Focus on regional network to mitigate disaster hazards

Post Report

LALITPUR, Jan 14;The three-day regional workshop on Livelihood Strategies for Living with Disasters began here today urging the need for a regional network to mitigate disaster hazards applying locally available skills, technology and resources.

"There should be a regional network or institution to manage disasters as it is a cross-boarder issue," said Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandu, the programme manager of Disaster Mitigation Programme of Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG), Sri Lanka.

"The governments of the region should start dialogue on managing disasters," she said.

Representatives of ITDG from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand, governments officials in the field of disaster management in the region and donor agencies are taking part in the workshop which is expected to outline regional strategies for coping disasters locally in the region.

Ariyabandu urged the governments of the region to empower local communities by utilising locally available skills, resources and methodologies, instead of importing them from other countries.

"Resource and money alone cannot be sufficient to control disasters, so we should explore new approaches to manage disaster hazards", said Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, member of the National Planning Commission. "Now we should begin to manage disaster by local situation and what is available with the local communities".

"The impacts of disaster are more on the poor, women and the weaker section of society," Pokharel said.

Dr. K.B. Rokaya, Country Director of ITDG, Nepal, underlined the need to make people aware of people about the locally know-how techniques they are already familiar with to manage disaster hazards.

Speaking at the same programme, Dev Ratna Dhakwa, General Secretary of Nepal Red Cross Society, stressed on the long-term planning for disaster management in the region.

Mark Harvey, Engineering Advisor of DFID, Nepal, urged the governments of the region to take the problem of disaster seriously as it causes economic turmoil and political instability.

Dr. Govinda Nepal, Advisor of the ITDG, Nepal and Alok Rajouria with the Policy and Programme Development also expressed their views on the occasion.

Govt set to propose bill to materialise SAARC commitment

By Jitendra Shah

KATHMANDU, Jan 14:The government is going to propose a bill in the upcoming Winter Session of the Parliament to materialise the commitment made during the Eleventh SAARC Summit, said a senior government official.

"Even before the Summit, the government, besides preparing the draft on the bill to amend the Child Rights Act, had also prepared another draft on controlling and combating trafficking of women and controlling domestic violence," Under Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Suman Acharya, told The Kathmandu Post.

"Now the government is working on the war footing to make necessary amendments on the draft and translate it according to the spirit of the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution", said Acharya.

According to Acharya, after giving final touch to the draft within one-and a-half months, it will be presented in the Parliament as a bill in the Winter Session.

The draft, among others, has made provision that any journalist who disseminates news with the intention of character assassination of women and children will be liable to penalty ranging from Rs 10,000 to 50,000, according to Acharya.

The member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) had signed conventions on preventing and combating trafficking in women and children and another on regional arrangements for the promotion of child welfare in South Asia.

The draft has also made provision that the hearing of the case of trafficking can be carried out inside a closed room (in-camera hearing). "But the defendant can call his/her lawyer or other close persons inside the room," Acharya said. The existing laws, primarily the Human Trafficking Control Act – 2043, only allow the defendant, plaintiff and the court-sanctioned lawyers to be present inside.

As per the SAARC Declaration, for the effective implementation of the laws, the government is also going to constitute a committee consisting of representatives of the non-governmental organisations working in the field of trafficking and the police personnel.

By bringing devastating change in the existing laws, the government through the bill is also going to make provisions for more punishment to the convict. Early preparations have been made with the provisions that the punishment to the convict will range from the imprisonment of 10-15 years and a fine of Rs 50,000 to 100,000. But, the existing laws can imprison the convict for up to 20 years. If a person is caught red-handed while trafficking a girl, he/she is be liable to the imprisonment of up to 10 years and one who helps in the trafficking is liable to the imprisonment of up to 10 years.

According to a report made public by the UNICEF recently, almost 12,000 women and children from Nepal have been trafficked to different brothels of India annually.

Once the bill comes into force, all the current and fixed property acquired by the convict by the unlawful means, if proven, will be seized and half of the seized property will be given to the informant as reward. If a person repeatedly commits the same crime, he/she will be liable to half of the punishment from the second time.

But the activists working against the trafficking of women and children are not optimistic about the proper implementation of the proposed bill, even if it is endorsed. "We still doubt the proper implementation of the SAARC Convention since there are many high-profile people directly or indirectly involved in trafficking," said one of such activists who has been in the field since a long time back.

Kalyananda Tiranaga, executive director of India-based Lawyers of Human Rights, said, "The implementation of the Convention itself is very challenging. But, if the bilateral and/or multilateral treaties are agreed between the member states, the challenges can be well met."

Similarly, the Ministry, by amending the existing Child Rights Act, is also preparing to fine up to Rs 1 million and/or imprisonment of up to 10 years to a convict, if he/she is proven to be involved in the child sex abuse.

CERID marks 25th anniversary

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KATHMANDU, Jan 14:Research Centre for Educational Innovation and Development (CERID) commemorated its 25th anniversary honouring teachers here on Monday.

