Local stalwarts grab public land

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MEHELKUNA, Surkhet, March 7 - The committee members who have been entrusted by the government to allocate plots to landless squatters have themselves grabbed the land.

In many plots the squatters had built pucca house with the money remitted by their sons working in far away lands. These plots which were supposed to have officially allocated and registered in their names have secretly been registered in the names of local bullies.

The Surkhet unit of the Committee for the Resolution of the Landless Squatters’ Problem allotted the publicly-owned plot to a former VDC Chairman, Bal Bahadur Khatri two years ago. This was the plot on which the poor family of Dande Sarki, resident of Mehelkuna VDC, had been living for past 33 years.

"Sinners they are," bewails miserable Sarki, "I would, at least, not have wasted two hundred thousand rupees on building the house."

Dande Sarki’s plight is not the only case. The sorrow of these downtrodden people is even more heart-rending when one finds that the lucky guys to get the allotments are persons who already possess considerable wealth and property, and some of them do not even actually live in the vicinity.

Says a former lawmaker, Chandra Bahadur Budha, "The team which came here to identify the genuine landless ended up by illegally allotting plots to almost 43 local stalwarts, many of whom are established politicians or teachers."

Worse still, public roads and religious premises have not been spared. The plots adjoining these social and religious sites have been alloted in the name private individuals who are not even the residents of Meheluna VDC.

However, the crime does not lie solely with the then team leader, Mohammad Yusuf, who made such indiscriminate allotments. "Our social and political culture lies at the root of such mindless misadventures," says former MP Budha, adding, " the apparent immunity that the criminals enjoy leaves open enough grounds to fear a similar trend to continue in the future also."

Teacher set free from captivity

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RUKUM, March 7 - The underground CPN (Maoist) rebels have released a teacher they had abducted two months ago in this far western hilly district, after the teacher gave away a ransom of Rs. 250 to the rebels.

Tara Bahadur Nepali, the teacher at Naduwa High School in Bhagma, was abducted on January 24 after he did not attend a local gathering called by the Maoists.

According to Nepali, the insurgents took the ransom as charge for the fooding and lodging. The rebels also tortured him, Nepali claimed.

Dolpa people happy over Govt decision on yarsa gumba

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DUNAI, DOLPA, March 7-The Dolpali people are these days elated over the prospects of supplementing their income as soon as the snow begins to melt. The reason:the government’s recent decision to lift the existing ban on the collection of a particular herbal plant, Yarsa Gumba, believed to be a powerful sex-stimulant.

The Yarsa Gumba, a kilogram of which costs within a range of Rs 33 to 60 thousand in the local market, is a fungus, the seeds of which lay dormant under the debris of snow during the winter and appear in plenty as soon as the snow melts in the upper Himalayan regions of Dolpa. As a seasonal harvest, this high-priced medicinal plant means one of the few avenues for the poverty-ravaged rustics of one of the most backward and poorest regions in Nepal to earn money.

If not collected after it sprouts, the Yarsa Gumba gradually begins to decay. Therefore, collecting this rare fungus is in no way a hindrance to its proliferation. Being advised by specialists of this often ignored fact, the government recently decided to lift the ban, and thereby sent a ray of hope to the miserable populace in this politically-ignored region of the country.

A local resident, Devi Budha says, "We were scared of collecting it earlier, even though at times, of course, we were more than tempted to let it serve us rather than simply fade out in oblivion."

Medicinal plants specialist Rana Bahadur Rawal estimates that the amount of Yarsa Gumba smuggled last year might be worth somewhere around Rs 200 million. After its legalisation, estimates are that the sales will rise a couple of times, and thus not only better the living conditions of the people but also generate fruitful employment for the youth.

The traditional health workers, called Amchi, revere this herb as a life-saver.

Water crisis in Morang village

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MORANG, March 7 - People from Jate VDC-7 are deprived of drinking water facility and spend hours simply for fetching brown water from the nearby rivers that are also far away from their village.

