छ । अस्पतालमा न्यूनतम रूपमा चिकित्सकबाट हुनुपर्ने सावधानी अपनाएको पाइँदैन । जस्तो कि काठमाडौंकै अधिकांश अस्पतालमा काम गर्ने चिकित्सकले आफूले बिरामी उपचार गर्ने समयमा लगाउने एप्रोन लगाएर बाहिर धुलो उडिरहेको सडकमा आउने तथा रेस्टुरेन्टमा खाजा तथा खाना खान जानाले झन् संक्रमण बढाउँछ भन्ने बुझेको पाइँदैन । डाक्टरहरू एप्रोन लगाएर क्यान्टिनमा आउँछन् । अस्पतालको हाताभित्र त अलि कम संक्रमण होला । तर टिचिङ अस्पताल महाराजगन्ज वरपरका रेस्टुरेन्ट तथा होटलमा जाँदा अधिकांश डाक्टर एप्रोन लगाएर त्यहाँ आएका हुन्छन् । अस्पतालबाहिर सडकमा पानी जमेको हुन्छ । वषर्ाको समयमा पानीले संक्रमण बढाएको हुन्छ भने पानी पर्न छाडेपछि गाडी हिँड्दा निकै धुलो उडेको हुन्छ । यस्ता सडकमा बाहिर आउँदा डाक्टरले लगाउने एप्रोनमा कति संक्रमण हुने गर्छ । अझ अस्पतालको बाहिरपट्ट िफोहोरको थुप्रो देखिन्छ । त्यसले संक्रमण बढाउनका लागि झन् ठूलो योगदान पुर्याउँछ ।
एप्रोनमा टाँसिएका जीवाणुबाट बिरामी पर्न सक्ने असरका बारेमा चिकित्सक आफैं अनविज्ञ हुनु लाजमर्दो अवस्था हो । होटल, रेस्टुरेन्ट, सडकमा आवतजावत गर्दा हुने संक्रमणसहित एक डाक्टर बिरामी जाँच गर्न अस्पतालमा पस्दा हुने बिरामीको क्षतिका लागि कसले जिम्मेवारी लिने ? शिक्षण अस्पतालमा कार्यरत डाक्टर, नर्स तथा विद्यार्थीले नै यतिसम्म ख्याल गर्दैनन् भने ग्रामीण भेगका अस्पतालको हविगत कस्तो होला । अस्पतालमा डाक्टरले गर्नुपर्ने सामान्य किसिमको पनि सरसफाइ गरेको पाइँदैन । आईसीयूजस्तो बिरामीलाई अति सुरक्षा र संक्रमणविहीन अवस्थामा राख्नुपर्ने स्थानमा बिरामीका नातेदार वा कुरुवा जुत्ता लगाएर भित्र जाने गरेको पाइन्छ । अस्पतालको चर्पी हेर्ने हो भने उस्तै दुर्दशा छ ।
डाक्टरले घरबाट लगाएर आउने कपडामा समेत संक्रमण हुन सक्छ । त्यसका लागि अस्पताल प्रशासनले डाक्टरले अस्पतालमा लगाउने कपडामा समेत निगरानी राख्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । कपडालाई निसंक्रमित राख्नका लागि गर्नुपर्ने सावधानीका बारेमा चिकित्सकलाई अभिमुखीकरण तालिम दिँदा पनि उपयुक्त हुन सक्छ । जुनसुकै पेसा भए तापनि मानिसका लागि उत्ति नै महत्त्वपूर्ण हुने गर्छ । आफूलाई ठूलो, राम्रो पेसामा लागेको प्रतिष्ठा देखाउनका लागि एप्रोन लगाएर अस्पतालबाहिर आउँदा हुने क्षतिका बारेमा चिकित्सक आफैं सावधान हुनुपर्ने हो । शिक्षण अस्पताल महाराजगन्ज त एउटा उदाहरण मात्रै हो । चाहे सरकारी होस् वा निजी रूपमा सञ्चालन भएका अस्पताल होऊन्, चिकित्सक एप्रोनसँगै होटल, रेस्टुरेन्ट वा सडकमा आएको पाइन्छ । यसका लागि स्वास्थ्य विभाग वा स्वास्थ्य मन्त्रालयले पनि कुनै किसिमको आचारसंहिता बनाएर यस कार्यलाई तुरुन्तै नियन्त्रण गर्नुपर्ने देखिन्छ । साथसाथै अस्पताल प्रशासनले पनि यस्ता कार्यलाई निरुत्साह गर्नका लागि चिकित्सकलाई सावधान बनाउनुपर्ने अवस्था छ । अस्पतालमा बिरामी कुरुवादेखि डाक्टरबाट हुने लापरबाहीका कारण कुनै पनि बिरामीले जीवनभर सास्ती बेहोर्नु नपरोस् भन्नका लागि तुरुन्तै सम्बन्धित निकायले कुनै किसिमको पाइला चाल्न सकेमा यसबाट भविष्यमा हुने खतरा टार्न सकिन्छ ।
प्रकाशित मिति: २०६८ आश्विन १७ ०८:४६
http://www.ekantipur.com/kantipur/news/news-detail.php?news_id=253712
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Every Drop Counts
Published in Kathmandu Post
Date - 21 September 2011
http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/09/21/oped/every-drop-counts/341139.html
When we talk about food security, the requirement of an effective plan to promote the agricultural system cannot be ignored. Food insecurity till now has been limited to a few districts. But if the disinclination of Nepali youths to pursue farming as a profession continues, the exodus of young people to foreign countries lured by lucrative jobs does not stop, and no immediate innovative and modern measures are applied to promote the agricultural system, food insecurity will definitely spread to other districts in the days to come.
There are other factors that need to be taken into consideration. Climate change will further worsen the production level of crops and make people dependent on imported food. A number of innovations and technologies have been put into practice to promote the agriculture sector. Unfortunately, farmers in Nepal’s remote villages either have no access to information or are not confident that engaging in farming will bring good returns to improve their living standards.
The political stalemate has become a setback in making the agriculture sector a government priority. Political leaders enthusiastically discuss national development, but they are yet to treat agriculture as being of paramount importance in leading the country towards prosperity. Amid the growing frustration, however, there are many farmers who have been learning new technology and applying it in their farms that has truly changed their living standards. One such appropriate and cost-effective technology even in the steep land of Nepal is drip irrigation.
