Professional rearing of goats in Rupandehi

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Butwal, Oct. 16: Women groups of various Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Rupandehi district have started professional rearing of goats. Makratar VDC of the district is considered to be a suitable place for goat rearing as there is a dense forest near the area.

Women are encouraged to involve themselves in looking after the goats in the VDC. They are given two baby kids as gift. When the goats give birth to baby goats, the women have to give the baby goats to other women.

According to Laxmi Aryal, chairman of Ward Number 8 of Makratar VDC and member of Animal Management Committee, there are a total of 28 women’s groups in her VDC.

"When the members of the group sell the goats, some amount is deposited in the fund of the group. The money collected is utilised for buying goats and give them to other new members," she says.

In Makratar VDC alone, women have collected Rs. 200,000 tiltlnow.

Chairman of Friends Service Council, an NGO working in the area, Surya Bahadur Thapa said that the organisation has provided goats to 45 poor and underprivileged families in the VDC.

Thapa further said that the success of the ‘goat gift’ programme has encouraged them to expand the programme to other areas as well.

NEWSROOM CHATTER

Educate Yourself

THE private colleges have been accused of making the educational sector a huge money minting machine. To some extent, such allegations are true.

However, it is also true that the private sector educational institutions are much more efficient in providing education, which after all, is what the students go to those institutions for. One small example of them being ahead is the way private colleges have already started classes at the Bachelors’ level, whereas most government colleges are going to do the same only much later. Even if we forget the large number of students in government colleges, the frequent disruption of classes and the absenteeism of teachers, just the fact that the private college students have been able to start their classes more than two months ahead of their government college counterparts, gives them a huge advantage.

While nothing needs to be said of the clever move of the private colleges, maybe something can be done to regulate the academic schedule of the government ones. (LDT)

Let The Street Vendors Sell

BADA DASHAIN is the only festival that all Nepalese, regardless of their religious outlook and proclivity, make it a point to celebrate in their own ways. One main reason could be this festival’s inherent message: the victory of the forces of Good over those of Evil. All the world’s people, including the Nepalese, always want to see the Good defeating the Evil so that peace, love, harmony, brotherhood and development will reign on earth.

Apart from this central theme, Bada Dashain also means splurging money to buy new clothes and stock up the larders with delicious edibles for the customary feasts. While the well-to-do citizens may not be having that much of difficulty to cough up the dough to buy all these essential commodities, the rest—the vast majority—may have to make do with whatever means at their disposal to earn enough money to celebrate Dashain in a grand manner. No wonder street vendors, by their hundreds, seem to have sprouted out like mushrooms all over the city. But then, they are also having to play hide-and-seek with the metropolitan cops who don’t even hesitate to confiscate their assorted wares. Since Dashain is all Nepalese’ biggest festival, how about letting these vendors earn a honest Dashain buck by allowing them to sell their wares without any harassment? At least till the beginning of the 10-day Bada Dashain festival. City Fathers, are you hearing? (GR)

Traffic Blues

Over the past few days, Kathmanduites have had to witness the most feared traffic blues in the capital. Poor pedestrians had tough time negotiating their way with the vendors blocking more than half the pavement while the lanes and streets almost came to a standstill after the traffic was made ‘two way’ on the Shahid Gate Jamal section. This all could have been averted, if the Roads Department and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City had managed to finish the works leading Ratna Park to Bhadrakali in time.

Though this is not the first time that entry into one or the other road in Kathmandu is barred just because they are being repaired. Even the people travelling in sleek cars find it very difficult to traverse the potholed roads. The two wheelers seem to be more prone to risks. Isn’t it time the concerned guys realised the inconveniences of the general public? A prayer: Save us from the traffic blues! (ASR)

No Difference

It’s Dashain and time for everyone besides the vegetarians to have eye for having mouthfuls of meat and possibly washed down with wine. Well, there’s cards anyway. That’s the charm for many. But with all the financial troubles that people are facing it’s not an easy task to go all the way in satisfying oneself and one’s family. Another danger that is lurking round the corner is that the goats have been afflicted with the foot and mouth disease. That scare is enough to make everyone wary. Though it has been said that such goats coming into the valley are being vaccinated. But, how effective are the vaccines? God knows. Yet, the Nepalese people are so tough that drinking water from iron drum too doesn’t affect them. So what will the meat of a goat suffering from any disease do. And mind you, we eat meat that is not certified by any health official. Now enjoy yourself whether it’s a diseased animal or not. Of course, on your own risk. (PNK)

Roar & Whimper

The issue of screening the fake certificates often hits the headlines of different newspapers and magazines published from various parts of the country. With the media raising voices regarding the issue frequently, at least the lawmakers and the concerned officials have come to realise how serious the problem is in the country. Consequently, the issue seems to have received importance even in the parliament. There is no doubt that the problem of fake certificates is a serious one as an overwhelming number of fake certificate holders are said to be engaged not only in the teaching but also in the bureaucracy and corporations. Many probe committees are reported to have been formed to screen the academic certificates of teachers in several districts. But necessary action has yet to be taken against the guilty . It is also a fact that the domination of the ‘fakes’ in the decision-making level and teaching profession may be responsible for the various anomalies like rampant corruption, delay, inefficiency in the government offices and the deteriorating condition of the education sector. It’s time to uproot the ‘national’ problem to avoid further harm to the nation? (BMD)

