A LITTLE ACT OF IGNORANCE

• AMRIT BHANDARI

It was last November when I was returning from Bangladesh to Nepal after participating in an international workshop on knowledge management. My itinerary contained a four hour-long transit in the Hazrat Shahjalal International airport, Dhaka that offered me to meet many immigrant Nepali workers returning home from Malaysia and the Gulf region. Thanks to the approaching Dashain festival, the crowd appeared bigger than usual.

Transit hours are mostly painful especially for a frequent and seasoned traveller and when hours are long; even for occasional flyers, airport transit time is not pleasant either. I got taken a back when I found that some of these Nepalese workers were stranded in transit for last 16 hours. Few recounted that they have not had any food for 2 days. Others were crafting their arrival pictures in Tribhuvan International Airport anticipating that they would be welcomed by their family and friends with open arms. One young fellow in his late 30s spoke his heart, “I am desperate to meet my parents.” It has been exactly three years since I left my wife and daughter. I am restlessly waiting to meet my daughter who was mere five months old when I left home," another worker returning from Saudi revealed his aching saga.

When I listen to sagas of struggle and sacrifice, my heart filled with emotions and sheer kindness. Some of these returnees had spent half a decade in Saudi Arabia; there were few ones who were returning after a year of trial and tribulations in Malaysia and realizing that this was not right pursuit for them. By and large, returnees looked anxious, exhausted and bemused, as the transit woes didn’t seem to alleviate anytime soon. But finally, airlines authorities announced that it was time to board the plane. No sooner the announcement was made, scores of passengers rushed to the check-in counter as if there were bumper prizes for the first in line. The congregation was as haphazard as the political demonstration. Only after repeated request of airline staff to form a proper line, the crowd become little more orderly and disciplined. Except handful of foreigners, most of the passengers were Nepalese living overseas for work.

No doubt, all the passengers were impatiently waiting to get to their destination but our fellow citizens wee brusque and unusually restless. Many seemed to be ignorant of common rules such as making line, waiting for one’s turn and thanking the other for help, if any. For some time, there was an uproar brought in by the stubbornly absentminded crowd. Oops, the airport staff took a long breath. "Can you please help me form a line and respect others’ right," he was asking passengers. As I continued to witness the entire situation, I felt sorry for the staff that he was so helpless before a crowd that was taking his advice with a pinch of salt.

Even the most haphazard and disorderly act must come to an end, whatever the ways we took we all boarded plane. No sooner I grabbed my seat, I breathed a sigh of relief. The crewmember briefed about safety instructions to be followed on board, and the captain made final announcement, the plane took off. It had not even been 15 minutes since the plan took off and was still manoeuvring its ways to get to its route, our fellow brothers began to unfasten their seat belt and leave their respective seats albeit the seat belt sign was still on. The crowd began to form line in order to use the restrooms. One by one, literally every other Nepali passenger left their seat and consequently the line got surprisingly too long. When the cabin staff noticed such a long line in the plane that was beyond general control, she began to repeatedly ask passengers to come turn by turn. She was telling, "It is all for your safety. Please come to toilet in turn. You do not need to make a long line here." She was irked by the passengers' ways to use toilet.

As I became unusually vigilant about the on-going chaos and confusion with paranoid of being at a considerable height, I recalled an incident that took place at Tribhuvan International Airport few years ago that one of the passengers had opened the emergency door of a plane that was ready to take off. No wonder he was also a fellow countryman. While I understand that majority of us are not savvy travellers, but even at the limited engagements we come across with, we do not become thoughtful and deliberate to learn and improve our habits and skills.

We even do not care of the dreadful repercussions of our actions that harm ourselves. Especially when our feet are in alien lands, both our verbal and non-verbal acts in the public display our character and represent our nation. Any social act of indecency and indiscipline shatter our national dignity and pride. Keep aside all social etiquettes including the respect for others’ right and dining manners; these worker-travellers seemed to be oblivious of even the basics of air travel.

I was severely embarrassed to be the mute witness of what was happening around me. From her murmuring, it was obvious this problem was routine to her. Cabin crew seemed helpless but my extraordinary analysis revealed that these occasional worker-travellers were not to be blamed entirely for the mess. Soft skills such as dining out, speaking in public, or even air travel etiquettes can be learned only through experience and education. For many of these labourers who make to capital city for the first time from their home town just to fly overseas for work, none of us should take for granted that they better know how to behave.

Manpower agencies working for them are the ultimate pathfinders who could prepare them in advance just not on the areas of soft skills but also on the areas of workplace safety, insurance protection and workers’ right. And it’s the Nepal Government who must be vigilant enough on these agencies if procedures have been put in place and protocols have been followed well. A little act of ignorance can jeopardise the national image beyond its boundaries.

Bhandari is an anthropologist.

abamritoffficial@gmail.com

Flood Early Warning System for all

Amrit Bhandari

With the start of monsoon showers fears and worries of the people residing by waterfront areas begin to increase. The incessant heavy rainfall panics the residents in those areas especially when the downpour leads to massive floods leaving the residents in a state of despair. The rainy season is a curse to the panic-stricken denizens living in the bank of or nearby the river. Every year the settlements nearby the rivers suffer from significant loss of their property and physical displacement caused by the unprecedented level of flood. Furthermore, the flood claims the lives of people, ravages their farmland and other property leaving a number of people homeless. While settlements in majority of riverfront areas across the country continue to suffer from monsoon-led natural disasters, a community residing nearby the Babai River in Bardiya District, Balapur now is beginning to breathe with a sigh of relief after the installation of Early Warning System in their village.

Balapur village touches Babai River in three directions and the river flows through approximately one and half kilometer away from the village. During the rainy season, the swelling river would enter into the Balapur from Shanti and Babai settlements. "It was very difficult to live in this village. It was in 2052 BS the flood drowned my three goats, cows and the whole food stored at my home. The flood also washed away my paddy plantation. I could not even protect documents important to me and materials kept at my home. The whole village was waterlogged," says Tihar Bahadur Chaudhary, Balapur village.

