Thrills and ills of journalism

By Meena Kaini

KATHMANDU, It’s been almost two years since I started journalism and during these two years I have met people from all walks of life. Some people have been impressed and fascinated with the profession that I have chosen while others have questioned why I chose journalism of all the things.

But most of the times I have encountered people who give me those sceptical looks that most often say, "journalists...they know absolutely nothing about most of the subjects that they write about."

And I did agree with their looks and question for the simple reason that I was not too knowledgeable about a lot of things that I was reporting on or writing about. It was a veteran journalist who once told us (myself and other reporters), "a journalist is a person who, notwithstanding the ignorance about a lot of topics, can write at least 300 words about it in half-an-hour," which saved me from the feeling of being too ignorant or uninformed.

During this period what I have noticed is what a colleague’s American professor once told him about how people say they should not trust politicians, lawyers and journalists. Even then everybody needs them one time or another like a necessary evil.

A head of a UN agency recently had this complaint - that their press releases have not been well received and did not get as much coverage in the papers as they should have. And the person had this brilliant idea: "We should organise a press conference where we give all the information to the pressmen and lunch, " and here the latter -"lunch" got the special emphasis!

It is common practice to put the press conference followed by cocktail dinner in bold text on invitations hoping to lure more journalists into covering their events. Even organisers plan their program around noon or evening to accommodate the magic of food and drinks.

There have been numerous instances where I have felt that the perception towards journalists has been very erroneous and very sadly misinterpreted.

In another incident, I went to attend a press conference organised by an association of Public Bus Entrepreneurs. They kept us waiting in front of the office gate for quite some time making us wonder where the conference was being held.

Finally, a group of organisers said that it would be held somewhere outside and led the way. We reached a dinghy eatery outside their office. When asked why the conference was being held in the roadside pub, one of the organisers quipped, "Food is not allowed inside the office building."

This left me and some of other journalists aghast. It was as if food comes above everything else when it comes to journalists.

There is yet another sad part. After the conferences and coverage, there comes another complaint: that the news is not being carried as it should have been or the essence of the news is misunderstood.

I have heard a producer of a famous American show say that people are unhappy not because journalists slant the news but because it is not slanted "their way".

What I have seen through my experiences is that the "sad" perceptions towards the journalists are not just an outcome of the people’s "mis-understandings". Journalists too have given reasons that give way to such perception.

Here’s why. I was participant in a regional conference for three-days. The organisers had invited all the leading pressmen from almost all the papers, and to their utter dismay, the coverage was "not enough". By the end of the third day when there was this "cocktail party", all the "big-bosses" of the papers had gathered.

It was not just for the "imported drinks" they were there for but also to rub shoulders with the famous and not-so-famous influential people. And these people, though they claim to be independent of any political alignment, are not free from bias. It is mostly evident from their writing and actions that they support one party or just one faction of a party waiting to snatch power.

But despite journalism’s "ill-reputation ", long and odd working hours, inadequate pay, demand for "no display of emotions", every day is a new day for journalists and everyday a "learning day" for the simple reason that it teaches to cover and un-cover everything.

PM honors personalities of education sector

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 24 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today called for joint efforts from government and private sector to fulfil the need of technical manpower in the country.

While Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhya urged the teachers to shun politics and be dutiful towards their profession.

The prime minister and education minister were speaking at a award distribution ceremony organized by District Education Office, Kathmandu on the occasion of 26 th Education Day.

At the program 543 awards including medals and letters of appreciation were handed over to schools, teachers, school employees and the officer bearers of school management committee.

The schools and individuals, awarded on the occasion of 23rd, 25th and 26th Education Day, were distributed the medals and certificates today. Teachers serving more than 30 years, the schools which secured more than 75 percent result by participating more than 20 students in the SLC exams of 2055 (1999) and 2056(2000), students securing top position in the district examinations of 2056 from grades 5 and 8 were among those who received the honour today.

Responding a query that the Local Self Governance Act and Education Act have conflicting provisions regarding the authorities for the school management, Prime Minister Koirala said that such problems could be resolved through talks.

Similarly, Education Minister Upadhya who was also chairing the program said that the literacy rate has increased from 2% to 57 % in the last fifty years. Even the awareness of the parents have increased, " earlier they used to send their children to make them literate but now the parents are more eager to impart technical education to their children," the minister said.

Minister Upadhya also disclosed that only 10% of the total amount allocated to education sector is spent on teaching materials and other as 90% of the amount goes to salary of the teachers. Minister Upadhya further disclosed that 57% of the expenditure in education sector is still being met by foreign donors. At such juncture," Getting teachers trained and making them accountable to the classroom are the greatest challenge in the education sector" the minister said.