A total of 62 households largely depend on the rivers as they lack tube wells or wells in the parched area.

Nanda Kumari Budhathoki and other alike walk for about one and a half hours to fetch water from Bhuwa Khola. Budhathoki said that a member from each family has to collect water from the river and purify it.

The villagers said that the river water cannot be consumed without treating it well before drinking. Likewise, students at local primary school also depend on the same brown water to quench their thirst which poses serious threat to their health.

VDC Chairman Upendra Ghimire said that the chronic problem of drinking water has remained unresolved due to the lack of water resource nearby the village.

Ghimire said it would cost about Rs 3 million to lay down pipeline to bring the water from the Jhanki river, which is about 15km away from the settlement. He said that the drinking water project was too big for the VDC to handle alone.

Maoists beat up two for helping police

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KHANDBARI, Mar 7 - Maoist rebels severely bludgeoned two people, including a 82-year-old man, from Dhupu VDC-5, about two hours trek east of the district headquarters, in the presence of locals on Sunday, locals here said.

The rebels beat Judha Bahadur Rai, 82, and his son Mukta Singh for about six hours and sealed off their food store containing about 45 quintals of rice.

They also burnt down their bond papers. Both of the victims are the Nepali Congress supporters.

A Maoist source said that the Rais were bludgeoned on charges of assisting police in the murder of Nir Kumar Bhattarai, Maoist-wing cadre - ANNFSU - about three years ago.

Judha Bahadur, who was rushed to Khandbari hospital for treatment on Tuesday, said that he could not identify the people who beat him up.

Likewise, the rebels also looted a home-made gun from the home of Lok Bahadur Karki, from Matsya Pokhari VDC-1 on Monday.

They also warned Karki not to spend more than Rs 10,000 on the wedding at his home due to take place on March 11.

Around 162 houses gutted

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SIRAHA, March 7 - At least 162 houses of 50 families have been gutted in the fire that raged here yesterday afternoon at Ward No. 7 and 8 in Kachanari VDC, police officials said.

According to Kedar Koirala, Superintendent of Police, properties worth around Rs. 4.8-8.5 million have been damaged in the fire, which was brought under control last night at around 11 p.m. The fire had started from the kitchen from the house of Dhanikal Yadav.

Meanwhile, a relief team is already distributing food, clothing and tents in the areas devastated by the fire. According to Chief District Officer, Chandra Bahadur Karki, a monetary aid of Rs. 1000 along with a sari are also being distributed in each household of the affected area.

Siraha Trade Association and other individuals are also distributing five kilograms of beatenrice, salt and sugar in each house in the area. The Siraha Red Cross Society is also distributing clothes in the area.

Saw mill sealed off

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DHANGADI, March 7- The Forest authority Tuesday sealed off Praha Kaji saw mill located here at Bauraha, Dhangadi following the mill’s illegal involvement in tampered markings on woods, according to a press release issued here today.

A total of nineteen piles of logs pushed inside the mill for processing were marked with tampered seals while another forty -six piles of sal wood brought for processing were without any official markings, according to the release.

Kailali, known for its rampant deforestation and smuggling of woods has come to limelight specially after the mysterious disappeareance of logs kept under the supervision of forest office here, said the release.

Jaya Ram Bhatta, mill manager has been kept in custody and the forest officials are taking legal action for his alleged involvement in deception and infringement of forest regulations.

Training for rural poor

MORANG (PR) - Domestic and Small Industries Office, Morang has provided income generation training to a total of 276 poor people from the rural areas from across the district.

Chief of the office, Ramadhin Yadav, said that his office also disbursed Rs 1 million to the people free of collateral over the last six months. Yadav also claimed that about 70 percent of the poor people had already started their income generation activities. He said 200 more poor people will be provided loans without collateral after giving them training on 30 different courses.

