Weak law blamed for labour disparity

By a Post Reporter

HETAUDA, Sept 15 - Mailee Blon from Daman Village Development Committee in Makwanpur works nine hours for mere Rs 60 per day while her male co-worker Prahlad Yonjon earns Rs 80 for the same work.

In terms of wages she seems exploited, but believe it or not, she is luckier than other women workers in the nearby VDCs like Palung and Hatiya where they get just half the wage Mailee is receiving. In general, it is the plight of women workers all over the country.

The discrimination against women workers is rampant despite the government's decision to stop wage discrimination on the basis of gender, just six months ago. The apathetic behaviour against women workers in all the sectors is taking place because of poor implementation of the law, commented an official at the Labour Department. The local authorities are also to blame for turning a blind eye towards the problem.

However, the Ministry of Labour has formed Labour Offices in various districts to ensure that women labourers are paid justifiably as mentioned in the Labour Act, by the industries they work for. Though the performance of Labour Offices is yet to be evaluated, agricultural labourers think that such a mechanism should be implemented in agricultural sector too. "Similar unit would definitely promote welfare of the agricultural labourers," said Lalit Kumar Basnet, agricultural labour leader in the district to The Kathmandu Post.

Meanwhile, many Mailees wonder why do they get lesser wage than males for the same job. "I wonder why we (women) get paid less than men," says Mailee. She comes from Daman Village Development Committee -7 of Makwanpur and works as agricultural labourer. "I work no less than any man. In fact, I work harder than many of my co-workers," she laments.

Her employer Ratna Bahadur Lama has his own reservations. "Women can't work as hard and fast as men do," he argues. "After all, men are stronger and can perform hard and risky jobs. That is why they are paid more."

District Development Committee Makwanpur, however, maintain that it has recently fixed Rs 70 per day as the minimum wage for the all types of labourers, irrespective of their sex, and eventually ordered all the VDCs in the district to see that it is enforced.

As it is very difficult to enforce same wage for the agriculture labourers of both sexes in the rural areas, the DDC has selected few VDCs as samples for rigorous implementation of the same, the DDC says. Other VDCs will soon be forced to comply with the Law.

Photos on Thangmis on show

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, September 15 - An exhibtion of photographs by Sara Shneiderman is ongoing at the Bamboo Gallery in Lazimpat.

The gallery, functioning for the past two and a half years, and run by Shinobu Shrestha and her husband, has put on a number of thought-provoking exhibitions in the past and this one is no exception. The photographs focus on depicting the long overlooked Tibeto-Burman ethnic group, Thangmi (Thami in Nepali), who number approximately 40,000 and are mostly inhabitants of Nepal's northeastern districts.

The photographer points out that one effective way of raising awareness of the ethnic group's situation was "to mount a visual display." To the naked eye, the photos tell a poignant story which Shneiderman has made attempts in his photographs.

Her camera makes attempts at capturing the clear image.

Sara Shneiderman, a Fulbright scholar working with the Thangmi people, says that "photography has long been a window through which I have viewed the diversity of human experience and emotion."

The photographs, all done in black and white and taken between 1998 and 2000 in Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk, move like documentary capturing "a moment in the lives of the Thangmis." Nearly all the photographs give a direct and personal response from the viewer in that he/she faces the direct gaze of the subject of the photo. The photographer's play of shadow and light also help to add to the documentary-like atmosphere.

Proceeds from the exhibition will go towards sponsoring Thangmi students.

of the beat

No good !

So what once was Asia's biggest parade ground now boasts of unbelievably big tented camps with bhakta-bhaktinis, traders and traded lots, and other murgas. Before the lush green ground boasted of brave Gorkhalis and the historical barha bajeko top. But not any more. So the infamous moneymakers are after the capital's only open space, pitching big big tents and buildings. No good. (PANDA)

From tala !!

When everyone was desperately waiting for the release of Boundary of Nepal - a book by veteran surveyor BN Shrestha - the other day, noted demographer Dr Harka Gurung was still jotting down something in his room. And he kept on until his telephone rang asking him why he was delaying. He confessed later: "The watch had just struck 12 p.m. although it was already 12:30. Coincidentally this (the watch) is also from tala (down south, meaning India)." This is how doctor saheb also joined the bandwagon that had everyone decrying the Big Brother who is good at, among others, encroaching territories. (SSP)

NTV bags 'Game Plan' trophy

The airing of Olympiad opening on NTV sort of reflected Nepal-India relations: Shared a lot of hiccups during its run. After much effort, NTV finally aired the event with India's DD Metro. Fine, but then NTV officials were having a hard time muting the Hindi version of all the commentary throughout. Heard the bigger news? Some Nepal Game Plan just enlisted NTV amongst the top ISI agents in Nepal! (SJS)

Private airlines' epidemic?

It is known that businessmen make a thorough study of all the pros and cons before going ahead with their venture. Nepalese airlines entrepreneurs seem to be an exception. Either that or all are collectively suffering from either of the two diseases - late-realitis and deli-ignorasis. Recently it came to the open that private operators were not operating in remote areas. Their reason - it was not "practical". However, at the time of taking licence they had committed to do so. But poor fellows, they have since been attacked by late realization or may be by deliberate ignorance! (DK)

The bitter truth...

Chief Guests (CGs) normally show up late in the capital's rhetoric-delivery and other programmes, and such programmes tend to start late no matter how desperate audience become. If the recent revelation of two veterans attending a recent high profile gathering is anything to go by there are two reasons: One, the organizers do not want CGs to become punctual, and the other, wrist watches too go through technical problems. As you sow, so shall you reap. Now understood the reasons behind Nepal's delayed - to be precise failed - development? (LYNX)

Gala shopping time

The globe's gala event opened today. Nepal, in true Coubertian fashion in upholding the Olympics spirit, has sent a team. The country has also maintained its tradition of sending more officials than athletes - 18 (15 officials and three better halves) for five aspiring medallists. The reason could be that the officials would appreciate and cheer. But the question is what they would appreciate. Sydney's shopping plazas or the efforts of our sportspersons? That's a question worth Olympic gold. Wanna try the answer. (ET)

Heritage hysteria

I become nervous whenever I think about the UNESCO High Commission visiting Nepal for supervision of Nepal's World Heritage Sites. But dear Nepalis, please don't be frightened for no Gabbar Singh is coming. Let them, if they so desire, de-list monuments of earlier generations. They will remain ours as ever. Department of Archaeology neglects the monuments and the government is too busy to make a firm policy. Still, this is simply the Nepali style of heritage preservation. (RM)

Sydney syndrome

Nepali doctors have recently discovered a new disease among power-wallah Nepalis. This disease mostly attacks people related with sports - either as players or "officials" (even their relatives can also be victimised). When afflicted, the patients suffer from illusions like he or she is flying in the sky, march-passing in stadium arena, carrying gold medals, finding local time some five hours ahead or even shopping in the Spring malls. Doctors say this disease be named as Sydney Syndrome. (RAJ)

Hypocrisy, NC style

It was a programme on book release. The book was on the country's one of the famous martyrs Thir Bam Malla. There were MPs, both past and present from the ruling NC. And most of them bemoaned the fact that governments, since the restoration of democracy, had done precious little to highlight the sacrifices of the martyrs who had even lost lives against the Rana regime. Now this was a revelation, considering that out of the 10 years, their own party had been in power for more than eight years! Makes me wonder if it is not a good example of hypocrisy. (KD)