Local News [The Kathmandu Post (Nepal)]

By Rebecca Harding

KATHMANDU - What were your new millennium resolutions? Go on, admit it - did becoming healthier and doing more exercise feature high on your list?

In a country where most people get more than their fair share of exercise by dint of their lifestyle and harsh physical environment, exercising to simply keep in shape may seem like an alien concept to the vast majority of Nepal’s population. It is ironic that in a country where, for many, painstaking physical labour leads to an early grave, others - in true Western style - are heading for an untimely death due to lack of exercise and an unhealthy lifestyle.

This fear has given rise to a new obsession in Kathmandu. The fitness bug is fast catching on. Five-star health clubs and gyms are springing up across the city, inundated with applications from would-be fitness enthusiasts at the dawn of the New Year. Has the fitness frenzy finally hit Nepal?

‘It’s important for me to keep in shape,’ says Rajani, sipping on a herbal tea in a Kathmandu hotel lounge, glowing after a gruelling one-hour workout with her personal fitness instructor. "The euphoria I feel after exercising makes up for all the sweat and tears. It can be quite addictive".

In the West, many women spend huge amounts of money on gym membership, health farms and new clothes in order to make themselves look slimmer - some Hollywood celebrities even hire their own personal dieticians. According to the US National Institutes of Health and Centres for Disease Control, more than 30% of Americans are 20% or more overweight, and one third of women and more than one quarter of men are trying to lose weight at any given time. They have good reason to lose weight: obesity is severely stigmatized in their society. The social hazards of being overweight in the US are considerable.

Fitness and diet magazines do a roaring trade and if these would-be sylph-like readers aren’t glued to the pages of a diet magazine, then you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll be gazing green-eyed at some willowy beauty gracing the pages of Vogue or Tatler. "Thin is beautiful" - is the siren call of the glossy magazines.

The fitness trade is burgeoning in Kathmandu. Sanjiv Soreng, Manager of the Fitness Centre at the exclusive Radisson hotel says that his health club in Kathmandu is the most popular in his chain that operates 65 centres in 17 countries, including Japan, Singapore, Thailand and India. With streets too polluted to run in and swimming pools too icy to swim in what’s a Kathmandu fitness enthusiast to do? They’re hotfooting their way to the five-star gyms faster than their Nikes can carry them.

"More and more Nepalis - women especially - are taking care of their physiques," says Soreng. Most of his regular Nepali clients are women in their early to mid-thirties. "By nature of our male-dominated society, women who don’t work, have plenty of free time to dedicate to keeping in trim."

This trend, however, only serves to highlight the growing gulf between Nepal’s rich and poor. These Kathmandu gym goers aren’t just rich, they’re very rich. Their fitness comes at a price - annual health club membership topping Rs 50,000 at the topnotch five-stars. In a country with an average annual income per capita of Rs 7655, sign-up fees of such proportions are way beyond the means of all but the elitest of the elite.

Aerobic classes offer a cheaper option, costing around Rs 150 for a one-hour session. However, trying to coordinate one’s flailing arms and feet whilst travelling across the room to strains of Madonna is no mean feat - and hardly a dignified experience. And attempting to follow the tricky workout of a perfectly-sculpted woman with an impossibly lean physique and not a bead of sweat glistening on her face isn’t everyone’s idea of fun.

However, if you can stick to exercise, the rewards are multiple. As well as experiencing what one woman described as a "euphoric, high feeling" after exercising, you may also end up recouping some of the money you invested. A study by Michigan University has proved a direct link between weight and wealth. Slimmer women may be at an economic advantage to their larger sisters. Male bosses are less likely to promote their plump employees proving that slimmer women earn more in their lifetime than their chubbier colleagues. So I’m afraid it’s back to that running machine girls...

However, there is a darker side to the coin. Whereas plumpness was once an indicator of prosperity, the Western weight stigma is on the increase in Kathmandu, especially among young girls. Stories of figure-obsessed young girls popping laxatives to keep their weight in check have appeared in the Kathmandu press, with reports of increase in cases of anorexia - dangerous and rapid weight loss to the point of starvation.

If all this talk of strenuous exercise is making you break out in a cold sweat, perhaps you should resolve instead to follow Winston Churchill’s maxim: "Whenever I feel like doing exercise I lie on my bed until the feeling goes away."