Giving away certificates to the teachers, Naveen Prakash Jung Shah, Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University (TU), who was also the Chairman of the function lauded the role of CERID for accomplishing commendable works from its very inception.

Around 26 primary teachers and 22 pre-primary-level teachers, who completed their two-week long training given by CERID received their certificates amidst a function held here today.

"In a country where nearly half of its people are illiterate, CERID’s efforts to undertake research in education and training teachers could be helpful for the country," he said.

Under the banner of "Teachers’ Training for Joyful Learning", CERID has been organizing teachers’ training programme in association with Educate the Children (ETC), an American-based NGO for the last 18 months. It has recently concluded its two-week-long teachers’ training workshop for primary and pre-primary teachers in the Kathmandu Valley.

"The second phase of the training is scheduled to begin on Tuesday for other groups of teachers," said Dr Kishore Shrestha of CERID. He also informed that CERID in collaboration with various NGOs including WWF and ICIMOD would organize a national level exhibition in February second week.

Speaking at the inaugural of the anniversary, Dr Hridaya Ratna Bajracharya, executive director of CERID informed that CERID has recently launched the Environment Education Forum (EEF) and action research for pre-primary and primary teachers. "We have also been providing professional support to the Basic and Primary Education Programme (BPEP II), while we are supporting a colloquium for Ph.D.," he said.

Former vice-chancellor of TU, Dr Trailokya Nath Uprety also spoke on the occasion highlighting the significance of the on-going teachers’ training.

On the occasion, it also released its annual publication "Education for Development" amidst the function that was participated by teachers and high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Artistes meet to mark Prithvi Jayanti

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KATHMANDU, Jan 14:On the auspicious occasion of the 280th Prithvi Jayanti and National Unification Day, the Artiste Association of Nepal (FAAN) today organised a meet-cum- interaction programme among different artistes from fourteen zones of Nepal.

State Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, who was also the chief guest of the programme, lauded FAAN for organizing such a kind of programme for the first time. Speaking at the programme, co-ordinator Rabindra Khadka expressed his commitment to give continuity to the programme. Khadka said," Different artistes come together to celebrate Prithvi Jayanti in the capital, but there had never been organised this type of programme to hold interaction among the artistes from within and outside the Valley. "So we decided to conduct this programme to bring all the artistes under one roof so that we can know each other and develop the feeling of weness."

Various distinguished film personalities including director/producer and president of the Film Development Board Yadav Kharel, general secretary of the programme Sidhanta Ram Joshi shared their views on the occasion.

Transport owners against odd-even number system

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 14:Twenty organisations of transport entrepreneurs today urged the government not to impose the system of odd-even number plates on alternative days in the Valley.

"It will not be acceptable for us if the government imposes the system of odd and even number-plate vehicles on alternative days in the capital," said a joint press release issued here today by the transport entrepreneurs of the Kathmandu Valley.

We showed our solidarity during the Eleventh SAARC Summit by abiding by the government request of operating odd number-plate vehicles on the odd day and even number- plate vehicles on even day, the release said. "But it will not be tolerable to us to continue the same system forever," the release said.

Among the organisations issuing the release are Balaju Microbus and Tempo Entrepreneurs’ Association, Nepal Gas Transport Entrepreneurs’ Association, Nepal Meter Tempo Entrepreneurs’ Association, Nepal Meter Taxi Entrepreneurs’ Association.

Night of Sankranti without Deuda

By Jay Bahadur Rokaya

SIMILKOT, Humla, Jan 14:The last night of the dark fortnight of the month of Poush (January) never had been so disappointed. People, regardless of age and sex, used to dance in the Deuda whole night on the eve of Maghe Sankranti. Maghe Sankranti is the date which is believe to herald the beginning of summer season as the sun approaches to the Tropic of Cancer.

Probably no one remembers this evening so deserted with no more people thronging for Deuda dance. People of these mountain district stayed at home because of the state of emergency. People cannot move at night because of the continued dusk-to-dawn curfew since the declaration of the emergency six weeks ago.

Fires were used to lit in public places and older people used to sing Deusi throughout the night with lamps on their hands. Deusi and Bhailo are played in this district during the Maghe Sankranti, not during Tihar festival. Youth used to enjoy the Deuda songs and dance. Bhailo used to be celebrated for three days.

The ritual here is to put on Tika on Poush dark moon day to end the Bhailo is started a fortnight earlier.

On the day of Maghe Sankranti people bath with cold water and visit the relatives. The blessing is also asked on the dark moon day after the worship of Laxmi, goddess of property, according to a local Sobarna Rokaya. The ritual here is to put on wheat flour on the forehead of elders by the younger.

The local people are sad as they couldn’t celebrate the festival of enjoyment according to their wish after the hardwork on field finished with storing of the crops.

The Dabali mela of Bhojpur which is running since Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah will not take place this year, according to our reporter in Bhojpur. The mela used to bring together the businessmen from Dharan, Dhankuta,
Solu, Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, Khotang, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Darjeeling of India and Tibet of China for the trade of locally produced goods such as carpets and Radipakhi.