Research shows that two-thirds of the land in Nepal consists of steep slopes. Except for three months during the rainy season, the rest of the year is marked by a shortage of even drinking water. In such a situation, who can hope for irrigation for farming? However, the drip irrigation technology has provided relief to farmers. Drip irrigation allows them to deliver water to the roots of plants through a network of pipes. The benefits of this technology are that it saves time and no water is wasted. Farmers don’t need to spray water over their fields holding a hose in their hands. Drip irrigation waters the roots of the plants directly; therefore, farmers do not need to spread water all over resulting in wastage through evaporation.
Drip irrigation is very simple and effective from the point of view of both technical skill and cost. A properly installed drip irrigation technology prevents water loss through overflow, deep filtration and evaporation. Supplements of agriculture chemicals can be applied efficiently together with water through drip irrigation. It can be applied even in the odd-shaped land and uneven topography. This technology can be more useful where other irrigation systems are not available. What farmers need to install are a plastic tank, polythene pipe and valves to connect the pipe.
Drip irrigation is a technology which significantly saves water intake by letting water to drip to the roots of plants either on the soil surface or directly to the root region through a network of valves, pipes and tubing. It is applied with the support of narrow tubes which supplies water directly to the base of the plant. No extra expenses are needed once the drip irrigation technology has been installed as it lasts two to three years. A tank with a capacity of 50 to 200 litres is required. A 50-litre tank can water 80 plants. The technology not only delivers water to plants, chemical supplements and fertilisers are also supplied along with the water. Fertilisers diluted in the water can reach the roots of plants directly and there is no waste. Vegetable production increases with a proportional use of water, fertilisers and medicines.
Chitra Bahadur Regmi of Jagat Bhanjyan village is the first person in Syanga district to use drip irrigation in the area. He has been benefiting by using drip irrigation to grow vegetables on his farm which formerly produced 50 kg of millet. “We have already produced 10 quintals of bitter gourds, bottle gourds and other vegetables and earned Rs 50,000,” Chitra Bahadur said.
He had once gone abroad in search of work. However, he didn’t find a good job as he had expected, and returned home with the determination to engage in vegetable farming. But the problem was water for irrigation, as there wasn’t enough in his village even for drinking. He knew about drip irrigation, and installed the technology in his land. He has diversified his vegetable output by planting bottle gourd, cucumber, bitter gourd, pumpkin and bean, tomato and has been making good money. Thanks to the new method, drip irrigation.
Chitra Bahadur plans to get a bigger water tank and call his son back from abroad where he works involve him in vegetable farming too. He is no doubt a model farmer in the area. However, there are many other enthusiastic farmers in the village who have adopted drip irrigation and taken up vegetable farming. There increased earnings have inspired would-be migrant workers to give up their foreign plans and engage in vegetable farming in their own land.
Dalendra Gurung from the same village said that he earned Rs 25,000 by growing vegetables. Agni Prashad Regmi of the same village said, “We don’t need to irrigate the whole land as drip irrigation offers a good system to drip water to the roots of plants. It also saves the time of farmers and frees them to perform other tasks.”
The government must plan to promote drip irrigation to motivate farmers to get involved in the agriculture sector. Small and intermediate technology can make true differences in the lives of the poor in the country, and that can play an important role in strengthening the country’s economy.
The writer has a Master degree in Anthropology.
Date - 21 September 2011
http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/09/21/oped/every-drop-counts/341139.html
When we talk about food security, the requirement of an effective plan to promote the agricultural system cannot be ignored. Food insecurity till now has been limited to a few districts. But if the disinclination of Nepali youths to pursue farming as a profession continues, the exodus of young people to foreign countries lured by lucrative jobs does not stop, and no immediate innovative and modern measures are applied to promote the agricultural system, food insecurity will definitely spread to other districts in the days to come.
There are other factors that need to be taken into consideration. Climate change will further worsen the production level of crops and make people dependent on imported food. A number of innovations and technologies have been put into practice to promote the agriculture sector. Unfortunately, farmers in Nepal’s remote villages either have no access to information or are not confident that engaging in farming will bring good returns to improve their living standards.
The political stalemate has become a setback in making the agriculture sector a government priority. Political leaders enthusiastically discuss national development, but they are yet to treat agriculture as being of paramount importance in leading the country towards prosperity. Amid the growing frustration, however, there are many farmers who have been learning new technology and applying it in their farms that has truly changed their living standards. One such appropriate and cost-effective technology even in the steep land of Nepal is drip irrigation.
Research shows that two-thirds of the land in Nepal consists of steep slopes. Except for three months during the rainy season, the rest of the year is marked by a shortage of even drinking water. In such a situation, who can hope for irrigation for farming? However, the drip irrigation technology has provided relief to farmers. Drip irrigation allows them to deliver water to the roots of plants through a network of pipes. The benefits of this technology are that it saves time and no water is wasted. Farmers don’t need to spray water over their fields holding a hose in their hands. Drip irrigation waters the roots of the plants directly; therefore, farmers do not need to spread water all over resulting in wastage through evaporation.
Drip irrigation is very simple and effective from the point of view of both technical skill and cost. A properly installed drip irrigation technology prevents water loss through overflow, deep filtration and evaporation. Supplements of agriculture chemicals can be applied efficiently together with water through drip irrigation. It can be applied even in the odd-shaped land and uneven topography. This technology can be more useful where other irrigation systems are not available. What farmers need to install are a plastic tank, polythene pipe and valves to connect the pipe.
Drip irrigation is a technology which significantly saves water intake by letting water to drip to the roots of plants either on the soil surface or directly to the root region through a network of valves, pipes and tubing. It is applied with the support of narrow tubes which supplies water directly to the base of the plant. No extra expenses are needed once the drip irrigation technology has been installed as it lasts two to three years. A tank with a capacity of 50 to 200 litres is required. A 50-litre tank can water 80 plants. The technology not only delivers water to plants, chemical supplements and fertilisers are also supplied along with the water. Fertilisers diluted in the water can reach the roots of plants directly and there is no waste. Vegetable production increases with a proportional use of water, fertilisers and medicines.
Chitra Bahadur Regmi of Jagat Bhanjyan village is the first person in Syanga district to use drip irrigation in the area. He has been benefiting by using drip irrigation to grow vegetables on his farm which formerly produced 50 kg of millet. “We have already produced 10 quintals of bitter gourds, bottle gourds and other vegetables and earned Rs 50,000,” Chitra Bahadur said.
He had once gone abroad in search of work. However, he didn’t find a good job as he had expected, and returned home with the determination to engage in vegetable farming. But the problem was water for irrigation, as there wasn’t enough in his village even for drinking. He knew about drip irrigation, and installed the technology in his land. He has diversified his vegetable output by planting bottle gourd, cucumber, bitter gourd, pumpkin and bean, tomato and has been making good money. Thanks to the new method, drip irrigation.