Backward communities suffer from HIV/AIDS

Post Report

MORANG, Jan 18 - There is very little awareness about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases among the backward communities of this district.

This was the conclusion of a survey conducted recently in Musahar and Bantar of Baijnathpur VDC.

The survey was conducted by the District AIDS Coordination Committee, Morang. 50 men and 50 women were selected at random from these two communities and were tested on their knowledge of these diseases.

It was found that only two per cent of Musahar and 20 per cent of Bantar had heard about HIV/AIDS, while 3 per cent of Musahar and 18 per cent of Bantar had heard about sexually transmitted diseases.

Not only had the people of these two communities heard little about HIV/AIDS and sexual diseases, but they were also totally ignorant about the ways in which the diseases spread and can be prevented.

Although this VDC is linked with Biratnagar sub-metropolitan City, people here remain barely influenced by urban life. These two communities are so weak financially that people spend bulk of their time, from sunrise to sunset, working as labourers or seeking employment. HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases were found to be most prevalent among these communities,said Usha Koirala of Morang District AIDS Coordination Committee.

There are also other reasons forcing them to be the greatest victims of these diseases. They include their seasonal migration to India in search of job, excessive use of alcohol and liberal sexual contacts.

Only six per cent of Musahar and four per cent of Bantar have heard about condoms which are crucial to control HIV/AIDS, but they have never used them, according to the survey.

Nearly 110 people are currently suffering from HIV/AIDS in the district and about 10 have lost their lives, according to the committee.

Although the AIDS Coordination Committee has been carrying out HIV/AIDS and sexual disease awareness programme in all 65 VDCs and one Sub-Metropolitan City, the survey report shows that the programme has not been effective among the more backward communities and the target population.

Transport checking in Rupandehi

BHAIRAHAWA, Jan18 (PR) - A total of 28 vehicles were detained Wednesday during a ‘vigorous check’ carried out by the District Police Office at various places of Rupandehi district, the police sources said.

Altogether 250 police personnel were deployed during three hours checking carried out between 8 to 11 p.m. at 14 sensitive areas. This is the second ever such raid in the district. Out of those apprehended, 19 vehicles had many vital documents missing and nine of them had no papers at all. Four drivers were found drunk, and a driver who had absconded after killing Krishna Acharya, resident of Motipur, at Chauraha in Butwal, few days ago, was also nabbed in the vicinity of the accident site.

The Superintendent of Police Vinod Singh, who mooted the idea, said to The Kathmandu Post, "Such raids have been found to be very effective in discouraging irresponsible and unlawful activities."

Birgunj mayor blamed for irregularities

Post Report

BIRGUNJ, Jan 18 - Dozens of people’s representatives belonging to the Nepali Congress and the Sadbhavana Party have blamed the Birgunj Mayor Bimal Prasad Shri Vastav for the alleged practice of approving unduly rendered proposals during the 8th Town Council meet on Wednesday, said a report received here today.

They levelled the charges against the Mayor in a press conference held at the premises of the Sub-Metropolitan City Office in Birgunj Thursday. Deputy Mayor Murari Krishna Rauniyar said, " The Mayor prevailed upon the Council’s meet to revise the figures in the city’s contract with the party assigned to collect vehicle-tax, which obviously meant the contractor’s would gain at the cost of the city’s interests."

"It’s clearly against legal provisions to propose revisions in contract figures at the Council meet, without asking the City Board first," Rauniyar added. During the press conference, board members Narendra Shah and Dina Gupta, among others, charged the Mayor with trying to ruin the Sub-Metropolitan City of Birgunj for his private gains.

Pandey released on bail

BIRATNAGAR, Jan 18 (PR) - The district administration office released the district secretary of the Maoist student wing - All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (Revolutionary) - on bail Wednesday, according to the student organisation. District Secretary, Komal Pandey was kept in police custody for 25 days, on various charges.

Police arrested Pandey while submitting a memorandum to the local administration in connection with the violence that broke out between college students and transport workers during the third week of December, 2000.

Maoist supporter Pandey was charged of manhandling security personnel in Jhorahat Village Development Committee-2 and of obstructing public transport. Chief District Officer, Binod Gyawali, demanded a deposit of Rs 28,000 from Pandey for his release on bail, but he was unable to fulfil the demand.

