‘Nepali astrologers far behind’

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, June 11 - Astrologers in Nepal are much behind in research than their counterparts in other parts of the world and as a consequence they are losing people’s trust, said a leading Nepali astrologer here today.

Astrologer Lokraj Poudel, President of Nepal Astrology Council was speaking at a programme: National Astrology Congress and Felicitation Ceremony organised by Kathmandu Astrology Research Centre.

Pandit Poudel called on former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba who was present at the programme to work towards setting up a special unit on astrology under the government.

Deuba said most people liked to know about future even though they show distrust to astrology.

"The government will provide all the necessary help for research on astrology," said Deuba adding, "This ancient knowledge cannot be allowed to die."

Pandit Narayan Pokharel, President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad said many of the ills which are wrongly associated with astrology should be rejected. "The practice of witchcraft should be banned," he said.

Renowned astrologer from India, Pandit Dr Radhakrishna Shrimali was felicitated at the programme for his "contribution to the traditional knowledge and service to mankind."

Dr Shrimali, however, objected to being labelled a Rajasthani or Indian. "I have never thought myself as an Indian or for that matter a Nepali," said Shrimali. He added that a true astrologer had neither nationality nor religion.

He also said he found no difference between Nepal and India and that he was happy to be in Nepal.

About 10 thousand native refugees resort to crushing stones

By a Post Reporter

BIRATNAGAR, June 11 - About 10 thousand native refugees residing on the bank of Gachhiya rivulet between Dulari and Sundarpur VDCs of Morang district are living mainly on crushing stones and pebbles.

Children aged about 9 or 10 years to elderly people aged up to 80 years or more are seen crushing stones from dawn to dusk.

Uma Tamang who claims to be 81 years old says she has been earning her living by crushing stones and pebbles for the last 15 years. She had come to Gachhiya not because she liked the job but because her husband married another woman when she reached 60 years and she could not tolerate her ill-treatment.

Uma says she felt it easy to make her both ends meet with the job of crushing stones and boulders with the help of her two daughters. However, when her daughters got married and left her alone she is finding it difficult to earn her living. She said she earns 500 to 700 rupees per month from her job.

Shobha Shrestha says she is engaged in the job of crushing stones and pebbles along with her 12 year old daughter and 9 year old son for the last 3 years. Since her husband also goes to another village to do other jobs there is none at home and she makes her two year old son sleep on the bank of the rivulet while she works.

Shobha says the three of them together earn 1200 to 1500 rupees per month and meet the expenses of the five-member family.

People living on the bank of Gachhiya have come there due to poverty and some domestic problems. The occupation of all of them is to crush stones and pebbles. They earn 800 rupees if they can fill up one truck with the stones crushed by them.

Even minor children and disabled people are engaged in this work. Krishna Kumari Shrestha 14 is disabled, but her parents bring stones and pebbles for her and by crushing them all day long she can fill up one truck in 15 days. She has been doing the work for the last three years.

Similarly, 10-year-old Bhim Tamang continues to work from dawn to dusk and earns 800 rupees in a month and gives the money to his parents. "If I don’t crush the stones we cannot have anything to eat in the morning and evening.," he says.

Of the nearly 10 thousand people engaged in this work, one thousand are children. There is a school nearby but they have been deprived of schooling opportunity because they are poor and they need to earn money.

They say the rivulet enables them to earn their livelihood in winter and dry seasons but they find it difficult to make both ends meet during the rainy season.

Suresh Parajuli who has been fulfilling the daily needs of his 5-member family for the last 8 to 10 years says though somehow he maintains their life with the earning from crushing stones in other seasons, they find it difficult to feed themselves because they are jobless in rainy season.

It is believed that the stones, boulders and sand of Gachhiya rivulet possesses natural cement and less amount of cement is needed if these materials are used. Therefore, the crushed stones and boulders and sand of Gachhiya rivulet is in high priority and capable of providing job to 10 thousand people.

If any NGO or the government agency were to provide some income-oriented programme for these people they would not have to become so reliant on this job and their children would get the opportunity to read at school. They say that they are eager to send their children to school but their economic condition is such that they cannot afford to do so.

Most of the people living here have become voters and candidates come to them during the election. After the election is over, the candidates are never seen in this area.

These people are dependent on the water of Gachhiya rivulet. They have no access to potable water.

They hear the budget speech of the Finance Minister every year. "Some amount is earmarked in the name of the poor every year but it does not percolate down to our locality, not even 5 paisa. Our problems are still intact and our children are still crushing stones at a time when they should have been at school, they say.

Heavy rain plays havoc to cattle and crops

By a Post Reporter

JUMLA, June 11 - A large number of livestocks have perished in the wake of continuous rainfall that lasted from Sunday to Friday last at Dusile Patan of Tamta VDC in Jumla district.

A total of 250 sheep and goats, 15 mares and 12 cows and oxen have died in the grazing land due to cold, according to the VDC office.

The flood that hit the area on Friday also washed away three houses, three water mills and two wooden bridges while at the same time 10 ropanis of land containing millet and maize crops has been buried under the sand.

Similarly, the floods also swept away about 200 muri of paddy field at ward No 4 to 7 of Kusari VDC , 41 water mills and totally damaged one channel. About one thousand 500 people living in the area are now faced with the difficulties.

Due to lack of water mills they may be forced to remain hungry. Since the bridge linking another village has also been washed away they cannot go to other villages also, VDC Chairman Dip Bahadur Shahi said.