Chitra Bahadur plans to get a bigger water tank and call his son back from abroad where he works involve him in vegetable farming too. He is no doubt a model farmer in the area. However, there are many other enthusiastic farmers in the village who have adopted drip irrigation and taken up vegetable farming. There increased earnings have inspired would-be migrant workers to give up their foreign plans and engage in vegetable farming in their own land.
Dalendra Gurung from the same village said that he earned Rs 25,000 by growing vegetables. Agni Prashad Regmi of the same village said, “We don’t need to irrigate the whole land as drip irrigation offers a good system to drip water to the roots of plants. It also saves the time of farmers and frees them to perform other tasks.”
The government must plan to promote drip irrigation to motivate farmers to get involved in the agriculture sector. Small and intermediate technology can make true differences in the lives of the poor in the country, and that can play an important role in strengthening the country’s economy.
The writer has a Master degree in Anthropology.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Menstruation Paradox- Published in Kathmandu Post
In Brahmin and Chhetri culture, women’s menstrual period is looked upon as sinful and physically squalid. Especially the first three days of the period, women are said to be contaminated and they are kept away from their ordinary routine as if they’re untouchable. They’re not allowed to enter the kitchen and touch food, are not permitted to prepare and fix meals; or worship god at a temple. What makes things even worse is when they’re shun even from doing personal chores such as combing their hair or using a beauty kit if they desire to attend any external function.
Research in Dangerous Wives and Sacred Sisters, Social and Symbolic Roles of High-caste Women in Nepal, carried out by Lynn Bennett on 1983 delves into traditional practices and their impact. Her research paper further explains that village women have no knowledge on ovulation and its connection with their period of fertility. Instead, they associate the fertile period directly with menstrual blood.
It has been almost three decades since the research was carried out and Nepal’s developmental landscape has made significant improvements over the years, the aforementioned predicament of rural women, however, continue to plague the society in general, and women in particular. When a woman has to live separately from other family members with a designated bed, utensils and few clothing for a period of three days, where people follow dismal sanitation and hygiene practices with no access to electricity, safe water and medical care, one can only imagine how hazardous her health can be. Further, the irony is that such practices are said to be exercised so as to avoid from committing sin and to please god.
A lass in her mid-teens from a remote village of Arghakhanchi shares her melancholic experiences during her first menstruation period. With limited utensils, clothes and toiletries at her disposal, she was given fixed meals two times a day delivered to the cowshed by another female member of the family. She was barred from seeing male members of the household for 10 straight days with a dogma that she would transmit evils to them. Much has been talked about and done over the years—proclaimed to be women empowerment— but hers is an example of denial and rejection that speaks volumes of what we do in practice in inhibiting the development and growth of women in all walks of life.
The research work done by Bennett is a sophisticated read and of course, an extensively studied topic of paramount importance especially in Nepali culture. Researchers, academics and anthropologists have historically used the emic or etic approach to understand the real meaning of culture. Any ongoing research and study, however, should be directed towards addressing the problem rather than just to embrace the work of humanities and social sciences. Efforts, any and all, should continue to bring positive changes to society without hurting and humiliating cultural cohesion.
As I flip through Bennett’s book, I grow restless just to notice the vast chasm between rural villages and urban cities. Here in these thousands of villages, innocent women have been suffering from age-old evil practices like discrimination at the time of menstruation when they need family support, love and good care.
Funds and policies aimed at addressing the problems are solely focused on urban women in the name of grandeur receptions, sophisticated workshops and lavish conferences. What policies!
When I visit villages in various districts in course of my official work, I find it deplorable talking about the menstruation period—still, women are termed as ‘polluted’ during this time, living three days each month away from the care and comfort of family. In contrary, when I go to the municipalities and Kathmandu, the menstruation period is no more taboo even to those who have temporarily moved to these cities for study or work. But, the menstruation time actually bears cardinal importance in terms of health, hygiene and sanitation of women, no matter where they live. Urbanites may not even believe that a woman living in the village still has to live separately in a cowshed during the menstruation period.
I asked a young single lady who hails from a small village of western Nepal and has been living in Kathmandu for the last five years about how she manages to live during her menstruation period. she quickly replied, saying that she strongly follows the cultural practice when she home in the village, but when in Kathmandu, she has rooted out such practice to oblivion. The paradox here shows that the evil practices that endanger the health of human being are followed only in the villages and can only be attributed to lack of education, awareness and information.
Democracy has given rights to the people, irrespective of location. Since the dawn of democracy and multiparty system in the nation, we have witnessed several and substantial changes, not only in national development, but also in cultural dynamics. Analysis of culture, from other countries enriches the knowledge on imbalance of rights, power and the decision making process among a wide range of issues in Nepal. Nonetheless, the very minimal has been accomplished when it comes to education and empowerment of rural women. A broadened interpretation of culture, meticulous analysis of what is right and what is wrong, with the sincere effort to empower Nepali women in different walks of life has to be our priority—both at the government and non-government levels.
As women in the villages continue to live an arduous life during menstruation and are seen as despicable, while their urban counterparts live a regular life, it brings to question where our developments efforts are directed to. It is lucid and clear for the readers to decipher what the reason is, that makes the same culture so different in two places. It is obvious, where and why the workshops, education, training and interactions need to be concentrated.
Bhandari has a Masters degree in Anthropology
Posted on: 2011-08-07 09:13
Kathmandu Post link-
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2011/08/06/oped/menstruation-paradox/224891.html
Research in Dangerous Wives and Sacred Sisters, Social and Symbolic Roles of High-caste Women in Nepal, carried out by Lynn Bennett on 1983 delves into traditional practices and their impact. Her research paper further explains that village women have no knowledge on ovulation and its connection with their period of fertility. Instead, they associate the fertile period directly with menstrual blood.
It has been almost three decades since the research was carried out and Nepal’s developmental landscape has made significant improvements over the years, the aforementioned predicament of rural women, however, continue to plague the society in general, and women in particular. When a woman has to live separately from other family members with a designated bed, utensils and few clothing for a period of three days, where people follow dismal sanitation and hygiene practices with no access to electricity, safe water and medical care, one can only imagine how hazardous her health can be. Further, the irony is that such practices are said to be exercised so as to avoid from committing sin and to please god.
