HELLO NEPAL

The Kathmandu Post 28 June 2015 MISLEADING ANNOUNCEMENT? A few days ago, the government publicly announced the completion of rescue and relief phase in the areas that were devastated by the earthquake about two months ago. I thought that it was sincere announcement and hoped that all the people in the affected areas received relief materials. But, after I read Shradha Ghale’s article (“Misguided priorities” 24 June, Page 6), I realized that I was completely wrong . What a pity it was to find out that the democratically elected government was completely sending a completely false massage to its people and the world. It is sad to know that the people with no connections to local politicians or government officials were the ones to suffer the most. The Dalits, other indigenous groups and people from remote areas were deprived of relief materials. Looking closely at these inequalities during the post-quake response has further exposed the caste, class and gender dispari...

The Himalayan Times 26 June 2015 Who to blame? It was not surprising to know that some International Non- government Organizations (INGOs) are working in Nepal after 25 April quake without having official working permission “Over 100 new INGOs operating after April 25 quake, aftershocks (THT, 23 June, Page 1) and the government does not have any clues about their working procedures and areas. What a gross negligence is it on the part of the government and concerned authorities? It was the government who had asked the international community for help soon after killer earthquake rocked the nation. The bureaucratic hurdle in getting official permission is tiresome job. So the INGOs did not bother to do so considering the necessity of their presence out in the affected area as sought by the government. If INGOs are working in the affected areas in their own ways, why does not the Social Welfare Service (WSC) bother to officially enlist them in its roster rather than mak...

The Himalayan Times 17 June 2015 Execute the past deal It was really sad to know that Badi community of Badi settlement of Balchaur of Kailali municipality is living in dire situation as reported “Neglected Badi community in a lurch” (THT, 15 June, Page 5). The government had singed an agreement with them about 7 years ago after continuously staging protest for 48 days in Kathmandu to get their demands addressed. There are about 900 people from 200 households living together in temporary shelters. Most of the male members of this community go to India for jobs leaving behind women to look after their families. I was really saddened to know that the women walk 14 kilometres everyday to nearby Chisapani bazaar to grind stones in order to earn their livelihood in spite of the availability of vehicles. Traditionally, Badi women used to be commercial sex workers in and around Nepalgunj bazaar to earn a living. To break this tradition, they had demanded the government ...