Tikapur airport remains unused

TIKAPUR, Kailali, Feb 24 (PR) - The Tikapur-based airport, located about 90 km east of the district headquarters, Dhangadhi, has remained unused after the construction of a highway linking to far-western hill districts like Dadeldhura, Doti and Accham. The grass airport, which occupies more than 17 bighas of land near the Tikapur municipality, was constructed about 17 years ago with a view to operating flights to and from Bajura, Sanphe Bagar, Silgudhi and Jumla. President of Tikapur Industry and Commerce Association, Gokarna Prasad Rimal, said that the airport should be maintained for its future was bright.

Chief of the airport, Devendra Raj Pandey, said that flights could be resumed provided that there were enough air passengers to various routes.

Training on drug control held in Biratnagar

Post Report

MORANG, Feb 24 - A one-day orientation training was organised here for the labourers of the industrial town of Biratnagar with a view to controlling the number of drug abusers which is increasing daily in this city.

The orientation organised here on Saturday with the joint auspices of Narcotic Drug Demand Reduction Project of Home Ministry and Help Group and was attended by labourers of 20 industries.

Speaking at the inaugural programme Sushil Dhanawat, President of Industry Association, Morang, said similar training would be imparted to labourers working in all the industries in the near future.

Officer in District AIDS Coordination Office, Usha Koirala, said the number of HIV/AIDS victims was increasing with the increase in the number of drug abusers. She added that more than 80 people were suffering from HIV/AIDS in the district as a result of drug abuse.

Chairperson of Help Group, Bishnu Sharma, said about 400 people went to India daily and returned home after taking narcotic drugs taking advantage of the open border.

Locals deprived of electricity

Post Report

MORANG, Feb 24 - People from the Budhnagar VDC have been deprived of electricity facility even though transmission lines were distributed to the area about two years ago.

When works on the transmission lines were on its full swing during the parliamentary election, people were hopeful of electricity facility.

A local, Narayan Mandal, from the VDC-7, said that after the elections were over, works on the transmission lines came to a standstill and nobody appeared to expedite the works.

"Electric poles and wires were dropped here just to lure the voters during the elections," Mandal said, "No leaders visited our VDC after the elections were over."

Udaya Chaudhary from the same VDC said that the works for electricity was initiated by Nepali Congress leader, Sailaja Acharya. But electricity was not distributed to the people after she lost the Parliamentary election, he said.

Apart from this, other development projects commenced here before the election have also remained incomplete to date.

On the other hand, all official jobs to be carried out by the VDC have been stalled due to the absence of VDC chairman and vice-chairman over the last two years.

VDC Chairman, Abodh Narayan Mandal, has been imprisoned on the charges of a murder over the last years and Vice-Chairman, Kali Prasad Bisunkhe, was killed by an unidentified gang at his home about six months ago.

Govt seeks ways to curb hemp farming

Post Report

BIRGUNJ, Feb 24 - The government has started seeking suggestions from the district-level officials about the effective ways of controlling hemp farming in the southern plains following pressures from the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and various donor agencies.

Chief District Officer in Parsa, Dolakh Bahadur Gurung, confirmed about such instructions but declined to furnish details about the suggestions he was going to submit.

A high level police official, on condition of anonymity, said that the police advised the government to withhold development budget by law to the hemp-growing VDCs and constituencies.

"The elected representatives and lawmakers themselves will chase away hemp producers from their VDCs and constituencies once the development funds are withheld," the police official added.

A lawmaker is provided Rs one million and Rs 500,000 for each VDC to carry out their local development on their own initiative.

The police official said that nobody dare invest on illegal venture without political protection. "We are forced to release people involved in hemp farming under political pressures," he said.

He said hemp farming could not be wiped out unless a law directly affected powerful politicians.

Tikapur airport unused

Post Report

TIKAPUR, Kailali, Feb 24 - The Tikapur-based airport, located about 90 km east of the district headquarters, Dhangadhi, has remained unused after the construction of a highway linking to far-western hill districts like Dadeldhura, Doti and Accham.

The grass airport, which occupies more than 17 bighas of land near the Tikapur municipality, was constructed about 17 years ago with a view to operating flights to and from Bajura, Sanphe Bagar, Silgadhi and Jumla.

President of Tikapur Industry and Commerce Association, Gokarna Prasad Rimal, said that the airport should be maintained for its future was bright.

Chief of the airport, Devendra Raj Pandey, said that flights could be resumed provided that there were enough air passengers to various routes.

Cultural fest observed in Lamjung

Post Report

LAMJUNG, Feb 24 - A religious and cultural festival was organised at Karaputar of Ishaneswor VDC, located at the western belt of Lamjung district on the occasion of Mahashivaratri festival.

The festival was organised at the initiative of Ishaneswor VDC. Different people who took part in the singing and dancing, volleyball and other activities were awarded prizes on the occasion.

It has also been announced that the religious and cultural festival will be held every year. There is a programme to narrate one of the 18 Purans to enhance religious tolerance among the people.

There is a temple of Ishaneswor Mahadev and Parvati at Karaputar. A festival is held here on the occasion of Mahashivaratri for two days.