A lass in her mid-teens from a remote village of Arghakhanchi shares her melancholic experiences during her first menstruation period. With limited utensils, clothes and toiletries at her disposal, she was given fixed meals two times a day delivered to the cowshed by another female member of the family. She was barred from seeing male members of the household for 10 straight days with a dogma that she would transmit evils to them. Much has been talked about and done over the years—proclaimed to be women empowerment— but hers is an example of denial and rejection that speaks volumes of what we do in practice in inhibiting the development and growth of women in all walks of life.
The research work done by Bennett is a sophisticated read and of course, an extensively studied topic of paramount importance especially in Nepali culture. Researchers, academics and anthropologists have historically used the emic or etic approach to understand the real meaning of culture. Any ongoing research and study, however, should be directed towards addressing the problem rather than just to embrace the work of humanities and social sciences. Efforts, any and all, should continue to bring positive changes to society without hurting and humiliating cultural cohesion.
As I flip through Bennett’s book, I grow restless just to notice the vast chasm between rural villages and urban cities. Here in these thousands of villages, innocent women have been suffering from age-old evil practices like discrimination at the time of menstruation when they need family support, love and good care.
Funds and policies aimed at addressing the problems are solely focused on urban women in the name of grandeur receptions, sophisticated workshops and lavish conferences. What policies!
When I visit villages in various districts in course of my official work, I find it deplorable talking about the menstruation period—still, women are termed as ‘polluted’ during this time, living three days each month away from the care and comfort of family. In contrary, when I go to the municipalities and Kathmandu, the menstruation period is no more taboo even to those who have temporarily moved to these cities for study or work. But, the menstruation time actually bears cardinal importance in terms of health, hygiene and sanitation of women, no matter where they live. Urbanites may not even believe that a woman living in the village still has to live separately in a cowshed during the menstruation period.
I asked a young single lady who hails from a small village of western Nepal and has been living in Kathmandu for the last five years about how she manages to live during her menstruation period. she quickly replied, saying that she strongly follows the cultural practice when she home in the village, but when in Kathmandu, she has rooted out such practice to oblivion. The paradox here shows that the evil practices that endanger the health of human being are followed only in the villages and can only be attributed to lack of education, awareness and information.
Democracy has given rights to the people, irrespective of location. Since the dawn of democracy and multiparty system in the nation, we have witnessed several and substantial changes, not only in national development, but also in cultural dynamics. Analysis of culture, from other countries enriches the knowledge on imbalance of rights, power and the decision making process among a wide range of issues in Nepal. Nonetheless, the very minimal has been accomplished when it comes to education and empowerment of rural women. A broadened interpretation of culture, meticulous analysis of what is right and what is wrong, with the sincere effort to empower Nepali women in different walks of life has to be our priority—both at the government and non-government levels.
As women in the villages continue to live an arduous life during menstruation and are seen as despicable, while their urban counterparts live a regular life, it brings to question where our developments efforts are directed to. It is lucid and clear for the readers to decipher what the reason is, that makes the same culture so different in two places. It is obvious, where and why the workshops, education, training and interactions need to be concentrated.
Bhandari has a Masters degree in Anthropology
Posted on: 2011-08-07 09:13
Kathmandu Post link-
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2011/08/06/oped/menstruation-paradox/224891.html
Monday, July 25, 2011
Technology happy farmers
JUL 26 – Amrit Bhandari
Information technology has profoundly changed the way we live our everyday lives. While the prudent use of information and communication technology has definitely worked for the benefit of people who have easy access to it, such technology, if used wisely can also help disadvantaged and underserved communities. It can especially help grass root farmers increase their income and live a better quality of life. The extension of mobile phone services to remote parts of Nepal is benefiting poor farmers by ameliorating their access to the marketplace and other basic services. One such example is of farmers in Kailali District acquiring everyday prices on agriculture produce through their mobile and land lines phones. The benefit from this technology was made possible by the financial support of the European Union and operational support of Practical Action in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce in Kailali.
“Gone are the days when I would aggrieve if cauliflowers and onions would fetch the right price that reflected my hard work, time and cost invested, from plantation to harvesting.” Suwas Devi Chaudhari of Joshipur, Kailali explains. She recalls her past: “We were always constantly manipulated by the wholesalers who possessed both information and purchasing power and we had to rely on the fake information about the prices of our vegetables.” The chamber of commerce, Kailali has managed to provide information on market prices of vegetable in the areas, thanks to development in information technology. Dilli Raj Sharma, Executive Director of Chamber of Commerce, Kailali says,” a committee formed to study the market prices goes to the major fresh produce markets and records the actual prices of vegetables and other staple items.” The prices are entered into the computer’s software and it provides the average prices automatically linked with the telecom network. The updated price information is then available in the mobile devices of farmers with a single dial to 1618. This is how farmers get the most recent information on the market prices of their vegetables produces and keep abreast of changes in market dynamics, without having to worry about price manipulation mechanism created by middlemen and wholesalers.
People from Kailali’s Dhangadhi and Attariya’s market centre can be cognizant of the wholesale and retail price of their produces through a single dial from their mobile and landline phones. The service has truly empowered farmers while instilling confidence and pride in their hard work and dedication, to doing something meaningful in their own land instead of choosing to fly abroad for substandard and hazardous work.
When Suhas Devi learns from her mobile phone that the market price of vegetables is on an upward trend, she wastes no time in collecting them from her fields and rushing to the nearby marketplace. Sometimes, wholesalers come at her doorsteps to buy vegetables. Amar Chaudhari, a farmer from Joshipur, Kailali says,” We don’t sell our vegetables without knowing the actual market price. First we dial 1618 and learn about today’s price of each vegetable and sell to the traders accordingly.” Before the mobile technology which enabled market price information became available, the traders would get more profit out of the farmer’s produce by misrepresenting the price information. The traders could benefit in the absence of this technology as they could buy vegetables at a substantially lower price than the market price.
Amar further says,” the traders used to fix the market prices with higher margins compared to the market rates and we had to believe them. For a long time,
we were reliant on their prices and we sold our vegetables for the price they demanded.” Amar recalls,” the traders used to make nearly one hundred per cent margins, while at times the profit margins soared to a whopping 200 per cent. Many can only repent for what they had to suffer; the newly introduced mobile enabled service has brought fresh smiles to an entire farmer community raising their income level and lifestyle to a new height. For observers, the farmers’ content seems to be testament of justice brought about by technology.
Rameswor Bohora, chairman of Agriculture Produces Seller Regional Market Committee, Attariya reports, “this service has helped mainly the farmers. Nonetheless, such information is not limited to them. A single phone call can provide the price details of vegetables to anyone.” The vegetable produces of Kailali have markets in Doti, Dadeldhura, Dipayel, Baitadi, Kohalpur, Surkhet and Nepalgunj.