The swelling Babai River again invaded Balapur in 2063 BS and swept away the home of Sabit Kumar Chaudhary. His four goats including food grain and other physical properties were drowned. "I could save nothing," says helpless Sabit Kumar in retrospect," We were hapless." Manuwa Chaudhary reminisces the days when everything he owned was inhaled by water in front of his eyes in 2052. The family was compelled to spend several days eating beaten rice only. He is the sole breadwinner in the eight-membered family. "When rainfall would start, we would be panic and distress. No one could sleep at night with ease," Manuwas recalls those heartbroken memories.

People in Balapur were compelled to live in this trouble for a long time. However, when Practical Action with financial support of the ECHO's disaster preparedness programme (DIPECHO) installed Early Warning System in this village, people living here have reasons to cheer up. People living in the poverty have received relief from the project. The project has also provided equipment and accessories such as sirens, mikes, jackets, boats and strings for handling emergency in case of flood.

The department of hydrology and meteorology (DHM) under the Ministry of Science and Technology has established a water gauge reader (an equipment to scale the water level) in upper station of Babai at Chepang. The staff working for DHM positioned in the upper station observes the water level. If they find the water level rising to a dangerous line, they quickly inform to the police administration, media, and rescue officials and also to the communities. Practical Action has facilitated the communities to build a good rapport with DHM to channelise the information as quickly as possible so that the flood could cause limited harm. The communities are informed about the flood through the two sirens installed in Babai village.

After the installation of this System, Balapur dwellers get information of flood before it enters into the village. The System also allows the residents to assemble their important documents and other properties and move swiftly to the safe place. No sooner the flood enters into the village; people are informed by ringing the sirens. Additionally, surrounding communities have formed disaster management committee in the local level. The committee warns villagers disseminating information about the flow of flood using mikes. The committee also prioritises pregnant women, disable people, children in the first place. The committee members are trained in flood awareness and preparedness procedures. Moreover, there is a separate rescue unit under disaster management committee, responsible for immediate rescue operations and other locally developed procedures such as pulling the people drowned in the water using strings and boats.

The system is solely installed with full participation of communities and therefore the community owns the system and maintains it and upkeep the safe custody of equipment and accessories. Interestingly, the communities are able to operate the System on their own as the project has already built their capacity with various training and practices.

Sitapati Tharu says," If the observer in the upper station finds the water level rising to a crucial level, we can hear the loud sirens in the village. If the siren rings for the first time, we become alert and start packing up the important documents, property and foods and prepare for the makeshift to the protected places. If we again hear the sound of the siren we then immediately move to the safe places." The Balapur dwellers are delighted after the installation of this system that their lives are not at stake and they have emergency handling procedure in place. Such security procedures not only help them safe their lives but also to protect their belongings. The disaster management committee upon notice of the second siren sounds prepares shifting the pregnant women, disables people and children to the safe areas. As soon as villagers hear the third round of siren sounds, all of them run away surging their livestock on and carrying other materials to the safe places.

Thanks to the project, mitigation infrastructure such as culverts and roads are in place to allow people move quickly during flood. The project also organises mock drill practices to build capacity of communities. Mock drill is a rehearsal to make communities alert on how should be prepared at the time of flood.

Sitapati Tharu tells about the System," Before this system was installed, flood water would enter into our village without our notice and damage our lives. We would lose everything we had. Thanks to the support, our life has drastically changed after the installation of flood monitoring system in our area- we have early notice at our disposal. We are now able to prevent the damages and live a more worry free life.” The project also constructed a bio-dike to protect the farmlands of Babai villagers. A robust dam is constructed with environment friendly measures and planted bamboos trees. The dam has protected the farmland where villagers produce vegetables and other crops for their subsistence and incomes.

The flood entered into the Balapur in 2052 and 2063 damaging everything and causing a great loss, both physically and financially. People living here had great shortage of drinking water. They were compelled to drink contaminated water; many suffered from diarrhea. Villagers painfully recollect the bygone days and loss of their property. Manuwa Tharu vividly yet harrowingly reminisces," In 2052 when flood entered into our village I carried my child on my shoulder and fled the area. To make things worse, I was stumbled at a stone and both of us nearly lost our lives. The life was very challenging and miserable."

It is learnt and observed that The Early Warning System installed in the Balapur, Bardiya has been a proven and highly effective guard against floods and flood-led natural disasters. If the system is promoted by the state in the flood prone areas across the country, settlements close to riverfront areas will not face untimely death and loss of property.

The author works at Practical Action Nepal Office.
abamritofficial@gmail.com

Awareness or agitation

AMRIT BHANDARI
A number of studies and researches have been carried out on the topic of public awareness. Writers and publishers of these researches and studies often tout the impact of their findings in creating an increased level of social awareness in Nepalese society. Media reports and press releases from institutions working primarily on social and economic development appear every now and then to our knowledge. Furthermore, political parties, donor agencies and some non-governmental organisations in an effort to promote their vested interest have historically emphasised their performance reports only to make public feel that they’re only concerned on catch-as-catch-can initiatives. And there is one upper crust of the society that increasingly appears to be crediting to Maoist party that the heightened social, political and cultural awareness in the Nepali communities is the result of a decade-long internal conflict waged by the Maoists .What a credit theft!

As I reflect on the decade-long Maoist conflict and changing landscape of Nepalese society, I am always reminded of a line by Bijay Kumar in his article in a daily paper – “raising awareness in a society and making the society agitated are two different jobs.” As a student of social science and a development worker, issues pertaining to social awareness and its impact on societal harmony, wellbeing and human development are few areas I am truly passionate about and accordingly continue to engage and involve myself in learning, deciphering and writing about the topic. I wanted to dig deeper in the topic of social awareness this time and began my study bottom up. The lexical meaning of ‘awareness’ as defined by http://www.thefreedictionary.com happens to be the– “knowledge of, understanding of, appreciation of, recognition of, attention to, perception of, consciousness of, acquaintance with, enlightenment with, sensibility to, realization of, familiarity with, mindfulness of, cognizance of, sentience of.” As I flip through books on social sciences and related literature, I find what we call awareness is too broad and we’ve a long way to get there to be a society that’s fully cognizant of social and cultural issues for the society to be on the higher scale of human development index.