Students in doldrums

SANDHIKHARKA, Arghakhanchi (PR)- Future of more than 80 primary level students from Patauti VDC-1 is uncertain after a community-run school closed down due to the lack of funds, locals said. Locals had been operating Bhrikuti primary school for the last two years on their own resources. The teachers working at the school since its inception gave up their jobs after the local and VDC could not pay their salary for months.

Rebels hurt NC activist

DAMAULI, Tanahu - Maoist cadre on Tuesday night bludgeoned Krishna Sigdel, a Nepali Congress worker from Bhaldhunga village of the Kinhu VDC, police here said.

According to police, a group of Maoist rebels dragged Sigdel out of his home and severely attacked him. The rebels broke his left hand and limb. He was airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment.

A police source said that Sigdel, who is also the Chairman of local Janata primary school’s management committee, was attacked on charges of assisting the police against the Maoist activities.

Liquor ban in Dolpa

DOLPA, Dunai (PR) - Local administration has imposed a ban on selling alcohol in the district headquarters in the evening for security reasons beginning Wednesday, police here said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rabindra Sharma, said the decision was taken with a view to ensuring security in the district headquarters where the eighth District Council meeting is taking place in the near future.

A meeting, chaired by the Chief District Officer, was attended by security organs, local political party leaders and hotel entrepreneures.

Empowering women: myth or reality?

By Meena Kaini

KATHMANDU, March 7 - In the recent few years, human rights and women’s rights activist have had a favorite topic of discussion ... empowering women and helping women of this male-dominated society to stand out as equals.

Listening to the regular discussions and seminars held at air-conditioned halls of posh hotels of the capital and the efforts and funds they funnel into the issue, one can’t help but wonder why are these problems are still colossal and achievements negligible.

It is not that women in Nepal have not accomplished anything at all. There have been some success, but their achievements appear only prove to the saying that exceptions are everywhere. Sadly, a woman’s achievement on a field other than what is recognized as her’s always becomes news and her achievement becomes an exception.

Traditionally women have been helping the men out in the fields and then take care of the family and children. Yet their contributions have never been recognized and when they do dare to peek out and challenge to compete side by side with their male counterparts, they have not received little or no encouragement.

Women’s struggle to get an equal footing with men has long battle long fought. With the few women who have managed to rise up in career and society, it is just the battle that is won and the war still remains.

So what are the obstacles that has been hurdle for women from climbing up in society and the career ladder?

According to a ILO study "Breaking through the glass ceiling: women in management" conducted by Linda Wirth, a labour expert the hurdles that a woman faces when aspiring for the top jobs are so formidable that they end up abandoning their efforts. It says that women hold a mere one to three percent of top executive jobs in the largest corporations around the world.

These hurdles are even worse in an underdeveloped country like Nepal which is reigned by patriarchal society and female literacy is very low. Despite all these hurdles, even if they do manage to enter profession they are cramped into a narrow range of occupations where there is less of everything - responsibility, pay or even chances of advancement of their career graphs.

Researches show that women work longer hours than men in almost every country and for those who aspire to have a career as well as a family, their burden in even higher.

"Women with family responsibility face very real constraints in meeting the seniority or mobility criteria often required for promotions," says the report.

"It takes perseverance for a woman to reach up to a position that she aims," says Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, director of ILO, Kathmandu, who is the only female head under the UN system in Nepal.

What does a woman need to do in order to achieve? As author Naomi Ragen puts it: "Women need to somehow free themselves from a male-dominated society either by never marrying, or through a fortunate birth which is conferred on them by the unique status held by noteworthy fathers or brothers."

It is not that women need to embrace only the harsher routes in order to be successful. Men, who play a very important role in a woman’s life too can help women break the hurdles and be an achiever. The saying, "behind every successful man there is a woman," should also be applicable other way round too.

There is much to be done before women are actually what they term as "empowered". Getting women to stand as equals is itself a Herculean task that mere sermons cannot solve.

It is a fact that man-hood does not need to be celebrated for there are no issues like empowerment that need to be stressed and addresssed.