IPPF regional office likely in Kathmandu

Post Report

KAVRE, Feb 24- International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) will open its regional office for South Asia in Kathmandu, Angela Gomez, president of IPPF informed Saturday after her field visit to IPPF and FPAN sponsored project here.

She disclosed she was much impressed by the increasing number of volunteers working in the FPAN-run projects and goodwill shown by the government during her visit.

Founded in 1952 in Bombay, India, IPPF’s objective has changed from one of family planing to reproductive health care. Asked why Nepal is being selected for the regional office in South Asia instead of India, she said that IPPF had to select Kathmandu following India’s problem with Pakistan over Kashmir issue.

IPPF is the world’s largest voluntary organisation working with Sexual and Reproductive Health Cares all over the world.

"We carry out programmes in 180 countries and Nepal is ranked eighth among the member countries depending upon its need," she said.

Angela Gomez who met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the Minister for Health earlier said, "they are very much committed and looking forward to our programme," when asked if they had shown any political will.

Nepal has typically the highest infant-mortality rate and appallingly low life expectancy. "The biggest challenge for Nepal is to bring down the fertility rate which is very high," she said.

IPPF’s main donor is Japan followed by UK, Holland, USA, and Canada. However, IPPF’s resources are limited and it depends upon donations. "It doesn’t mean budget for South Asia has gone down, Nepal is the most needy," she said.

FPAN became a member of IPPF in 1969 and through its support, it has been providing family welfare programmes to around 5.5 million people in Nepal through the network of 28 branches and 16 projects spread in 13 districts.

Panchkhal project, visited by IPPF’s president today is a model project, according to Yashoda Nepal, senior staff nurse who has been working here since the last five years.

Nepal Family Planning Association, Kavre is another branch office last visited by Gomez Saturday. It has been providing maternity and child care. It was solely built with the support of the people of Kavre, said Narendra Shrestha, the President of Kavre branch.

Nepal Family Planning Association, Kavre also organised a presentation and discussion forum on the occasion.

Timber smugglers attack forest guards

Post Report

MALANGAWA, Feb 24 - Five forest guards were injured Wednesday morning, in an attack by timber thieves at the Sagarnath forest, according to sources at the District Forest Office. The guards, who had reached the illegal-felling site amid reports of massive destruction of eucalyptus trees, were seriously injured when attacked with lathis and axes.

Vinod Thapa, an assistant employee who was seriously injured in the attack by the timber smugglers was rushed to the capital for treatment.

According to the Sagarnath Forest Development Project, a team of 12 forest guards, under the leadership of Assistant Forest Officer Vinod Krishna Manandhar, had reached the site. The group of around 40 tree fellers first tried to run away at the sight of the guards. However, when one of their members was apprehended, they retaliated with their weapons.

Woman forced to eat excreta

Post Report

LAHAN, Siraha, Feb 24 - Local people from Nahar Rigaul VDC-8 bludgeoned and forcibly fed human stool to a 40-year-old woman on charges of her being a witch, police here said Wednesday. Police said that more than 60 people were involved in feeding human stool to Japanwati Sah, mother of three sons.

A team of police personnel and reporters obtained information from the victim’s family and the people involved in such a cruelty on Friday.

"I was dragged to a meeting place from my home. They started beating me up charging me of being a witch. They forcibly poured human stool on my mouth," Japanwati told The Kathmandu Post sobbing. She added that people at the meeting also manhandled her husband and father-in-law.

Japanwati pleaded for mercy saying that she was innocent. But nobody listened to her pleas. The incident took place in front of the home of lawmaker Ram Chandra Yadav. "Had he been present here, he would have protected me from such ruthlessness," she said.

Locals alleged that Japanwati made Devaki Yadav, wife of Mukti Yadav, sick using her witchcraft 15 days ago, when Japanwati went to Mukti Yadav’s rice mill for grinding.

A local youth, on condition of anonymity, said that Japanwati was really a witch. "We had to feed her human stool to destroy her witchcraft," he said.

Police said they would take action provided that the victims filed complaints against the people involved in the incident.

Govt seeks ways to curb hemp farming

Post Report

BIRGUNJ, Feb 24 - The government has started seeking suggestions from the district-level officials about the effective ways of controlling hemp farming in the southern plains following pressures from the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and various donor agencies.

Chief District Officer in Parsa, Dolakh Bahadur Gurung, confirmed about such instructions but declined to furnish details about the suggestions he was going to submit.

A high level police official, on condition of anonymity, said that the police advised the government to withhold development budget by law to the hemp-growing VDCs and constituencies.

"The elected representatives and lawmakers themselves will chase away hemp producers from their VDCs and constituencies once the development funds are withheld," the police official added.

A lawmaker is provided Rs one million and Rs 500,000 for each VDC to carry out their local development on their own initiative.

The police official said that nobody dare invest on illegal venture without political protection. "We are forced to release people involved in hemp farming under political pressures," he said.

He said hemp farming could not be wiped out unless a law directly affected powerful politicians.