My personal research on the issue of awareness urged me to reassess the definitions of awareness as coined by self-declared elite group and self-declared intellectuals. I wonder why they never attempt to understand and explain through precise methodology and facts how Nepali societies are at a new height of social awareness as they claim. If the awareness as they assert is factual, one would imagine a greater harmony in societies, increased accountability and transparency in government offices and high level of professionalism in companies and respectful and healthy exercising of democratic rights. I believe a society with high level of awareness would not be engaged in violent strikes in the street of capital city burning tires that produces a hazardous smoke jeopardizing the human health. Ministers caught publicly in bribery activities wouldn’t hold power and cabinet wouldn’t decide to doll out cash from government coffer to political activists. Baban Singh, the most wanted person in the list of the police would have not been elected as a lawmaker by the people in the Constituent Assembly of Nepal if level of social awareness was at its best as claimed by reports and publications.

The credit frequently given to the people's war that stretched for more than ten years and cost thousands of lives – if by any means was a major contributor in raising political awareness in Nepal, were real, Nepalese people perhaps would not elect a candidate like Baban Singh. If the people's war had been successful in raising political awareness among the ordinary people, there would not be rampant cases of homicides, abductions and extortions across Nepal in the name of revolution. If awareness is defined in one's favorable spectrum it is essential that one have to self-evaluate his/her past activities. And there is another faction of so-called intellectuals who also claim and credit it trying to attest to the public that their activities and intellectual intervention have been successful to radiate awareness among the marginalized people. Contrary to the rising number of documented cases of Dalit issues such as challenges in collecting water from public taps, one strata of the society drums up that the years-long caste discrimination rooted in the Nepali communities has been reduced because of their involvement. What an irony!

Had the level of social awareness truly scaled up, we would have observed a respectful democratic exercise within society, conscientious public interaction and peaceful social debates. While the level of awareness may not be precisely quantified like demographic data, but there are time tested yardsticks such as the solution of conflicts on the basis of caste, religion, region, and communities that can provide a credible basis in determining level of social and human development. In a fully civilized, informed and socially and culturally aware society, people enjoy their rights that the state assured them without any discrimination on the basis of language, caste, region, politics or any other form. From what’s happening in Nepali society despite the claims of progress made by intellectuals and politics alike, I find that wrong approaches are being applied to achieve win over delicate issues like social awareness, justice and equitable distribution of societal rewards.

Presently, many institutions seem to be applying flawed approaches to reduce the caste discrimination by only mainstreaming Dalit people would not definitely solve the problem unless people from upper caste are aware of the rights of the lower caste people. However, making Dalit people agitated against upper caste people begets the new form of conflict in a society. Challenging and creating chaos in a society to obtain and enjoy rights of certain people and group doesn’t make a right example of civilized and responsible society as falsely attested by by intellects and social pundits.

The claim that awareness has been raised and people from all walks of life are able to fully exercise their rights while being aware of their responsibilities fails here to answer some critical questions. One could figure out how socially aware we are when the head of government, the prime minister has to take the lead in campaigning for one of the most basic jobs of metropolitan city, road cleaning and garbage disposal in pubic space. A populous political campaign or a lack of conscience? Mr. always-first probably knows the right answer. Those in the ranks, the elite folks and the intellectual ones would not throw their domestic waste to the streets from their car window. In an ideal society with heightened level of awareness, the ambulance would get its way to hospital without any traffic hassle, other drivers on the road would pay their special attention for the ambulance's siren and help the ambulance to get its way. But it’s unfortunate to see when critical life services like ambulances are mistreated and when doctors and nurses go on a strike when patient is fighting with his life. Education does only seem to do so much in life. Wisdom comes from a broader set of life’s lessons.

If our society were reasonably au fait with general principles of life and societies, the poor people would be knowledgeable about cleaning their hands before and after eating food, after using toilets; we could save thousands of lives every year. People would drink water and Jivban Jal at the time of dehydration that would save their life.

In a country where declaration of open defecation zone acquires headlines of newspapers, it is worthless to claim that awareness has been raised. It is not the fault and guilt of ordinary people; however, it is the serious question to those who claim that they have raised awareness in the societies. Moreover, if the political awareness were created during the people's war, there would not be such a significant delay in drafting the constitution of Nepal. In a country where political leaders are not aware of their roles and responsibilities, how could they claim that they have created awareness in the society? Awareness and conscience need to be reflected on their duty and assignments. Awareness is not a weapon to be used for the fulfillment of someone's interest by deceiving the ordinary people and making them agitated to take to street against one group for another, one community to others, one caste to another, and one region to another. It is necessary to understand the differences in between awareness and agitation and it takes wisdom to decipher that difference.

The writer has master's degree in Anthropology.
abamritofficial@gmail.com

सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्व खोइ ?

अमृत भण्डारी
The article is published in Gorkhapatra Daily on 20 Feb 2012 and can be read in the link - http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=63719&cat_id=18
१८ औँ र १९ सौँ शताब्दीमा अमेरिकामा नागरिक उत्तरदायित्व भनेको केही जनताले जनताकै हितका लागि कुनै पनि काम गर्नु हो भन्ने बुझिन्थ्यो। त्यो चाहे आगलागीका क्रममा स्वयं सेवा प्रदान गर्ने होस् वा अन्य यस्तै कार्य जसमा जनता स्वयं सेवा गर्ने भन्ने धारणाबाट अभिप्ररित हुने गर्दथे। सन् १९६० को दसकमा सामुदायिक र नागरिक उत्तरदायित्व भन्ने विषय अमेरिकामा निकै प्रचलित थिए। त्यतिबेला शीतयुद्ध र युद्धका अन्य चुनौती सबैका लागि सामूहिक त्रास बनेका थिए जसबाट जोगिन अमेरिकन नागरिक स्वतस्फूर्त एकतामा बाँधिएका थिए।