At least one day - 8th March is a day when womanhood is celebrated, though only among themselves. It is a day when women are commemorated - for making and changing history and for their fights for justice and equality, and a day to reflect and review women’s movement. Yet, there are the ordinary women - mothers and sisters and housewives, for whom the whole significance of this day is nil.

Changing face of women: Slow but certain progress

By Smriti Dhungel

KATHMANDU, March 7 - Women, like men, are born free. So why is it that they mostly live their lives in chains, especially in underdeveloped, illiterate countries like Nepal?

Over the years the traditions and culture here have undermined women socially and economically. Worse, these have been codified into law, which many women activists now argue is the root cause of all inequalities faced by Nepali women today.

But despite this sad state of affairs, there is the emerging face of a new Nepali woman, be it in rural or urban areas, especially after the restoration of democracy. Many are now, if not up in arms, at least crying vociferously for their rights, waging a constant struggle to climb the ladder step by step.

Women’s roles in Nepali society are definitely changing in both cities and towns where they are receiving some opportunities compared to earlier times.

Browse through the advertisement sections of many a newspaper these days and chances are you will come up against announcements where "women are encouraged to apply" is printed prominently.

Says Sajana Shakya, a human resource assistant working for SNV, the Netherlands development organization, "Companies like ours are promoting women for higher positions. We even have a gender specialist to foster awareness and empower women, something which is urgently needed in the country."

Adds research coordinator Anu Joshi who works for Lotus Holding, "we were selected for being more expressive and creative compared to our male counterparts."

Granted, many such opportunities are only for the well-heeled, educated, urban women. For, how can the poor illiterate daughter of a farmer or the village housewife ever get an opportunity like this? But women’s groups say, things are also turning for the better in the rural areas for women, who after all do most of the household as well as the agriculture work.

A newly emerging pattern can best be observed in the male-dominated trekking industry. Whereas most trekking guides used to be males in the past, these days, village women have begun to make inroads into the sector, especially in the Annapurna Circuit area. BBC Asia recently highlighted how many Nepali women were taking on these adventurous jobs in their quest for equality with men.

These marginal gains are just the tip of the iceberg. Women here still face a mountain of obstacles which, unfortunately, are codified into law.

Says Sapana Pradhan Malla, a well-known woman advocate, "Our discriminatory laws must change for only then can women fight the male chauvinist society around her." She further adds, "Gone are the days when women simply grew up to become someone else’s. Today, she has her own identity and is entitled to live her life independently and for this our laws must be amended."

The fiercest resistance to change has come, ironically, from parliament which is heavily male dominated. Bills like the amendment to the Muluki Ain (Civil Code) which purports to grant women a semblance of equality are languishing in the House of Representatives for the lack of guts from the political parties. These bills go someway in addressing women’s concerns over right to parental property, and the right to choose abortion (which at present is illegal).

Many might say, changes by itself is a slow process. A country which opened up to the outside world only half a century ago cannot undo centuries-old shackles. It takes time, they argue, for society to change and accept women as equals. However much one disagrees with this argument, unfortunately it has some truth in it. For in Nepal, where literacy is still dismal, women cannot force change unless an enlightened society is built first.

And for this, education is of paramount importance. Among the most important issues to be focused on are women’s rights and access to education as illiteracy is very high among women (about 25 percent literate), equal economic rights, property rights and access to health care.

Govt urged to protect women's rights

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KATHMANDU, March 7 - On the eve of International Women’s Day (IWD), international organisations and social sectors are getting ready to organise conferences and are already raising voice in the media and among the general people. In the wake of such sensitive issues like domestic violence, illiteracy and girl trafficking in Nepal, the International Women’s Day is not just another day.

The Amnesty International Nepal (AIN), in a press release issued here today, has urged the government to preserve and protect women’s rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Nepal is also signatory to the convention against all forms of discriminations against women.

AIN says, women have been the victims of domestic and cultural violence, often paying the price for an outdated traditional and supertisious beliefs.