Miserable Scene

THE sun was shining on their faces. Nothing seemed to deter them from continuing with their sleep. The street children were lying in a row under a shelter in Gaushala, probably made for commuters to keep themselves away from the rain and the sun. The unkempt appearance of the children in their early teens seemed to give a feeling of distress to any passerby going down Gaushala. Where are their parents? Why did they desert them? What will become of their future? These are the kinds of questions that often sprout in the minds of the onlookers. It is disheartening that children who should be going to school have been forced to the streets to live an uncertain life. If only the child rights groups could take heed of the deplorable state of the urchins, their advocacy campaign would certainly sound convincing. (AM)

Exemplary Example ?

Looking at our MPs’ track record of even taking allowances while they became proud fathers, the PAC members’ decision to keep themselves away from special Dashain allowances has surprised each and every of us. More interestingly, it has put their fellow MPs who have already drawn the Dashain allowances into a dilemma: whether to return the allowances or not. Evidences are aplenty that our MPs are not very generous and are two steps ahead when it comes to collecting their benefits. Though it seems a great gesture but nevertheless ignites suspicion that why our MPs did not take allowances meant for the Dashain expenses. Do they already have enough money or have they started following austerity measures? The rejection of Dashain allowances, Yours Truly thinks, was not a very praiseworthy action from our MPs. For me, the most exemplary thing for our MPs would be that their names must not be associated with the corruption cases that sprout every now and then in the country. (NU)

Noisy Books

GOOD books come silently and gently. But, not-so-good ones come with a sound and fury. They make headlines regarding their release. Important personalities are invited to launch them. Many other people are called to attend the Lokarpan Samaroha where complimentary copies of the publication are distributed, plus tea and snacks served. One feels really flattered to be treated so, until one turns pages of the book concerned. Why so much about such a trivial thing? You tend to wonder. No wonder then these ‘newsmaker’ books are hardly picked up by reputed papers for reviews.

Great books are judged not in terms quality paper, the noise of their coming nor the thickness of the volume. In Baconian terms books with hullabaloo of ceremonial release are of the class that is only to be tasted. Books that need to be chewed and digested come very silently indeed. (BT)

Harsh Reality

HUMANITY takes the name of Florence Nightingale to denote devotion, hard work and sincerity. She was known as ‘lady with the lamp’ as she served patients throughout the night with a lamp in her hands. But, can we expect Florence Nightingale’s merits in the present day nurses? Of course not.

Recently, this scribe had to visit a government run maternity hospital. Naturally, this hurried and worried scribe had to first encounter the nurses for the inquiry and treatment of his patient. The ladies in the white saris remained tight-lipped and hardly responded to the patients and visitors. Even if they replied, it seemed, their speech cost high. The inquirers were shocked with their callous and unfeeling retorts. When the patients screamed due to the unbearable agonies, they chided and even sometimes beat them. One victim revealed this shocking truth to this scribe. When you learn about this, your perceptions about women as delicate, sentimental and lovable beings will disappear forever from your minds. (RRS)

Much Ado…

INDIA is making fuss over the so-called ‘surge’ created by Nepalese exports, thereby damaging the Indian industries. Figures show that Nepal’s trade deficit with India is mounting with no signs to come to a balance. India has an incomparably vaster population and corresponding industrial estates than Nepal does. Therefore, Nepalese export to India is just like a drop in the ocean whereas a drop from India can inundate Nepal. On such a background, isn’t it ridiculous to think that Nepalese goods are a threat to Indian industries? (GB)

Interest Prevails

Among various things that have flourished after the restoration of multiparty system in the country is formation of governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Almost everyday, dozens of organizations get registered, but nobody knows what these mushrooming organizations are for. Recently, a group of journalists had raised an issue about the need for a high level commission for media. Well, forming a commission is not a problem at all.

Has anybody ever thought about the real need of such a commission? In fact, there are number of governmental and non-governmental organizations to look after the Nepalese press, then what is the need for a high level commission. Does formation of commission and organizations help boost the quality of our journalism? Of course not. It just serves the interest of certain people from certain sectors. (RKC)

Old Habits Die Hard

IT was with good intention that the government had introduced the two-day off in a week nearly two years back. Office hours had been fixed from nine to five, instead of ten to five, so that the working hours would be the same. However, the working schedule is hardly followed in most of the government offices.

If you do not believe, just visit any government office at nine in the morning. To your surprise, you will not see anybody in the office until ten or so, except the gatekeeper. Even if somebody happens to be in office on time, he/she will not start work before they finish their nonsense lengthy chats with chums. They do not hesitate to ask you to come after ten if you request them to forward your files. Old habits die hard. Don’t you think so, dear readers? (KPS)