नेपालमा भने सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्वको विषयले कहिले पनि प्राथमिकता पाएको देखिँदैन। देशप्रेमको भावनाबाट निर्देशित भएर लाग्ने नेतृत्वको अभाव नेपालले सदियौंदेखि भोग्दै आएको छ। वास्तवमा विश्वका अधिकांश देश एक न एकपटक विभिन्न किसिमको सङ्क्रमणकालीन अवस्थाबाट गुजि्रएको पाइन्छ। हाम्रै छिमेकी देश भारत लामो समयसम्म बि्रटिसको उपनिवेशमा बस्न बाध्य भयो। त्यही समयमा भारतले महात्मा गान्धी जस्ता नेता जन्माउन सफल भयो र उनकै नेतृत्वको कुशलता र क्षमताले भारत स्वतन्त्र हुन पुग्यो। महात्मा गान्धीबाटै अभिप्रेरित भएका अमेरिकाका नागरिक मार्टिन लुथर किङले अमेरिकामा काला जातका मानिसमाथि हुने भेदभावमा गान्धीकै विधि अपनाएमा काला जातिको अधिकार संरक्षण हुनसक्ने कुरामा विश्वस्त भए।

किङ मूलतः गान्धीको एक भनाइबाट निकै प्रभावित थिए। गान्धीले शान्तिपूर्ण अभियानमा भनेका थिए-"हाम्रो दुःख र वेदनाबाट हामीले बि्रटिसलाई हामीमाथि अन्याय भएको महसुस गराउनेछौँ।" अर्थात् आफ्नो हक अधिकार खोसिएको, आफू सामान्य नागरिक अधिकारबाट वञ्चित भएको र यसले गर्दा देशका जनताले एक पीडादायक जीवन गुजारेको भन्ने कुरा बि्रटिसलाई महसुस गराउनुपर्दछ भन्ने ध्येय गान्धीले राखेका थिए। यसै भावनाबाट प्रेरित भएर भारतका जनताले नागरिक अवज्ञा अभियानबाट भारतलाई बि्रटिसबाट मुक्त बनाएर एक स्वतन्त्र राज्य बनाउन सफल भए। मार्टिन लुथर किङ पनि लामो समयसम्म अमेरिकाका काला जातका नागरिकको हक र अधिकारका लागि नागरिक स्वतन्त्रता अभियानमा लागे। न्ाागरिक अधिकारकर्मी किङले नागरिक उत्तरदायित्वका बारेमा त्यहाँ निकै ठूलो योगदान पुर्‍याउन सफल भए।

त्यसैगरी अमेरिकाका तेस्रो राष्ट्रपति थोमस जेफरसनले स्वतन्त्रताको घोषणा नामक पुस्तक लेखे। जसमा उनले खोस्न नसकिने जीवन अधिकार र खुसीको अनुसरणलाई सुनिश्चित गरेका छन्। नागरिक उत्तरदायित्वमार्फत नागरिकले आफ्नो अधिकारको प्रयोग गर्न पाउँछन् भन्दै अरूको अधिकारलाई पनि आदर गर्नुपर्नेमा उनले जोड दिएका छन्। यसरी देश विविध घटनाले विश्व परिवेशमा पनि एक न एक व्यक्तित्व जन्माएको छ। जसले राष्ट्र तथा मानव सभ्यताको अस्तित्व बचाइराख्न कार्यमा सफलता पाएका छन्। तर दुर्भाग्य नै भन्नुपर्दछ अहिलेसम्म नेपालले यस्तो व्यक्तित्वको जन्म दिनसकेको छैन।

सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्व वहन गर्नमा देशका शिक्षित वर्ग, नेतृत्व तथा राजनीतिकर्मीको अत्यन्तै महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका रहन्छ तर यस्तो दायित्व वहन गर्न त्यहाँको सरकार, राजनीतिक परिवेश तथा मानिसको अन्तरनिहित धारणा र सोचले पनि ठूलो भूमिका खेल्न सक्दछ। नागरिक हुनु र असल नागरिक हुनु भनेका दुई फरक क्रियाकलाप हुन् किनकि असल नागरिक बन्न हामीमा केही अतिरिक्त जोस र जाँगर हुनु आवश्यक हुन्छ। मानिस सामान्यतः स्वार्थले नै निर्देशित हुन्छ र हुनु पनि पर्दछ। तर असल नागरिकमा त्यो स्वार्थको मात्रा केही कम हुने गर्दछ। जसमा उसले सामाजिक आवश्यकताको महसुस गर्दछ। यसको अर्थ एक नागरिकले आफूसँग भएको सबै समय स्वयं सेवामा बिताउनुपर्दछ भन्ने होइन तर पनि आफूसँग भएको समयको केही मात्र समयलाई कसरी सामाजिक काममा लगाउँदा आफ्नो समाजको भलो हुनसक्छ भन्ने कुराको सोचाइ राख्नैपर्छ। यसो गर्न सकेमा मात्र समाजको उत्थान हुन्छ।

प्रजातन्त्रको सफल कार्यान्वयनका लागि पनि नागरिक उत्तरदायित्वले उल्लेखनीय भूमिका खेल्न सक्दछ। नागरिक उत्तरदायित्वले कुनै पनि देशका नागरिकलाई निश्चित किसिमको मूल्यमान्यतामा बाँधेको हुन्छ तर जब मानिसले विवेक गुमाउँछ, उसका अगाडि सामाजिक मूल्यमान्यताले कुनै अर्थ राख्दैन। एक नागरिकको भूलले सानो समुदाय वा समाजलाई नराम्रो असर पार्न सक्दछ तर एक नेता वा नेतृत्वको भूलले देशलाई अनिश्चयको बन्दी बनाउन सक्छ भन्ने भन्ने कुरा नेपालमा राजनीति गर्ने नेताले बुझ्नु जरुरी हुन्छ।