Later, Pandey’s relatives submitted a land ownership certificate and he was released on bail. Representatives of various human rights organisations were present at the CDO office suspecting that Pandey would be re-arrested after the release.

Elephant menace in Rajbiraj

RAJBIRAJ (PR) - Normal life of people living along the banks of the snow-fed Kosi river has been affected for over a month following wildelephant rampage in the locality, a report received here said.

One person was killed and two others seriously injured after a herd of wildelephants from the Indian state of Assam attacked them on the western bank of the river on 19 December 2000, locals said. An elderly man, Niyamat Mansuri of Joginiya VDC-5, was killed in the attack.

Four wild-elephants had arrived here from the forest corridor of the eastern districts of Jhapa and Morang, locals said. The marauding elephants have destroyed sugar-cane plantation on more than 10 bighas of land along the river banks. A number of huts and trees were also damaged by the elephants.

Bhikhan Yadav from Badgama village said that villagers were afraid to leave their homes for fear of possible attack by the wildelephants roaming around the area for over for a month.

Campion quiz contest ends

KATHMANDU, (PR) - The Campion Gold Cup Quiz Contest, a Campion mega event, concluded successfully at the Russian Culture Centre yesterday.

St Xavier’s Campus won the Gold Cup and cash prizes of Rs 27000 along with gift hampers from the sponsors. The chief guest Dr Narayan Kunwar, vice-chairman, HSEB and the guest of honour Dr Shreeram Prasad Lamichhane gave away prizes to all the winners.

Altogether fifteen higher secondary school teams participated in the competition that began on December 24, 2000.

Woman dies in mishap

MORANG, (PR) -The 65-year-old Bishnu Maya Limbu, a resident of Durgapuri, was killed on the spot when the west-bound Me-1-Kha cargo-truck hit her at Birat Chowk on Wednesday, reports the Belbari Ilaka Police Post.

The truck driver has been taken into police custody.

The accident obstructed traffic on the Mahendra highway for three hours.

Foundation stone laid

PARASI, (RSS)- Member of Parliament Devendra Raj Kandel laid the foundation stone of a 33-room complex of the District Education Office, Nawalparasi here on Wednesday.

The office complex is to be constructed with a loan assistance of Rs 6 million from the world bank.

On the occasion, MP Kandel said serious attention should be given to the fact that no significant progress has been made in the education sector despite huge investments into it.

At the programme presided over by mayor of Ramgram Municipality Govinda Chaudhari, the District Education Officer Cholendra Kumar Pandit disclosed that the building would be constructed by the Global Construction Company, Bharatpur, within six months.

Birgunj mayor blamed for irregularities

Post Report

Telephone service inadequate in VDCs

Post Report

DANG, Jan 18 - Almost half of the total Village Development Committees in the Rapti zone are yet to enjoy a promptly functional telephone service, a report said.

Of the total 229 VDCs in the zone, 160 VDCs lack communication facility. The government plans to distribute a total of 200,000 telephone lines by the end of 2004/5.

Although the Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) has distributed more than 2,000 telephone lines in the zone, more than half of the VDCs in Dang and Pyuthan districts are still deprived of the facility. Rolpa and Salyan, the remote hill districts, have such a service only at the district headquarters.

According to Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, acting chief of the Tulsipur-based NTC office, the telephone service will be extended to two VDCs in Dang, eight in Pyuthan, nine in Rolpa, five in Rukum and six in Salyan district within the current fiscal year.

The current speed of the telephone network is slow and lines distributed in the past are in need of regular maintenance.

All of these districts are in the stronghold of Maoist rebels, who have destroyed some of the telephone towers in the districts.

Following the destruction of the Saunepani-based telephone tower by the Maoist rebels, six public telephone offices in Rukum have remained out of order for a long time, causing heavy losses to the NTC.

The NTC is trying to install another tower in Lamidanda, Salyan but it will take some time to complete the work, says acting chief Shrestha. He said that 150 telephone lines to be installed in Khlanga, the district headquarters of Salyan, has been delayed due to slow construction work on the tower at Lamidanda.