Likewise, to mark the IWD, the head of the United Nations Food Programme has called on the international community to help send girls in developing countries to school, a press release from Rome based World Food Programme (WFP).

Citing girls’ education as one of the most effective weapons for elimination of global hunger and poverty, Catherine Bertini, executive director of WFP said, "Closing the massive gap between boys and girls school enrolment should be given the top priority in poor and developing countries.

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Slow pace of Women’s Liberation - Will the tortoise win?

By Damakant Jayshi

"So much to do, so little is done". This, in essence, is the sum total of women in their march to equality with men all over the world. Despite this year being the 91st International Women’s Day, there is very little to show on the achievement front. A few exceptions over the years are nothing much to write home about.

As Norwegian Ambasssador Ms Ingrid Ronnaug Ofstad so succinctly put it: "Women have not yet reached (the goal of social equality). There’s still a way to go. Although in my country the situation of women is a lot better, globally women have not reached their destination. Equal share in education, political power and economic benefits are still unrealized. As far I see in Nepal, women here have still a very long distance to cover."

This is not a revelation but a sad reality. Women may drive their own cars or bikes and go to their offices and in some cases boss over males, real equality and freedom will remain an elusive goal until and unless men can free themselves from the shackles that does not enable them to treat and respect women as they deserve. Most of them typify the proverbial frog in the well which considers the well to be the whole world. Indeed, leaving countable exemptions worldwide, men do have "genuine" difficulty in imagining women in any other role than the one who is made to do their bidding.

It is thus no surprise that women have been described with such adjectives that inherently means that they are not cut out the rough and tumble of life which primarily includes the decision-making power that is so much responsible for the current state of inequality. Words and phrases like "fairer/weaker sex", "soft", "tender", "caring", "homely", to name but a few of them, all point out that the women’s place is in the safe environ of the house, and not outside in the big, bad world.

Although it was done and is still being done in the name of high-blown praise, the real intention is not far to seek. These words carry their unmistakable message: Don’t step out of the door.

And the tragedy is even in the four walls of the house, women are mute spectators to all the activities - passive during the decision-making and active while carrying out the commands of father or brother or husband.

Urmila Shrestha, Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, and the only woman Secretary among the 34 of them in he government, points at this very triangle of father, brother and husband. "Those women who have supportive father or brother or husband invariably stand out."

There’s no denying that men do a have a role in woman’s climb up the social ladder - the level varying from woman to woman in different countries. But their contribution is not be-all and end-all. They can really play their role by not playing any at all. Negative role, that is. If men simply remain passive and put no any hurdles and let the women march ahead themselves, they will be doing a great service to the society and the nation.

Dr Henning Karcher, head of the United Nations in Nepal believes that it is not only men who can help the opposite sex prosper but also vice versa. He is of the view that men and women both need each other’s support for their success and advancement.

Is it that men feel threatened by the rising influence of women, however slow-paced it is? The highest-ranking official in the government in Nepal does not believe so. "I do not feel threatened. Women’s empowerment is an example of historical evolution. It will only boost the development of a nation," feels Tirthaman Shakya, the Chief Secretary.

However, Ambassador Ofstad feels there is a small percentage of men who indeed feel threatened "although there is no reason for that fear. Whatever the reason, these men do not like the success of women".

Both Dr Karcher and Chief Secretary Shakya, example of envious success stories themselves and very powerful in the policy-making in their own domains, feel there is a definite role for men vis-à-vis women’s upliftment.

All four - Secretary Shrestha, Ambassador Ofstad, Dr Karcher and Chief Secretary Shakya - do feel that events like International Women’s Day go a long way in creating awareness among both the sexes, admitting that they may not make any immediate and visible impact.

And they are unanimous that awareness about the women’s rights, the very first step, will go a long way in the women’s march to their long overdue destination. Are men ready to take this small step to facilitate the giant leap that will propel them to their equal place under the sun? Will the tortoise win again?