नेपालमा नागरिक उत्तरदायित्वको महसुस हराउँदै जान लागेको छ। यसले देशको भविष्य कालान्तरमा अराजक, उच्छृङ्खल र अस्तव्यस्त बनाउन सक्छ। नागरिक उत्तरदायित्व बहन गर्नका लागि राज्यले सकारात्मक भूमिका निर्वाह गर्न र नेतृत्वले आफैँबाट यस्तो उदाहरण पेस गर्न सकेन भने त्यसको परिणाम देशका लागि घातक बन्न सक्छ। नेपालको परिपे्रक्ष्यमा पनि अहिले नै यस्ता कार्यमा लाग्न ढिलो भइसकेको छ। अझ ढिलो भएमा यसको नतिजा निकै भयावह हुनेछ। त्यसैले यसतर्फ सबैले समयमै सजगता अपनाउनु मनासिव हुनेछ।
The writer can be reaced on - abamritofficial@gmail.com

भ्यालेन्टाइन डे यसरी मनाउने कि ! - Published in Kantipur Daily

फाल्गुन १ -
प्रत्येक वर्ष भ्यालेनटाइन डे आउँछ, जान्छ । यस दिनमा मूलतः हामीले मायाप्रेमका विषयमा छलफल गर्छौं । कसैको प्रेमले सफलता पाओस् भन्ने अपेक्षा गर्छौं । भ्यालेनटाइन डेलाई मुख्य रूपमा विवाह-बन्धनमा नबाँधिएका युवायुवतीको प्रेम सम्बन्धका बारेमा बढी चासो राख्ने दिनका रूपमा चित्रण गरेको पाइन्छ । हुन पनि भ्यालेनटाइन डेको सुरुवात नै यस्तै प्रसंग र परिवेशबाट भएकाले यस्ता खालका विषयमा बढी चासो देखिएको हुन सक्छ । खासगरी युवापुस्तामा भ्यालेनटाइन डे बढी चर्चामा आउँछ । यो दिवस अहिले कुनै वर्ग, क्षेत्र, देश, संस्कृति नभनी सबै क्षेत्र, जात, संस्कृतिका युवा तथा तन्नेरीलाई आकर्षण गर्न सफल भएको छ ।

अहिले प्रेमलाई भिन्न तथा नवीन तरिकाले पनि प्रयोग गर्न थालिएको छ । विकासमा पनि भ्यालेनटाइन डेको प्रसंग उठाइन्छ । यस दिवसलाई विकासका दृष्टिकोणले पनि हेर्न सकिन्छ ।

विकसित देशमा यस्ता धार्मिक तथा सामाजिक कार्यलाई कोष निर्माणको विशेष दिवसका रूपमा मनाउने गरेको पाइन्छ । जसबाट अविकसित देशका थुप्रै जनताले राहत प्राप्त गरेका छन् । धर्म, संस्कति तथा अन्य दिवसलाई विकासका दृष्टिकोणबाट हेर्ने हो भने यसले समाजमा सकारात्मक परिवर्तन ल्याउन सक्छ । हामीले प्रत्येक वर्ष दसैं मनाउँछौं । यस्ता चाडमा हामीले हजारौं रुपैयाँ मासु तथा अन्य परिकार बनाउन मात्रै खर्च गर्ने गर्छौं । साथै, हजारौं रूपैयाँ हामीले विभिन्न किसिमका रक्सी, वाइन, रम किन्नका लागि खर्च गर्ने गर्छाैं । यसरी गरिने ठूलो रकमको एक हिस्सा मात्र हामीले बचाउन सक्यौं भने दुर्गम जिल्लामा खानेपानीबाट वञ्चित जनताका लागि पाइप किन्न, ट्याङ्की बनाउन सहयोग गर्न सक्छौं ।

हामीले मनाउने विभिन्न चाडलाई विकास र गरिब जनतासँग जोडेर हेर्ने हो भने नेपालीले नेपालमै पनि ठूलो धनराशि संकलन गर्न सक्छौं । जसबाट दुर्गम गाउँमा विद्यालय निर्माण हुन सक्छ । स्वास्थ्य चौकीका लागि सानो भवन निर्माण हुन सक्छ । हामीले छुट्याउने सानो रकमको एक हिस्साले गरिब समुदायको मुहारमा हाँसो ल्याउन सक्छ । सरकारी होस् वा गैरसरकारी संस्थाहरूले यस्ता किसिमका दिवसमा जनचेतना जगाउने किसिमका कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गरेमा त्यसले विकास प्रक्रियामा ठूलो सहयोग पुर्‍याउन सक्छ ।

हामीकहाँ मनाइने विभिन्न खालका संस्कृतिमार्फत कोष निर्माण गरेको पाइन्छ । देउसी-भैलो पनि विगत केही समययता कोष जम्मा गर्ने र यस्तो कोषको रकम विभिन्न विकासका काममा लगानी गर्ने माध्यम बन्न थालेका छ । देउसी- भैलोबाटै गाउँगाउँमा धारा निर्माण, विद्यालय निर्माणका लागि सहयोग, पाटी- पौवा बनाउनेजस्ता काम गरेको पाइन्छ । त्यसैगरी नारायण पोखरेलले सुरु गरेका विभिन्न किसिमका धार्मिक कार्यक्रमबाट विकास निर्माणका कार्य भइराखेका छन् । उनका छोरा विश्वबन्धुले यस्ता कार्यलाई निरन्तरता दिइराखेका छन् ।

नेपाली समाजमा खासगरी हिन्दु संस्कृति तथा अन्य धर्मावलम्बीमा भ्यालेनटाइन डे जस्ता दिवस आउने जाने गर्छन् । यस्ता दिवसलाई उत्पादनमूलक र उपयोगी बनाउनका लागि युवाले भिन्न तरिकाबाट सोच्ने हो भने सानो-सानो सहयोगले विकास निर्माणका काममा ठूलो सहयोग पुर्‍याउन सक्छ । यस्ता दिवसले जातीय तथा मानवीय एकतालाई अझ मजबुत बनाउन सक्छ ।