It is estimated that fresh produces of vegetables worth of Nrs. 1,200,000.00 are traded daily in the two main markets of Kailali alone. Based on the information provided by the Chamber of Commerce there, half of the vegetables available in the market are produced in Nepal. The service has allowed the farmers to increase their income by 10 to 12 per cent, just from their produce. Recent data show that farmers in Kailali alone generate about Nrs. 100,000.00 in revenue from the daily sale of fresh produce. The availability of the market price at their fingertips has allowed farmers to make informed decisions whether to sell short or hold for the prices to go up. The service has bridged the gaps of information on market prices between traders and farmers. If similar services are made available across the country, thousands of farmers will be able to increase their income by securing right and just prices for their offerings
The services established in Kailali district simply make market price information easier to obtain to poor farmers. This shows that the appropriate use of technology can bring changes in poor communities. The right to information and in this instance, information being the market price, is an example that there are many ways we can reap the benefits of technology.
The writer works at Practical Action Nepal Office.
abamritofficial@gmail.com
Published in Kathmandu Post on 26 July 2011- Link - http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2011/07/25/oped/technology-happy-farmers/224430.html
Information technology has profoundly changed the way we live our everyday lives. While the prudent use of information and communication technology has definitely worked for the benefit of people who have easy access to it, such technology, if used wisely can also help disadvantaged and underserved communities. It can especially help grass root farmers increase their income and live a better quality of life. The extension of mobile phone services to remote parts of Nepal is benefiting poor farmers by ameliorating their access to the marketplace and other basic services. One such example is of farmers in Kailali District acquiring everyday prices on agriculture produce through their mobile and land lines phones. The benefit from this technology was made possible by the financial support of the European Union and operational support of Practical Action in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce in Kailali.
“Gone are the days when I would aggrieve if cauliflowers and onions would fetch the right price that reflected my hard work, time and cost invested, from plantation to harvesting.” Suwas Devi Chaudhari of Joshipur, Kailali explains. She recalls her past: “We were always constantly manipulated by the wholesalers who possessed both information and purchasing power and we had to rely on the fake information about the prices of our vegetables.” The chamber of commerce, Kailali has managed to provide information on market prices of vegetable in the areas, thanks to development in information technology. Dilli Raj Sharma, Executive Director of Chamber of Commerce, Kailali says,” a committee formed to study the market prices goes to the major fresh produce markets and records the actual prices of vegetables and other staple items.” The prices are entered into the computer’s software and it provides the average prices automatically linked with the telecom network. The updated price information is then available in the mobile devices of farmers with a single dial to 1618. This is how farmers get the most recent information on the market prices of their vegetables produces and keep abreast of changes in market dynamics, without having to worry about price manipulation mechanism created by middlemen and wholesalers.
People from Kailali’s Dhangadhi and Attariya’s market centre can be cognizant of the wholesale and retail price of their produces through a single dial from their mobile and landline phones. The service has truly empowered farmers while instilling confidence and pride in their hard work and dedication, to doing something meaningful in their own land instead of choosing to fly abroad for substandard and hazardous work.
When Suhas Devi learns from her mobile phone that the market price of vegetables is on an upward trend, she wastes no time in collecting them from her fields and rushing to the nearby marketplace. Sometimes, wholesalers come at her doorsteps to buy vegetables. Amar Chaudhari, a farmer from Joshipur, Kailali says,” We don’t sell our vegetables without knowing the actual market price. First we dial 1618 and learn about today’s price of each vegetable and sell to the traders accordingly.” Before the mobile technology which enabled market price information became available, the traders would get more profit out of the farmer’s produce by misrepresenting the price information. The traders could benefit in the absence of this technology as they could buy vegetables at a substantially lower price than the market price.
Amar further says,” the traders used to fix the market prices with higher margins compared to the market rates and we had to believe them. For a long time,
we were reliant on their prices and we sold our vegetables for the price they demanded.” Amar recalls,” the traders used to make nearly one hundred per cent margins, while at times the profit margins soared to a whopping 200 per cent. Many can only repent for what they had to suffer; the newly introduced mobile enabled service has brought fresh smiles to an entire farmer community raising their income level and lifestyle to a new height. For observers, the farmers’ content seems to be testament of justice brought about by technology.
Rameswor Bohora, chairman of Agriculture Produces Seller Regional Market Committee, Attariya reports, “this service has helped mainly the farmers. Nonetheless, such information is not limited to them. A single phone call can provide the price details of vegetables to anyone.” The vegetable produces of Kailali have markets in Doti, Dadeldhura, Dipayel, Baitadi, Kohalpur, Surkhet and Nepalgunj.
It is estimated that fresh produces of vegetables worth of Nrs. 1,200,000.00 are traded daily in the two main markets of Kailali alone. Based on the information provided by the Chamber of Commerce there, half of the vegetables available in the market are produced in Nepal. The service has allowed the farmers to increase their income by 10 to 12 per cent, just from their produce. Recent data show that farmers in Kailali alone generate about Nrs. 100,000.00 in revenue from the daily sale of fresh produce. The availability of the market price at their fingertips has allowed farmers to make informed decisions whether to sell short or hold for the prices to go up. The service has bridged the gaps of information on market prices between traders and farmers. If similar services are made available across the country, thousands of farmers will be able to increase their income by securing right and just prices for their offerings
The services established in Kailali district simply make market price information easier to obtain to poor farmers. This shows that the appropriate use of technology can bring changes in poor communities. The right to information and in this instance, information being the market price, is an example that there are many ways we can reap the benefits of technology.
The writer works at Practical Action Nepal Office.
abamritofficial@gmail.com
Published in Kathmandu Post on 26 July 2011- Link - http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2011/07/25/oped/technology-happy-farmers/224430.html
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Information for all
JUL 16 - 2011, Published in Kathmandu Post
Saghata, a sub-district under Gaibandh district, is located 300 km away in the north-west from the capital of Bangladesh. There, a project called Rural Information Programme, has taken off with great success. Based on the belief that knowledge and awareness can change the lives of the rural poor for the better, the project trains locals to act as information resources for villages. When I visited the district in March, I was excited to find how effective this innovative concept for supporting the rural poor was.
The programme also provides local youths with valuable opportunities for work and education through their training. Implemented in 60 villages, youths are trained in information on general human health, agriculture, livestock, fishery, human rights, women rights, and rights to information. Though anyone can work for the programme, ladies are encouraged to do so more since it is harder for men to talk and work with women.
