Health Minister meets HIV positive women,children

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KATHMANDU, March 9 : This must be the umpteenth time that people with HIV positive have narrated their tragic stories. They all hate to do that. Rosy Shrestha broke into tears as she was narrating the tragic story of her life as a drug addict and now an HIV positive patient.

"I am HIV positive….," she stopped as she couldn’t utter any other word. But though it was difficult, Rosy had to talk today. And so did her friends. Rosy and her friends, all HIV positive women were narrating their stories to the Minister of Health Sharat Singh Bhandari at an exclusive personal interaction programme held at Nakhu today.

Rosy, 23, took into drugs after getting influenced by her husband who was an intravenous drug user. Rosy, unable to cope with her family problems, went addicted and the rest has become history. She is today one of those 40,000 people living with AIDS and HIV.

Geeta Kumari, 32, from Syangja and Tara, 22, from Sindhupalchowk both contracted the deadly disease through their husbands who took them to Bombay.

Goma,23, from Khotang, unmarried and an HIV positive girl contracted the disease after she was sold to a brothel in Bombay.

"These women today spoke in front of me, so I am sure that tomorrow they can face anybody," Minister Singh said. "To wipe out the stigma attached to the disease and to raise awareness, these girls can play a big role", he added.

Minister Singh said that the girls can play a good role in association with the AIDS Committee in the Parliament under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

For the first time in their lives, these women living with HIV, saw light in their future life. "I never imagined that people would listen to us and to have the Health Minister here with us, gives a great feeling of encouragement," Goma said.

These girls are sheltered at the Karuna Bhawan a Christian missionary rehabilitation centre at Nakkhu, Lalitpur, a haven for HIV positive and drug users. Currently there are ten girls who are victims of trafficking, 4 HIV positive women, four drug users and three children living there.

The deteriorating health condition of seven-year-old HIV positive Rabin has also caught the attention of the Minister. Rabin, born fatherless and abandoned at the age of three by his mother who had returned from a brothel in Bombay, India, was taken under the wings of Karuna Bhawan. At four, the boy tested HIV positive.

And today he is developing the symptoms of AIDS. He is no more the jolly and playful boy of his age. He has stopped smiling and has lost all hopes, it seems.

Pictorial book on freed Kamaiyas released

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KATHMANDU, March 9 : Kamaiya: Slavery and Freedom in Nepal, a pictorial book highlighting the state of the freed Kamaiays or bonded labourers in five western Terai districts-Kailali, Kanchanpur, Banke, Bardia and Dang-was released here on Friday.

Sundari Devi, a former Kamaiya from Kailali district released the book published at the joint initiative of Ms-Nepal (Danish Association for International Cooperation) and the Mandala Book Point.

The book published in English and Nepali is a compilation of the stories of the former Kamaiyas and photographs on them taken by Peter Lowe. Translated by Keshav Gautam and edited by Binaya Kasaju, the book has been priced at Rs. 750 in the market.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Land Reforms and Management Ramjanam Chaudhary said the government was sensitive towards the problems of the Kamaiyas as a result of which it declared them free and is making best of its efforts now to rehabilitate them by providing them with land, house, food and training for self-employment.

Eigil Rasmussen, Director of Ms Nepal expressed confidence that the book would familiarise the gobal community about the human problems faced by the freed Kamaiyas. Releasing the book, Sundari Devi said the five katthas of land and wood for construction of houses pledged by the government for the freed Kamaiyas and their registration certificates have not been received.

Language Bill on the pipeline

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KATHMANDU, March 9 : As speakers of other languages, except the Nepali language, have not been able to use their mother tongues for any public purposes, six of the political parties are in the process of tabling a bill that would guarantee the rights of all the languages spoken in the country.

Including lawmakers Bir Bahadur Lama and Mangal Siddhi Manandhar of the main opposition party Communist Party of Nepal (UML), Narayan Man Bijukchhe of Nepal Peasants’ and Workers’ Party, Lilamani Pokharel of the United People’s Front, Buddhiman Tamang of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Pari Thapa of National People’s Front are going to table the Language Bill 2058 soon. The bill was recently registered in the Bill Section and will be tabled within two weeks, the representatives of the parties said.

The bill was drafted by a committee coordinated by senior advocate Sarbagya Ratna Tuladhar.

The bill recognizes that all the languages have the equal rights to be preserved, promoted and developed. Some languages are on the verge of extinction and so those which are surviving in a small number will have the special rights to be protected from the state.