Public phone lines, based on V-sat technology, in most of the VDCs usually go out of order in cold weather. Shrestha says that it will take another five years to meet the NTC’s goal if telephone lines are distributed at the current pace.

Valley development plan discussed

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 18 - Development expert Dr Harkha Gurung today said that the nation’s situation should be taken into consideration while finding solutions to the unmanaged urbanization of Kathmandu.

"The concept of decentralisation has proved to be a failure in our country and the city with the biggest population has suffered the most," said he, while addressing a seminar on Kathmandu City Development Strategy.

He said new studies and reports are coming in but the responsible citizens fail to implement them in time.

Kathmandu Mayor Keshav Sthapit today demanded with the government to give the right to distribute electricity in the capital city, calling it a big part of the strategy to solve unsystematic urban development.

He said if KMC holds string over electricity connections, it would automatically control all sorts of irregularities because life would be meaningless in the city without electricity.

Padma Sundar Joshi, the co-director of Kathmandu Valley Mapping Programme, said in the past nine months the process of making a new strategy to develop this rapidly-changing metropolis has taken a shape. "We have discovered where we stand and which direction we want to go. Now, it is time to explore the possible means of getting there."

Government officers and other representatives from various Non-Governmental Organisations took part in group discussions on different topics related to the urbanisation of the Kathmandu valley.

Locals suffer as drivers refuse to stop in Pauraha

Post Report

PAURAHA, Rautahat, Jan 18- Vehicles plying the forest area in Rautahat along the East-West highway do not stop fearing attack by dacoits. As a result, many critically ill patients are put at risk.

Shalikram Upadhyay of Pauraha lost his life in April last year, simply because no vehicle was prepared to give him a lift to hospital.

The 1800 residents of Pauraha, located at a distance of 3 kms east of Pathalaiya, remain in constant fear of sudden, untoward dacoity incident. They not only have to bear the brunt of the locally-active bandits but also remain in eternal fear of suffering untimely death due to the non-co-operation of drivers.

The fear of being looted has been further fuelled recently among the drivers, after the robbery of the Kakarvitta-bound nightbus at the Pauraha jungle a few months ago.

But local politician Shriram Neupane disagrees with the view that the nightbus robbery has anything to do with daytime security. "The robbers don’t dare attack people during the day because the local people are seen in large numbers on the road as they use this highway for their normal business activities."

Surrounded on all sides by the jungle, Pauraha’s main markets are Bagmati and Chandra Nigahapur, at a distance of 4 and 11 kms respectively. Motor vehicles denying them access, the people have no option but either to walk on foot or ride a bicycle to reach those centres. One consequence of this hassle in transportation is that there are very few women seen moving about.

Last Thursday, a nightbus heading towards Katari refused to stop at Pauraha. The incident triggered a tense dispute between locals and bus drivers which lasted for the next two days.

After repeated requests by the residents to take appropriate action, Basudev Thapaliya, Police Inspector at the local post has promised to ask the concerned Office for Transportation Management to make necessary arrangements. Thapaliya says," It’s true that bus drivers refuse to let on the local passengers, leaving them stranded for hours."

Local youth, Ram Sharan, complains that all their applications to arrange for a bus stop in the area have been in vain. "Neither the administration nor the Office for Transportation Management has done anything," he laments.

Asked to explain their unwillingness to stop at Pauraha even during the daytime, bus employees said since the locals in the area make only short trips to nearby places, it is not always feasible to stop for them due to the obligation to reach the destination within the stipulated time.

Greens hail govt move

Post Report

KATHMANDU,Jan 18 – The Association of Environment Students (AOES) of Tri-Chandra Campus has welcomed the government’s recent move to ban over twenty-year-old vehicles from the Valley effective from mid-November, next year.

Issueing a press release here today, AOES also condemned the transport entrepreneurs’ announcement issued yesterday to stage agitation programmes to protest against the government decision.

We heartily welcome the governement’s pro-environmental move, said an AOES press release recieved here today. It is very much unfortunate that the transport entrepreneurs are protesting a praiseworthy step. The government should not lag behind from implementing its decision, the release states.

The government on November 10 decided to ban all the vehicles older than 20 years and all the three wheelers with two-storke engines from the Valley from mid-Novemeber. The government also banned all the diesel-run three wheelers, popularly kwown as Vikram tempos last year.