The trained ladies mainly address the problems of youth, children, farmers, women and women groups, with the information they received in training. The ladies are provided with bicycles, umbrellas, mini laptop computers, modem for internet connection, cameras, printers, scales, a machine to test blood sugar, mobile etc. And in case the ladies should have to leave the programme or are not around, they train family members so they can quickly respond to any problems that arise in their absence.
Everyday, after their campus time the ladies pack all their equipment in their bags and head over to the communities on their bicycles. They give audio and video demonstrations on their laptops on information relating to problems villagers are facing. They check villagers’ blood pressure and if needed, refer them to the nearby hospital. Sometimes they coordinate with the doctors from their mobile phones and even register the patients at the hospital.
With emerging information and communication technology, the info-ladies support thousands of poor people living in the remote villages of Bangladesh. “I find many people suffering from many diseases,” Sathi Aktar , an info-lady, says, “they are often suffering from high blood pressure or symptoms of excessive sugar, which are very treatable but most of the time they don’t know about these diseases and even if they do, there are no good treatment services in the village. I am happy that we can at least offer our services to them and maybe even save their lives.”
These ladies also supply communities with information on agriculture, livestock and fisheries. “We go from village to village and ask people about their problems on agriculture, livestock and fisheries and provide the information we have. If we find the problem cannot be solved with our information, we instantly refer them to the concerned authorities,” Aktar says.
Using the internet modem they received, the ladies even provide villagers with the opportunity to talk with relatives working abroad. They charge a minimum amount for the service but Sima Aktar, another info-lady, says they also offer many services without charge.
In the preliminary phase of the programme, no one believed that the ladies could support the communities but nowadays, the ladies are becoming leaders in the communities. The communities have come to greatly appreciate their support and skills and welcome their services. Everyone knows the info-ladies in the villages. Whenever the villagers face any problems they immediately dial the info-ladies’ mobile numbers, who then come to the community with any needed equipment.
I had the opportunity to meet with six info-ladies and I was greatly impressed by the courage, inspiration and dedication to supporting the communities that they displayed. I pictured communities in Nepal and how such an approach could really help them as well. If implemented in Nepal in communities of similar socio-economic background to those being serviced in Bangladesh, so many could benefit. There are many communities in Nepal where vegetable farming, livestock, and fisheries can be main sources of income however, due to lack of knowledge; they are languishing with traditional approaches. The knowledge and skills info-ladies provide could change lives in Nepal.
abamritofficial@gmail.com
Link - http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2011/07/16/oped/information-for-all/224083.html
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
भ्यालेन्टाइन डेको प्रतीक्षा
काठमाडौ, माघ २८ -
अमृत भण्डारी
भ्यालेन्टाइन डे आउनुभन्दा एक महिना पहिले नै बुटवलका आशिस अधिकारीले आफूलाई मनपर्ने केटीलाई कसरी प्रस्ताव राख्ने भन्ने बारेमा निकै सोचे । साथीलाई सोधे । धेरै साथीले उनलाई मोबाइलबाट एसएमएस गरेर केटीको भावना बुझ्न सल्लाह दिए । तर उनले आँट गर्न सकेनन् । अन्ततः एक वर्षदेखि मनपराउने केटीलाई १४ फेब्रुअरीमै एसएमएस गर्ने र प्रस्ताव राख्ने मुडमा छन् उनी । हुन त उनीसँग केटीको इमेल ठेगाना पनि छ । तर उनलाई एक वर्षदेखि मनपराउने केटीलाई प्रस्ताव राख्दा सम्बन्ध बिग्रन सक्ने डर पनि छ । त्यसैले उनले न इमेल नै पठाउन सके, नत एसएमएस गर्नसके । भन्छन्- "यसो कुरा गर्दा त उसले पनि मलाई मनपराउँछे जस्तो लागेको छ, तर शतप्रतिशत विश्वस्त छैन । त्यसैले कम्तीमा भ्यालेन्टाइन डेका दिन प्रस्ताव राख्दा ऊ रिसाउने छैन भन्ने लागेको छ ।"