Addressing a consultation meeting of the ‘proposed bill’ the other day, State Minister for Housing and Physical Works Sabitri Bogati Pathak said that the idea of the bill is "very progressive and deserves appreciation".

"I will fully support the bill and support to get it passed," she said.

The bill adopts three-language policy as the official languages and as the medium of instruction in schools,they are, mother language, second language and the international language.

Parliamentarian Laxmi Das Manandhar of CPN-UML said that the bill will at least force the government to realize that the present one-language system will not last for long and the recognition of the muti-lingual characteristics of the country is essential for the development of the country and its people.

Prof Manik Lal Shrestha, the chairman of Newaa National Movement, said that the makers of the Constitution of 1991 deliberately omitted the clause of equality to languages.

"Only a new law can bring justice to the speakers of hundreds of mother languages in the Himalayan Kingdom who are deprived of their basic rights of expression," Shrestha said.

"Taking in view the urgent necessity to resolve the existing language problems in the country, this language bill has been prepared and presented at the Lower House of the Paliament to execute the fundametal rights guraranteed by Article 18 (1) of the Constitution in acordance with the spirits of Article 26(2) of the state directive principles and policies," said Parashuram Tamang, the chairman of Nepal Tamang Ghedung.

How dreary life can be during curfew hours

I had been hearing and reading many news reports about the administration declaring dusk-to-dawn curfews in different parts of the country since November 26. But I had not got to know the plight of people who face these curfews every day. Recently, I got an opportunity to realise what was life like at these times.

On the last week of February, I was in Khandbari, headquarters of the eastern district of Sankhuwasava on a visit to my birthplace. This was one of the places that had been facing a dawn-to-dusk curfew for the last one-month, according to local people.

On my arrival there in Khandbari, I knew that the news I heard and read in the capital about curfews, often began as soon as the sun dissappeared behind the horizon and ended as the sun appeared, heralding the arrival of a new day, had not reflected the plight of people in those places. Nor did they depict the situation of people who had often been sandwiched between the terror of a curfew and a possible raid of Maoists at the place.

In this small municipality of Khandbari, situated in the lap of Makalu and on the head of Arun valley, the local administration used to announce a curfew through the mike, going around Khandbari and Naya Bazaar, meaning to ease the situation in their favour, but not to the comfort of local people.

It was evening. I was at home about to have my dinner. A sound came from the upper levels of my home. The source of the sound and my house was just a five-minute walk away. The sound read like "Do not keep your lights on, put the line off". The commanding voice was that of an army man who was on duty, safeguarding the local administration offices. Security personnel prohibited the use of any light during curfew hours. To my great displeasure and discomfort, I had to take my lunch in the dark. The otherwise light that made my village bright soon went dead black.

Another thing was that people had to sleep on the ground floor, that too was on the cold floor. I slept a whole ten nights on the cold floor with nostalgia instead of the comfortable bedsteads upstairs. Because security had already warned us not to sleep upstairs and on the bedsteads. Why? To avoid any casualty if security personnel started firing towards the small and quiet village that lies just at the foot of a hill, where the office of the Chief District Officer stands.

On the first night, I was not all that accustomed to the situation and even had not taken any precautions for the night. I slept without any night light with all the windows closed, feeling suffocated. In the middle of the night, I felt uncomfortable and wanted to go to the toilet. The toilet was a two-minute walk away from my home. I was in great trouble. I had to wait for the curfew to expire in order to go to the toilet; since I had a fear of being a victim of firing for violating the curfew hours. Oh! my god, it was really an odd situation. I lay on the bed and then started walking around the room, desperately waiting for the morning, just to go to toilet.

Next morning was a fresh lease on life for me. I tried to understand whether the unfavourable situation in the previous night was a part of the daily lifestyles of the locals. They said, "The situation now-a-days is a bit improved for us". They said that security in the past used to fire throughout the night as if they were targeting them. However, they were consoled with a hope that they would see better days. They were also aware that they were facing a situation that was for their own better future. The days ahead were a great relief to my neighbours and me.

The SLC students were worst hit by the curfew. They were facing the exams later this month. They could not read in the night. I can guess the results of students this year since the  had to work in the day. Their only time for studies was at night. What could I do for them but to write a few words of consolation and wish them the best of luck despite the odd situation. I pray they may be allowed to use their lights at night, at least for the exams.