भ्यालेनटाइन डे दिवसका अवसरमा नेपाली युवा तथा गैरसरकारी वा सरकारी निकायले पनि कोष निर्माण गर्न सक्ने जस्ता उपहार बनाउने हो भने सानो-सानो कोष निर्माण हुन सक्छ । यस्ता उपहार बनाउँदा सम्बन्धित पक्षलाई ध्यानमा राखेर बनाउनु उपयुक्त हुन्छ । यसै दिवसका लागि खर्च गर्ने रकमबाट विभिन्न किसिमका विकासका काम गर्न सकिन्छ । नेपालमा कार्यरत नेपाली गैरसरकारी संस्थाले सधैं विदेशी निकायबाट कोषको अपेक्षा गर्ने भन्दा आफूले पनि भिन्न तरिकाले सोच्ने हो भने केही रकम अवश्य उठाउन सकिन्छ । जसले स्थानीय विकासमा समेत योगदान पुर्‍याउन सक्छ ।

हामीले रक्सी र अन्य विलासिताका लागि खर्च गर्ने ठूलो रकमबाट यस्ता दिवस आउँदा जाँदा मात्रै सानो रकम छुट्याउन सक्यौं भने कुनै न कुनै विकासका कामका लागि पक्कै सहयोग हुनेछ । यही भ्यालेनटाइन डेबाटै युवाले सोच्न थालौं । हामीले पनि विकास प्रक्रियामा सहयोग पुर्‍याउन सक्छौं । आफ्नो प्रेमी वा प्रेमिकालाई भनौं, हामीले खर्च गर्ने ठूलो रकमबाट सानो रकम बचाएर विकास प्रक्रियामा सहयोग गरौं । हयाप्पी भ्यालेनटाइन डे ।

प्रकाशित मिति: २०६८ फाल्गुन २ ०८:५४
http://www.ekantipur.com/kantipur/news/news-detail.php?news_id=263886

Technology To Tackle Poverty

Amrit Bhandari

While a significant number of efforts have been expended both by the government and private sector to improve the country’s agricultural system, no such noteworthy achievements, however, have been experienced when it comes to automation and industrialisation of agriculture in the truest sense. While a growing number of farmers are making it as a living, agriculture remains an underexploited profession for majority of the Nepalese, despite it offering tremendous potential for the country’s economy and people’s financial and physical wellbeing.

Limited 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 its proper and genuine application.

Appropriate technology
Notwithstanding the loopholes of technology, systematic practices around the world have proved that appropriate technology definitely contributes to the betterment of agricultural production.

It was last April that I visited Joshipur, a village in Kailali district where a large number of local farmers are engaged in vegetable farming, which has produced sound returns on investment for them.

Upon the recommendation of a few farmers and the general public, including social activists, I made my way to see Layak Ram Chaudhary, one with a knack for innovation and use of appropriate technology.

With just a small patch of land, I was surprised to see him making a fortune, 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 limit himself to commercial agriculture here. He has bigger plans and projects in the offing. Listening to his ideas and lofty dreams had me not only spellbound but also nudged me into becoming a farmer. He wants to change his life and that of farmers like him and others in the community. What enthusiasm!

Layak Ram showed me his poly-house and off-farm cultivation and proudly explained how he had been successful in vegetable farming. "I have bought a tractor," an exuberant Layak Ram said, showing me a pile of appreciation certificates granted by various organisations.

"We have only two katthas of land. The paddy we cultivated hardly was enough to feed 11 members of my family for 3 to 4 months," he said. "I was compelled to work as a wage labourer for many years just to make ends meet. Sir, when I got an opportunity to participate in a training on vegetable farming, I learned about the poly-house."

A poly-house is a simple technology that has brought tremendous changes in the life of Layak Ram and many others. While he is a shining example of how such technology along with training and education can make a paradigm shift in agriculture farming, there are hundreds of other families who have benefitted from this technology.

A project supported by the European Union and implemented by Practical Action in Kailali district, it has literally re-made 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 on the land where we have been growing paddy using conventional methods for a long time," said Layak Ram.

"It was very difficult to convince him as he was not convinced that the poly-house would turn our life for the better."

In spite of his father’s objection, Layak Ram decided to give it a chance. He collected bamboo available locally, bought plastic sheets and ropes in the local market and constructed a poly-house.

"I learned different technologies during the 10-day training about vegetable farming," he said. During the first year, he planted cauliflowers and tomatoes on his land and earned Rs. 10,000. His family’s happiness knew no bound. The following year saw a sharp increase in Layak Ram’s income to Rs. 70,000 that motivated him to buy a tractor on instalment payment. Since then, there has been no turning back.

"I have raised my production level and earned more, helping me to educate my children and sisters," says Layak Ram. Layak Ram represents majority of the farmers of Kailali and serves as a model worthy of replication across the nation. It also shows educators, developers and policymakers alike how relevant technology and corresponding training can help poor farmers improve their lives across the nation.

A poly-house can be built with locally available materials that can significantly reduce the construction cost as affordability is 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.

"Though a small investment and labour are required to erect it, good earnings from off-season vegetables can well offset such an investment," says Ashik Mandal, technical assistant, District Development Office, Kailali. These houses generally last about three years.

Small is Beautiful
As I continue to study, explore and decipher Nepal’s development landscape and efforts made by individuals and organisations to change and enrich the lives of many around the country, I can’t help but be grateful to Ernst Friedrich Fritz Schumacher, an economist and author of "Small is Beautiful"- a study of economics as if people mattered. It is among the 100 most influential books published since World War II and the author is 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 momentum on how appropriate technology can tackle poverty by pulling poor farmers out of abject poverty and famine.