एसएमएस, इमेलबाट सम्पर्क गरी पहिले मनसाय बुझेर प्रेम प्रस्ताव गर्ने प्रचलन अहिले बढेर गएको छ । तर जति केटाहरू भ्यालेन्टाइन र प्रेमका बारेमा खुल्ने गरेका छन्, त्यति केटीहरु खुल्नसकेका छैनन् । यद्यपि केही वर्ष पहिलेका तुलनामा भने उनीहरू पनि विस्तारै खुल्दैछन् । केही वर्ष अगाडिसम्म सहरमा मात्र केन्दि्रत भ्यालेन्टाइन डेको संस्कृति अहिले गाउँ-गाउँमा पनि पुगेको छ । गाउँका युवायुवती पनि प्रेम प्रस्तावका लागि भ्यालेन्टाइन डेकै प्रतीक्षामा बसेको पाइन्छ ।
अर्घाखाँची वाङ्गलाका युवराज भण्डारी भन्छन्-मायाप्रेम गर्न नै जानिएन । तर सबै साथीले भ्यालेन्टाइन डेका दिनमा प्रस्ताव राख्न उपहार किन्ने, कार्ड खोज्दै हिँड्दा भने मलाई रमाइलो नै लाग्छ । वास्तवमा भ्यालेन्टाइन डे विवाह गरेका र नगरेका दुवैका लागि उत्तिकै महत्वपूर्ण बन्दै गएको छ । विवाहितहरूका लागि पनि उक्त दिनमा घुम्न जाने, माया साटासाट गर्ने अवसर बनेको छ भने प्रेम गर्नेका लागि त झन् प्रेमलाई गाढा र दिगो राख्नका लागि यो दिनलाई महत्वपूर्ण मान्न थालिएको छ । यसैगरी विवाह र प्रेममा नपरेकाका लागि नयाँ सम्बन्ध विस्तार गर्न, प्रेममा बाँधिन, मनपरेकालाई प्रस्ताव राख्न यस दिनले अवसर प्रदान गरेको छ ।
युवायुवतीले विदेसी संस्कृतिलाई रमाइलोका लागि निसंकोच अपनाउने लचकता देखाउँछन् । विश्वव्यापीकरणको युगमा संस्कृति पनि कुनै देश, क्षेत्र वा समुदायमा सीमित रहेको छैन । वास्तवमा भ्यालेन्टाइन डे मनाउने चलनले मायाप्रेम र भावनात्मक सम्बन्धको दायरालाई भूगोलले पनि सीमित राख्न सक्दैन भन्ने सन्देश पनि दिएको छ । विश्वव्यापीकरणसँगै विभिन्न देशमा मनाइने परम्परा र त्यससँग जोडिएका विषयवस्तुलाई एक ठाउँबाट अर्कोमा पुर्याउनका लागि प्रविधिको विकासले पनि सहयोग गरेको छ ।
प्रविधिले मायाप्रेमको परम्परागत प्रक्रियालाई समेत परिवर्तन गरेको छ । गाउँ-गाउँमा बाटोमा ढुकेर आफूलाई मनपर्ने साथीलाई लेखेको चिठी दिने, हुलाकबाट चिठी पठाउने र हप्तादिनसम्म उसको प्रतीक्षामा बस्ने दिनलाई सञ्चार र प्रविधिको विकासले कायापलट नै गरिदिएको छ । खल्तीमा राखेको मोबाइलबाट एक मिनटमै सन्देश प्रवाह हुने र सोधिएको प्रश्नका बारेमा तुरुन्तै जवाफ आउने भएकाले युवायुवतीका लागि प्रतीक्षामा बस्नु नपर्ने भएको छ । आफूलाई मनपरेको साथीलाई फेसबुकमा हेर्न पाइने उसको प्रोफाइलबाट उसका बारेमा जानकारी लिन पाइने साथै नचिनेको मानिसलाई पनि साथी बनाउन पाइनाले धेरै युवायुवतीका लागि प्रेम गर्न सहज भएको छ । सञ्चारले दिएको यति धेरै सुविधाको उचित फाइदा लिनु त स्वाभाविक नै हो । तर यसबाट विभिन्न किसिमका अपराध पनि भइरहेकोले युवायुवती बढी चनाखो हुनु जरुरी छ । प्रविधिलाई विवेकशील भएर अपनाउन जानेमा यसले फाइदा नै दिन्छ । तर यसको अनुचित उपयोगले अपराध बढ्न सक्छ भन्नेमा युवायुवती सजक हुनुपर्छ ।
वास्तवमा प्रेम आत्माभित्रको एक अनुभव हो । यसले मानिसको जीवनमा धेरै किसिमका परिवर्तन ल्याउन सक्छ । प्रेममा परेका मानिसका लागि सबै कुरा सम्भव भएको महसुस हुन्छ । प्रेमलाई पनि परिपक्व भएर हेर्न र सम्हाल्नसकेमा यसबाट मानिसले धेरै किसिमका फाइदा लिनसक्छ । त्यसका लागि हाम्रो सामाजिक परिवेश, संस्कृति तथा यससँग सम्बन्धित विषयमा व्यक्ति बढी नै चनाखो हुन जरुरी छ । प्रेम प्रस्ताव राख्दाका लागि एक रोमान्टिक क्षण हुनसक्छ, तर प्रेमका लागि गरिने वाचा तथा कसमलाई व्यवहारमा उतार्न निकै कठिन हुने गर्छ । प्रेम गर्नका लागि गरिने अव्यावहारिक वाचा तथा कसमले फक्रिँदो प्रेम बीचमै ओइलाउन सक्छ ।
भावनामा डुबेर गरिने वाचाको असर जीवनभर नकारात्मक पर्न सक्छ । बुझ्नुपर्ने कुरा के हो भने प्रेमी-प्रेमिका भएपछि प्रेमलाई विवाहमा परिवर्तन गर्नका लागि एकआपसका बारेमा राम्रोसँग बुझ्नुपर्छ । यसका लागि आफ्ना बारेमा झूट कुरा गरेर प्रेमको विकास गर्नु घातक हुनेछ । यसरी विकसित भएको प्रेमले अन्ततः ठूलो समस्या उत्पन्न गर्न सक्छ । र कालान्तरमा एकले अर्कोलाई आरोप लगाउने, झगडा गर्ने र प्रतिशोधको भावना लिएर बाँच्नुपर्ने हुन्छ ।
तसर्थ भ्यालेन्टाइन डेका दिनमा प्रेम प्रस्ताव राख्न जति सजिलो छ, त्यसबाट विकसित प्रेमका सम्बन्धलाई बचाइराख्न उत्तिकै जटिल पनि छ भन्ने बुझ्न जरुरी छ । अहिले युवायुवतीलाई प्रेमको सुरुवात गर्नका लागि जसरी प्रविधिले सहयोग र सुविधा प्रदान गरेको छ, तर प्रेम सम्बन्धलाई बचाउन उत्तिकै जटिल पनि छ ।
प्रकाशित मिति: २०६७ माघ २९ ०९:२४ Kantipur Daily
अमृत भण्डारी