During my stay there, I did not feel like I was at home, that too with my mother and father. Nor did I feel like it was my hometown, which used to be so peaceful and safe in the past. The grandfathers and mothers of my village were wishing for a faster approach to death instead of living in that suffocating environment. The youth were talking of going abroad for a livelihood. Meanwhile, I collected my luggage and prepared for my return to the capital, wishing for those curfews to be withdrawn, wishing the old folks lived longer and wishing for the SLC examinees to get a chance to put on their lights during the night.

Schools on the verge of closure

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RAMECHHAP, March 9 : In a country like ours, where the illiteracy ratio is possibly one of the highest in the world, 121 schools, just like in other districts of the country, are on the verge of closure. These schools, funded by VDCs in the district, are now running out of cash, following a slash in government channeled budgets by 50%, to VDCs throughout the country. This has virtually doomed the future of thousands of students and teachers employed in these schools, said sources at the District Education Office (DEO).

This district, inherent with 55 VDCs, has a total of 60 primary, 32 lower secondary and 29 secondary schools, which are funded by the concerned VDCs. There are also 388 other schools funded directly by the government, as revealed by statistics maintained by the DAO in this district.

According to Chitra Bahadur Karki, the Chairman of Kuvukasthali VDC, three primary and two secondary schools in the VDCs are now on the verse of closure, and the concrete buildings constructed by the VDC recently, will be converted into ‘rest houses.’

The depressed and concerned Chairpersons of the affected schools said that these institutions can not even be operated by collecting fees from students as the number of students enrolled in the schools are not that high.

After contacting Indra Bahadur Shrestha, Chief at the DAO’s office in the district, it was learnt that the DAO is unable to bail out the schools as it is, in itself, finding it difficult to even manage schools recognised by the government directly, in the district.

Customs staff relax at home

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TAPLEJUNG, March 9 : Valuable herbs and the parts of endangered animals have been smuggled to international markets for over a decade through Wolangchunggola, situated at the northern border of this district , said sources at the District Administration Office (DAO).

The nation is possibly losing huge money in revenue, as the customs office in this border region remains defunct. Government employees, paid from state funds to do a good job at the Border Administrative Office (BAO) and the Customs Office, seem to be doing nothing to earn the salary they get.

It is known that the employees at BAO and the Customs Office in the area have been staying either at home or at the headquarters of the district, Fungling, and ironically, these paid employees, deviating from their regular duties, admit these administrative faults themselves. Wolangchunggola, geographically, is a four-day trek from Fungling.

"It must have been about 12 years that the office has remained locked," says Tara Gurung, an employee at the Customs Office in Wolangchunggola, who has been enjoying government salary by relaxing at home, since a long time. He further added that the government has been paying 12 thousand rupees annually as rent for a house that is a so-called Customs Office, which has remained locked for years. "The administration at the centre is familiar with the situation down here, there is no need to carry on this matter as ‘news’ in your paper," said Gurung, talking to The Kathmandu Post.

"The Border Administration Office and the Customs Office located in Wolangchunggola area of this district are devoid of staff for a long time and even representatives of the district are active in illegal smuggling," said Krishna Prasad Poudel, Chief at the DAO in the district.

It is known that three security personnel posted at the Customs Office in the Wolangchunggola area are now working at Suketar airport of the district.

"I don’t have detailed information of things going on in the area, as I am newly posted in this district. However, I am committed to taking the right action after a proper investigation is done," said the CDO, Poudel.

Women entrepreneurs in business groove

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NUWAKOT, March 9 : Women entrepreneurs of the district have displayed their productions on the premises of the District Development Committee (DDC).

Small Women Entrepreneurs under Small Industry Development Programmes,
displayed different varieties of their productions that included hand-made bags, soap, jam, and sweets¼.

The entrepreneurs, talking to The Kathmandu Post, said, the locals and staff who gathered to attend the International Women’s Day programme bought most of the goods.

Organisers of the programme, and an Officer of the Entrepreneur Development Board, Lal Bahadur Shrestha, said, 451 women of rural and urban areas made and displayed their productions in order to live an independent life.

Shrestha further added, "the women got into this profession as they were given training for economic support and they were also granted loans."

Women’s Day celebrated nationwide

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KATHMANDU, March 9 : The 92nd International Women’s Day yesterday was celebrated nationwide by organising various programmes with the theme ‘Women’s Right and Peace for the Development of the Nation’ on Friday.

The abduction on the accuse of being witch and the dowry tradition were criticised in more than half a donzen programmes held in Dhanusha district. Rampari Devi, 49, of Banarjhula who was beaten on February 19 with the accusation of being witch, appeared in a programme jointly organised by Samaj Utthan Kendra, Nepal Trade Union Federation, Women Development Office (WDO) and Rural Development Base.