The article was published in The Rising Nepal on 31 Jan 2012. The link contains the article- http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/rising.detail.php?article_id=62949&cat_id=7

(The writer works at Practical Action Nepal Office.

abamritofficial@gmail.com)

पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको अवस्था

अमृत भण्डारी
नेपालका अधिकांश किसान पशुपालन र कृषि व्यवसायमा संलग्न छन् । जीविकोपार्जनको मुख्य पेसा कृषि भएका कारण सरकारले लामो समय यता विभिन्न किसिमका कार्यक्रममार्फत् किसानलाई सेवा तथा सहयोग पुर्‍याउने कोषिस गरेकोछ । सरकारीस्तरबाट पशु सेवा विभागले ग्रामीण किसानलाई पशुपालन व्यवसायमा सहयोग पुर्‍याउने उद्देश्यले ग्रामीण पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको अवधारणा अगाडि बढाएको छ । त्यस्तै अन्य राष्ट्रिय तथा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सङ्घ संस्थाले पनि आ-आफ्ना कार्यक्रममार्फत् ग्रामीण पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको तालिम उपलब्ध गराउदै आएका छन् ।

पैतीस दिनको ग्रामीण पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको तालिम लिएका यस्ता थुप्रै युवा गाउँगाउँमा छन् । जसले पशुको प्राथमिकदेखि अन्य उपचार गर्न सक्ने क्षमता राख्छन् । सयौं युवालाई ग्रामीण पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको तालिम प्रदान गरे पनि उनीहरूको सेवा गाउँस्तरमा त्यति प्रभावकारी हुन सकेको पाइँदैन । तालिमपछि अधिकांश कार्यकर्ताले दीर्घकालीन रुपमा व्यवसाय गरेको पाइँदैन् । यसको मुख्य कारण तालिमपछि उनीहरूले पशु स्वास्थ्य सेवालाई व्यावसायिक रुपमा अगाडि बढाउन नसक्नु हो ।

पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको अवधारणालाई ठोस र दीर्घकालीनरुपमा सेवा प्रदान गराउने प्रणालीमा समावेश गर्ने हो भने तालिम मात्रै प्रयाप्त नहुने देखिन्छ । यसका लागि तालिमपछि यस्ता कार्यकर्तालाई एग्रोभेट सञ्चालन गर्नका लागि सुलभ ऋण प्रदान गर्ने र गाउँमै बसेर सेवा सञ्चालन गर्न सक्ने वातावरणको विकास गर्न सक्नु पर्दछ । पशुमा कुनै समस्या देखिएमा उपचारका लागि आवश्यक औषधि तथा उपकरण यस्ता कार्यकर्ताले गाउँमै उपलब्ध गराउन सके मात्रै उनीहरूको सेवा प्रभावकारी हुन सक्छ । मौखिकरुपमा दिने सल्लाह तथा सेवाले न त किसानले नै पर्याप्त मात्रामा गाउँमै सेवा पाउन सक्छन न त पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको पेसाले उनीहरूको जीविकोपार्जनमा सहयोग पुर्‍याउन सक्छ । जसले गर्दा यस्तो तालिम लिएका केही युवा गाउँघरमा काम पाउन छाडेपछि विदेसिन थालेको अवस्था छ ।

पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको तालिम लिएका युवा विदेसिने क्रम बढेमा सरकारी वा अन्य निकायबाट उनीहरूका लागि गरेको लगानीको कुनै अर्थ रहँदैन । साथै ग्रामीण किसान पनि पाउनु पर्ने सेवाबाट बञ्चित हुदै जानेछन् । कार्यकर्ताको सेवालाई प्रभावकारी बनाउनका लागि उनीहरूलाई एग्रोभेट सञ्चालन गर्नका लागि ऋण सुविधा र उपकरण उपलब्ध गराउनु पहिलो प्राथमिकता हुनु पर्ने देखिन्छ । साथै ग्रामीण पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको राष्ट्रियस्तरमा सङ्घ स्थापना गरेमा उनीहरूको व्यवसायले सामाजिक पहिचान पाउन सक्छ ।

एकातर्फ ग्रामीण स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताका लागि तालिम पछि दिनुपर्ने सुविधा उपलब्ध गराउनु जरुरी छ भने अर्कोतर्फ किसानलाई कृषि तथा पशुपालन व्यवसायमा आकषिर्त गर्नका लागिवित्तीय सेवामा पहुँच पुर्‍याउने, पशुधन सुरक्षण कार्यक्रमलाई विस्तार गर्ने, बजारको व्यवस्था गर्नका लागि निजी क्षेत्रलाई आफ्ना कार्यक्रममा समेट्ने जस्ता अनुकुल वातावरणको सिर्जना गर्नु पर्ने देखिन्छ । यथेष्ठ मात्रामा सेवा उपलब्ध भएमा र कृषि र पशुपालनबाट राम्रो आम्दानी गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने विश्वास किसानमा जगाउन सके मात्र किसान निर्वाहमुखी व्यवसायबाट व्यावसायिकतातर्फ आकषिर्त हुन सक्छन् । ग्रामीण पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताले पनि गाउँमै काम पाउन सक्छन् । किसानले अपनाउने कृषि तथा पशुपालन व्यवसायमा ग्रामीण पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको व्यवसाय निर्भर हुने भएकोले किसानका लागि पनि पशुपालन व्यवसाय अपनाउनका लागि आवश्यक संरचनाको निर्माण गर्नु पर्ने देखिन्छ ।

सरकारी वा गैरसरकारी संस्थाले आफ्ना कार्यक्रम तथा परियोजना सञ्चालनमा यदि ग्रामीण पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ताको अवधारणा राखेका छन् भने यस्ता कार्यक्रम तथा परियोजना सम्पन्न हुँदा अपनाउनु पर्ने रणनीतिमा ग्रामीण पशु स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्तालाई दीर्घकालीन रुपमा काम गर्ने क्षमताको विकास गर्नेतर्फ ध्यान दिनुपदर्छ । यसबाट किसानले भरपर्दो र आवश्यक सेवा गाउँमै पाउन सक्छन् । तालिम उपलब्ध गराउने एक किसिमको कार्यक्रम हुन सक्छ भने त्यसलाई दिगोरुप दिने अर्को पाटोलाई पनि बिर्सन हुदैन । जसले गर्दा परियोजना वा कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गर्न चाहे सरकारी होस वा गैरसरकारी संस्था उनीहरूले गरेको कार्यक्रमको दिगो प्रभाव ग्रामीण स्तरसम्म पर्न सक्छ । साथै एउटा तालिमबाट बेरोजगार युवाले गाउँमै आफ्नो सेवा प्रदान गर्ने र आफ्नो जीविकोपार्जन सुनिश्चित गर्ने अवसर पाउन सक्छन् । दाता वा सरकारले गरेको लगानीको उचित प्रयोग र अर्थ हुन सक्छ ।

The article was published in Gorkhapatra Daily on - 30 Jan 2012
You can follow in the link below.
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=62867&cat_id=18

Perhaps my kids will only get right answers!