भ्यालेन्टाइन डे आउनुभन्दा एक महिना पहिले नै बुटवलका आशिस अधिकारीले आफूलाई मनपर्ने केटीलाई कसरी प्रस्ताव राख्ने भन्ने बारेमा निकै सोचे । साथीलाई सोधे । धेरै साथीले उनलाई मोबाइलबाट एसएमएस गरेर केटीको भावना बुझ्न सल्लाह दिए । तर उनले आँट गर्न सकेनन् । अन्ततः एक वर्षदेखि मनपराउने केटीलाई १४ फेब्रुअरीमै एसएमएस गर्ने र प्रस्ताव राख्ने मुडमा छन् उनी । हुन त उनीसँग केटीको इमेल ठेगाना पनि छ । तर उनलाई एक वर्षदेखि मनपराउने केटीलाई प्रस्ताव राख्दा सम्बन्ध बिग्रन सक्ने डर पनि छ । त्यसैले उनले न इमेल नै पठाउन सके, नत एसएमएस गर्नसके । भन्छन्- "यसो कुरा गर्दा त उसले पनि मलाई मनपराउँछे जस्तो लागेको छ, तर शतप्रतिशत विश्वस्त छैन । त्यसैले कम्तीमा भ्यालेन्टाइन डेका दिन प्रस्ताव राख्दा ऊ रिसाउने छैन भन्ने लागेको छ ।"
एसएमएस, इमेलबाट सम्पर्क गरी पहिले मनसाय बुझेर प्रेम प्रस्ताव गर्ने प्रचलन अहिले बढेर गएको छ । तर जति केटाहरू भ्यालेन्टाइन र प्रेमका बारेमा खुल्ने गरेका छन्, त्यति केटीहरु खुल्नसकेका छैनन् । यद्यपि केही वर्ष पहिलेका तुलनामा भने उनीहरू पनि विस्तारै खुल्दैछन् । केही वर्ष अगाडिसम्म सहरमा मात्र केन्दि्रत भ्यालेन्टाइन डेको संस्कृति अहिले गाउँ-गाउँमा पनि पुगेको छ । गाउँका युवायुवती पनि प्रेम प्रस्तावका लागि भ्यालेन्टाइन डेकै प्रतीक्षामा बसेको पाइन्छ ।
अर्घाखाँची वाङ्गलाका युवराज भण्डारी भन्छन्-मायाप्रेम गर्न नै जानिएन । तर सबै साथीले भ्यालेन्टाइन डेका दिनमा प्रस्ताव राख्न उपहार किन्ने, कार्ड खोज्दै हिँड्दा भने मलाई रमाइलो नै लाग्छ । वास्तवमा भ्यालेन्टाइन डे विवाह गरेका र नगरेका दुवैका लागि उत्तिकै महत्वपूर्ण बन्दै गएको छ । विवाहितहरूका लागि पनि उक्त दिनमा घुम्न जाने, माया साटासाट गर्ने अवसर बनेको छ भने प्रेम गर्नेका लागि त झन् प्रेमलाई गाढा र दिगो राख्नका लागि यो दिनलाई महत्वपूर्ण मान्न थालिएको छ । यसैगरी विवाह र प्रेममा नपरेकाका लागि नयाँ सम्बन्ध विस्तार गर्न, प्रेममा बाँधिन, मनपरेकालाई प्रस्ताव राख्न यस दिनले अवसर प्रदान गरेको छ ।
युवायुवतीले विदेसी संस्कृतिलाई रमाइलोका लागि निसंकोच अपनाउने लचकता देखाउँछन् । विश्वव्यापीकरणको युगमा संस्कृति पनि कुनै देश, क्षेत्र वा समुदायमा सीमित रहेको छैन । वास्तवमा भ्यालेन्टाइन डे मनाउने चलनले मायाप्रेम र भावनात्मक सम्बन्धको दायरालाई भूगोलले पनि सीमित राख्न सक्दैन भन्ने सन्देश पनि दिएको छ । विश्वव्यापीकरणसँगै विभिन्न देशमा मनाइने परम्परा र त्यससँग जोडिएका विषयवस्तुलाई एक ठाउँबाट अर्कोमा पुर्याउनका लागि प्रविधिको विकासले पनि सहयोग गरेको छ ।
प्रविधिले मायाप्रेमको परम्परागत प्रक्रियालाई समेत परिवर्तन गरेको छ । गाउँ-गाउँमा बाटोमा ढुकेर आफूलाई मनपर्ने साथीलाई लेखेको चिठी दिने, हुलाकबाट चिठी पठाउने र हप्तादिनसम्म उसको प्रतीक्षामा बस्ने दिनलाई सञ्चार र प्रविधिको विकासले कायापलट नै गरिदिएको छ । खल्तीमा राखेको मोबाइलबाट एक मिनटमै सन्देश प्रवाह हुने र सोधिएको प्रश्नका बारेमा तुरुन्तै जवाफ आउने भएकाले युवायुवतीका लागि प्रतीक्षामा बस्नु नपर्ने भएको छ । आफूलाई मनपरेको साथीलाई फेसबुकमा हेर्न पाइने उसको प्रोफाइलबाट उसका बारेमा जानकारी लिन पाइने साथै नचिनेको मानिसलाई पनि साथी बनाउन पाइनाले धेरै युवायुवतीका लागि प्रेम गर्न सहज भएको छ । सञ्चारले दिएको यति धेरै सुविधाको उचित फाइदा लिनु त स्वाभाविक नै हो । तर यसबाट विभिन्न किसिमका अपराध पनि भइरहेकोले युवायुवती बढी चनाखो हुनु जरुरी छ । प्रविधिलाई विवेकशील भएर अपनाउन जानेमा यसले फाइदा नै दिन्छ । तर यसको अनुचित उपयोगले अपराध बढ्न सक्छ भन्नेमा युवायुवती सजक हुनुपर्छ ।
वास्तवमा प्रेम आत्माभित्रको एक अनुभव हो । यसले मानिसको जीवनमा धेरै किसिमका परिवर्तन ल्याउन सक्छ । प्रेममा परेका मानिसका लागि सबै कुरा सम्भव भएको महसुस हुन्छ । प्रेमलाई पनि परिपक्व भएर हेर्न र सम्हाल्नसकेमा यसबाट मानिसले धेरै किसिमका फाइदा लिनसक्छ । त्यसका लागि हाम्रो सामाजिक परिवेश, संस्कृति तथा यससँग सम्बन्धित विषयमा व्यक्ति बढी नै चनाखो हुन जरुरी छ । प्रेम प्रस्ताव राख्दाका लागि एक रोमान्टिक क्षण हुनसक्छ, तर प्रेमका लागि गरिने वाचा तथा कसमलाई व्यवहारमा उतार्न निकै कठिन हुने गर्छ । प्रेम गर्नका लागि गरिने अव्यावहारिक वाचा तथा कसमले फक्रिँदो प्रेम बीचमै ओइलाउन सक्छ ।
भावनामा डुबेर गरिने वाचाको असर जीवनभर नकारात्मक पर्न सक्छ । बुझ्नुपर्ने कुरा के हो भने प्रेमी-प्रेमिका भएपछि प्रेमलाई विवाहमा परिवर्तन गर्नका लागि एकआपसका बारेमा राम्रोसँग बुझ्नुपर्छ । यसका लागि आफ्ना बारेमा झूट कुरा गरेर प्रेमको विकास गर्नु घातक हुनेछ । यसरी विकसित भएको प्रेमले अन्ततः ठूलो समस्या उत्पन्न गर्न सक्छ । र कालान्तरमा एकले अर्कोलाई आरोप लगाउने, झगडा गर्ने र प्रतिशोधको भावना लिएर बाँच्नुपर्ने हुन्छ ।
तसर्थ भ्यालेन्टाइन डेका दिनमा प्रेम प्रस्ताव राख्न जति सजिलो छ, त्यसबाट विकसित प्रेमका सम्बन्धलाई बचाइराख्न उत्तिकै जटिल पनि छ भन्ने बुझ्न जरुरी छ । अहिले युवायुवतीलाई प्रेमको सुरुवात गर्नका लागि जसरी प्रविधिले सहयोग र सुविधा प्रदान गरेको छ, तर प्रेम सम्बन्धलाई बचाउन उत्तिकै जटिल पनि छ ।
प्रकाशित मिति: २०६७ माघ २९ ०९:२४ Kantipur Daily
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