"I haven’t gone to my village since Febuary 26 fearing the next abduction," said the elder woman. Navaraj Basnet, the co-ordinator of the programme, presented his report on the event. The speakers in the programme demanded the action against the culprits of the inhuman behaviour.

Women Pressure Group and Women Strength organised a rally that walked through the Dhanusha city. Similarly, Women Development Centre organised a discussion programme on ‘Women Empowerment and Conservatism".

In remote Dolpa district, newly established WDO and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) jointly organised a programme at the premises of District Development Committee (DDC) office.

Speaking in the programme Member of Parliament Nar Bahadur Budhathoki said women themselves should come forward for their rights. Deputy Chairman of DDC, Yogendra Bahadur Shahi and other renowned personality also spoke about the issues of women in the programme.

Budhathoki also distributed prizes to the winners of different competitions held to mark the day.

According to our reporter from Nuwakot district, Women Development Office organised various programmes jointly with other NGOs. The Chief District Officer (CDO) Modraj Dotel, acting Chairperson of DDC Narayan Prasad Khatiwada along with other speakers talked in women issues in the discussion programme held in the DDC premises.

A street drama and rally against the girls trafficking were also organised along with literacy competitions in the district.

An awareness rally and disccussion programme were organised in Damauli of Tanahun district. The Chairman of DDC, Biswo Bahadur Adhikari gave away the prizes to the winners of different competitions held by WDO. The male personality who contributed for the women movemets were felicitated in the programme.

In Phidim, the headquarters of Panchthar district, the district judge Meghnath Bhattarai felicitated Kali Maya Rai of Phidim-7 and Devraj Nemwang of
Bharapa-7 for their contribution on the social and financial uplift of women. Bhattarai also gave away the prizes to the winners of inter-school essay competition. An awareness rally was also organised there.

According to our reporter from Dang district, an interaction programme was held between the journalists and women rights activists. The journalists of the district and representatives from more than two dozens of NGOs associated with women development participated in the programme chaired by Sushil Gautam, the chairman of Dang branch of Federation of Nepalese Journalists.

A 4-day long Legal Awareness Women Community Forest Workshop concluded on Friday. The workshop was participated by 45 women of the district.

In Dhading district, an interaction programme, a rally and different competitions were organised by a committee formed to celebrate the women’s day. Similarly, the women’s day was also celebrated in Bhairahawa of Rupandehi district.

Punches of emergency exerted even to alleys

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PARSA, March 9 : The four months of emergency imposed in the country has turned out to be more severe for some residents of Birgunj Sub-metropolitian City as the patrolling team of the security personnel is strict to those people littering on the streets and roadsides of the city, said the sources at the police here.

The police patrolling team has arrested six persons on Friday night alone. According to the police source, they were found using the alleys and the roads of the city for latrines. It is also known that some of the costly houses built in the city do not bear toilets.

"I didn’t build a latrine in my house with the traditional belief that discharging human excreta insilde the house is a sin, now the security is tight, we can’t go outside the house at night. This has become an acute problem," said Esmile Miyan, a resident at Birgunj Sub-metropolitian City-18. "People here, dominated by dogma, have buildings worth millions, yet they don’t have a latrine in their houses," said Uttam Adhikari, a social worker.

"These stubborn people paid no heed to our words earlier, to make a latrine for a healthy environment, now they are suffering at their own cost," said Shyam Pokhrel, the Chairman of Nepal Red Cross Society, Birgunj.

Electricity from hydel project

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DAMAULI, March 9 : Around nine hundred families in Tanahun district are enjoying electricity facilities in six VDCs of the district under the Micro-hydro electricity project, said sources at Rural Energy Development Branch (REDB),Tanahun.

Some of the VDCs to be electrified under REDB are Deurali, Baidi, Kotdurbar, Bhirkot and Raipur.

"In those areas electrified by REDEB programme, people are enjoying electricity supply at a comparatively low cost, than of the supply provided by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and the rural populace is free from using fire wood and kerosene as fuel," said Suraj Neupane, Chief at REDB, Tanahun.

According to Neupane, beneficiaries from the REDB projects just need to pay rupee one per watt for the electricity consumed. "With two projects undertaken by REDB nearing completion soon, 350 more families in the rural region will enjoy the special perks of electricity in their homes," said Neupane.

The REDB projects in rural areas of the district, are electrified with the assistance of government banks, VDCs and the volunteer labor of locals, it is learnt.