"Gosh! What a wild swirl, it’s so shameful and pathetic that we call this Kathmandu Valley, the capital city of Nepal," screams a passenger from the backseat of a vehicle whizzing in its Kirtipur- Ratnapark route. The micro-bus is cramped with passengers bumping against each other – toddlers to sexagenarian, school children to professionals, male and females- as if the bus is meant to transport the mass merchandise. The plights of female passengers and elderly are specifically worse to explicate; they’re so helpless just to screech. I am sitting squeezed between two obese men on the second row of 12 seater microbus, which is on the road with 18 people and more counting as the bus stops literally at every point to pick more passengers. Another stop- two more women get into the bus, one with a huge purse and the other with her backpack just to suffocate us. With defective air-conditioning system, dusty seats, broken window glasses, impoverished interiors and stinky odor, the passenger-carrying vehicle will be disqualified even to carry merchandise if real inspections are to be carried out. No sooner I try to escape the rancid smell by taking my head out of the window, huge smoke emitted by other running vehicles compels me to get lost inside and endure.

"Balkhu, Balkhu, - is there somebody to get off at Balkhu?" an impoverished kid in his early teen proud to be the driver’s help shouts at everyone. Noting that nobody appeared to be ready to descend, he meanwhile calls people up around if he can get them in. I just ponder if there’s space for a new passenger to stand up. Passengers shrugging their shoulders inside the overly crowded micro-bus beseeched “Oh bhai (brother) how many people you want to carry? The micro is already over occupied and we can’t even breathe well here. Do not call other passengers, let's move." However, the little boy was just oblivious of the plea and pang of passengers and only concerned of nickel and dimes.

Gee! To my utter surprise, a young lady with slim and sassy outfit wearing black spectacle is about to get into the overcrowded micro. Oops! Passengers started getting closer squeezing further one another in their seats. Everyone was apparently sweating buckets and gasping for air; I suddenly felt horrible pain on my toes and swung my body backward and forward in order to find my leg trodden. The young lady while trying to find an empty space inside the bus was treading on my toe, untidily turning my polished shoes into filthy and dusty ones, "Oh madam, dislodge your leg, please," I expressed in complete politeness, my voice was lost the midst of crowd. "Oh, sister! Please remove your leg," I shouted changing my salutation.

Kalimati, Kalimati, the little boy shouted in tandem with the driver, I just felt that we arrived at Kalimati as it was apparently impossible to peep outside to confirm, one commuter from the last seat vociferated "Chha, Chha" – "yes please stop, I am getting off here," I experienced a movement of the people within, some were sidelining to let the man get off, others were hurrying to take the seat he occupied. Passengers started jostling each other to swoop up the seat- while a woman was trying to take over the seat; a gentleman took no time in pouncing on the seat as if a hungry tiger attacked its prey.

The journey continues as the micro left Kalimati dropping a passenger off there and picking few more people- everyone is profusely sweating surrounded by unpleasant air, smoke and dust and restlessly hoping to get to their destination at the earliest possible. Some were heading to their offices, while others to hospitals and schools and yet others to shopping, but all were restless, tired and irked with the transportation system in the heart of Nepal, a capital city, Kathmandu.

No sooner had the bus reached to Tripureswor, it was jammed in one of those worst traffics of Kathmandu, commuting woes got even worse added by scorching heat, incredibly crowded passenger population inside the bus and adulterated air; I could no longer put up with the chaotic state of travel, physical and mentally and finally I got off from the bus even though my destination was little far from the place. I discovered strolling down the road was far better off than taking the bus. It is the everyday reality of those who travel in the Kathmandu city and it has become a fate that everybody is forced to accept. The trauma of one day commute I had to undergo few weeks ago is more than enough to exhibit a sorry state of nation. Thank god, I could get my bike serviced the next day.

My commuting saga doesn’t end here however. After getting off from the bus, I was walking towards Sundhara, in front of World Trade Center, Tripureswor just to find out potholes on the road filled with dirty water and containers of trashes scattered everywhere. To my arrant dismay, a school bus carrying school children recklessly passed through the road sprinkling the sewage water over my pantaloons, whom to curse? I sadly accepted it and on way to Sundhara, I found a hotel where asked for water and cleansed off my pantaloons.

One of my distant relatives from village had recently been to Kathmandu visit for the first time. He ironically said me," It is not like a capital city what I thought while I was in the village; it is a whole different thing in here. How do you afford to live in this gehenna?" He was arguably very right as he experienced shortage of drinking water, incessant load-shedding problem, pitiful roads with potholes filled with sewage water, hours-long traffic jams, rubbish and garbage everywhere and adulterated air with abundant supply of vehicle emitted smoke and dust. He didn’t even want to visit Singh Durbar and former royal palace, so-called major landmarks of the city.

It is unfortunate but real to recall the sweet slogans delivered by top brass of major political parties including current and former prime ministers every now and then that the city was going to transform into a Singapore-like utopian land upon their taking of the government; nothing has come to fruition regardless of who has come to power. The state of state is so analogous to the realities of microbus- dysfunctional air conditioning (load shedding traumas), broken window glasses (bogus promises), overcrowded passengers (jumbo cabinet), filthy, smoky and dusty air (moral, ethical and social wrongdoings) and impoverished interior (pathetic infrastructure). I am just mortified to be the denizen of the country where the government and its constituencies can’t even keep the city orderly, clean and comforting. To their sheer shamelessness, inaptness, absurdity and stubbornness, I can ask one more question with a pinch of hope - how can you write statute of the nation? Perhaps my kids will only get right answers.
The writer has a Master Degree in Anthropology.