The mela that is organized by Bhojpur Village Development Committee (VDC) annually is cancelled this year because of emergency in the country and concerns about the security, according to VDC president Bharat Tamang.

The mela initially started as Siddhipur Mela during the reign of King Prithvi Narayan Shah and became famous as Bhojpur Dabali Mela during the Rana regime. The mela is held for 15 days starting from the full moon day of Mangsir. The first day of the mela was changed to Poush 14 to mark the birthday of late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev after he was enthroned.

Investment in transport sector emphasised

RSS

HETAUDA, Jan 14:Chairman of Makawanpur District Development Committee Rameswore Rana, inaugurating the 15th annual meeting of the Narayani Transport Entrepreneurs Association here, said that the investments being made in the transport sector would not be wasted if the entrepreneurs and workers involved in this sector moved ahead by with a sense of service.

MP Lok Bahadur Thapa stressed the need for His Majesty’s Government to make improvement in the existing vehicle act in order to make the transport entrepreneurs more service-oriented.

Mayor of Hetauda Municipality Dormani Poudel said that amendments should be made in some clauses of the vehicle act.

Vice president of the association Komal Bhakta Uprety, Secretary Suman Lal Shrestha, president of the Mid-Western National Bus Entrepreneurs Association Yogendra Karmacharya, DDC member Shreechandra Sharma, central president of the Nepal Truck Entrepreneurs Association Madhav Adhikari and transport entrepreneur Ram Prasad Subedi had expressed their views at the inaugural ceremony.

The two-day annual meeting was chaired by president of the Narayani Transport Entrepreneurs Association Hira Lal Shrestha.

Maghi did not bring joy to bonded labourers

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BANKE, Jan 14:For the ex-Kamaiyas (bonded labourers) Maghi did not bring any joy this year as they had nothing to eat and no shelter to live in. Maghi is one of the greatest festivals of the Tharu community from where the Kamaiyas come from. This greatest festival just remained a ritual to them. Life of the liberated Kamaiyas has become more pathetic than they worked as the bonded labourers one-and-half-year ago.

The greatest festival observed mostly by the freed Kamaiyas in the mid- and far-western regions of the country turned gloomy this year, state the reports received here from the concerned regions.

Kamaiyas could not enjoy the flavour of the festival, as the provisions promised by the government were not fulfilled. The government has provided the Kamaiyas only with land but their need of food and shelter is not fulfilled yet.

Shantu Tharu of Banke said that he has nothing special in this Maghi as the rice received from Work for Food Programme was enough just to sustain life.

"I have been shivering whole this winter in his hut in the government provided land. Such is the fate of all most all Maghi calibrators this year."

The celebration of Maghi festival starts by taking fresh bath in the morning. Brothers present the gifts of edible items like rice, salt, pulse and cooking oil to their sisters. The day is followed by drinking and merry making. The festival is observed with full enthusiasm in the congregation of family members and dear ones. Maghi is also known as Mukti Parva or the occasion for salvation.

Maghe Sankranti observed nationwide

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 14:Thousands of Hindu devotees today observed the religious occasion of Maghe Sankranti, taking baths and praying for Hindu Gods on lakes and holy rivers throughout the country.

Maghe Sankranti, which heralds the beginning of the summer season according to oriental lunar calendar falls on the first day of the ninth month of Magh. The followers of Hindu religion across the country gather on the holy rivers to purify their bodies from various kinds of sins.

Reports from across the country, however, say that the number of such devotees taking baths in the rivers decreased and the melas, religious faires, were cancelled amid the prevailing state of emergency.

The fortnight long mela at Gaighat of Udaypur has lost its glamour on the first day, according to our reporter. The mela had neither the cultural programmes nor the entertainment games and there were quite a few traders as compared to the previous years.

The organiser of the mela, Tribeni VDC, said that major annual events had to be cancelled because the local administration refrain from providing security to such events. Hotels and lodges also wore deserted look. "Last year I earned more than Rs. 100,000 in cash during this fair but this year I have no option than to close down my business," said the proprietor of Makalu Hotel.

Meanwhile, our reporter from Sindhuli Maisthan said that there was a sharp decline in the number of devotees visiting the locally-famous temple. According to the priest of the temple, Bishnu Prasad Koirala, this year only around 200 lambs and goats were sacrificed to the temple, which is 50 per cent less than the sacrifices offered to the temple. Last year, more than 500 animals were sacrificed.

The famous Maisthan Mela of Jhapa couldn’t take place this year on the banks of the Kankai River. But a large number of devotees thronged on the river banks to take holy dips into the river, according to our reporter. The devotees were eager to return to home soon after having dips in the river.

Although the main fair was cancelled, two exhibitions were held by the District Agriculture Development Office and the District Health Office. Some of the devotees expressed their happiness because they could observe the Maghe Sankranti free of alcohol.

The fair at Barahachhetra, the confluence of three tributaries of the mighty Kosi River, in Sunsari and Rihar of Dang also saw the decrease in the number of devotees. The religious fairs in those places were observed in daytime instead of at night, according to Lok Bahadur Khatri, President of Barahachhetra Conservation Committee.