Research Proposal कसरी तयार पार्ने?

-  By Prof. Mana Prasad Wagely, PhD

थेसिसको प्रोपोजल लेख्ने क्रममा केही बिद्यार्थीहरुमा देखिएको तनाव स्वाभाविक हो/ यसलाई तनावको रुपमा ग्रहण नगर्न र निर्माणात्मक प्रक्रियाको रुपमा बुझ्नु उचित हुन्छ/ वास्तवमै यो कठिन कार्य हो तर जब तपाईं आफ्नो प्रोपोजलमा सफल हुनुहुन्छ तपाइंको थेसिसको झन्डै ५० प्रतिशत काम फत्ते भएको महशुस गर्नु हुनेछ/ प्रोपोजल तयार पार्दा धेरैलाई के मा रिसर्च गर्ने भन्ने नै टाउको दुखाइ हुन्छ/ जुन क्षेत्रमा आफ्नो बलियो पकड छ त्यसैलाई पकड्न सक्नु भयो भने Topic पत्ता लगाउन सजिलो हुन्छ/ यदि तपाईं माध्यमिक बिद्यालयमा बिज्ञान पढाउनु हुन्छ भने तपाइंको Topic माध्यमिक विद्यालयको बिज्ञान संग सम्बन्धित समस्यामा आधारित गराउन सके तनाव स्वाट्टै घट्न सक्छ/ त्य

सपछि कुन समस्या लिने भन्नेमा जानोस/ पाठ्यक्रम पाठ्यपुस्तक वा शिक्षण सिकाइ वा मूल्यांकन वा कक्षा व्यवस्थापन वा तपाइले महशुस गर्नु भएका अन्य कुनै समस्या/ त्यसपछि तपाइंको थेसिसले उक्त समस्यामा अनुसन्धान गरेर कस्ता कस्ता प्रश्नको उत्तर खोजेको हो बिचार गर्नुहोस/ ती प्रश्ननै तपाइंको Research question हुन्/ उदाहरणको लागि यदि तपाइँ माध्यमिक तहको बिज्ञान बिषयमा किन बिद्यार्थी बढी असफल हुन्छन भन्ने पत्ता लगाउन चाहनु हुन्छ भने तपाइको एउटा Research question " What are the reasons behind students' failure in secondary school science subject?" हुन सक्छ/ यो quantitative research को नमुना भयो/ Qualitative गर्नु हुन्छ भने त्यसैलाई अलि परिमार्जन गरेर बिज्ञान बिषय प्रति विद्यार्थीले आफ्नो धारणा कस्तो बनाएका रहेछन त भनेर "How do students perceive the learning of science in secondary schools?" भनेर अगाडि बढ्न सक्नु हुन्छ/ (क्रमस:)

Lesson 2 (How to write a topic of research?)

आज फेरी topic कै बारेमा कुरा गरौँ/ हिजो हामीले topic छान्ने बारे केही भनेका थियौं/ सकभर आफ्नो रुची र लगाव भएको टपिक छान्दा राम्रो भनेर/ अर्को एउटा उदाहरण लिउँ है/ यदि तपाईं कम साक्षर वा कम शिक्षित मानिसका समुहका बारेमा किन उनीहरु अरुको तुलनामा कम्जोर भए भन्ने अनुसन्धानमा रुची राख्नुहुन्छ भने तपाइंको topic के होला? एउटा यस्तो हुन सक्छ "Meaning of education to the marginalized group: An ethnography of Raute in Nepal" यो उदाहरण यहाँ किन ल्याइएको हो भने topic मा के के कुरा उल्लेख भए राम्रो होला भनेर हो/ जस्तो यो topic ले marginalized group को शिक्षामा एउटा ethnography गर्छु भन्छ र त्यसको location नेपाल देखाउंछ/ अर्थात मूल बिषय (marginalized group को शिक्षा ) + अनुसन्धान बिधि (ethnography) + स्थान (नेपाल)/ Topic मा यसरीनै ३ वटा कुरा प्रष्ट पार्न सके अगाडिको बाटोमा अल्झिरहनु पर्दैन/ यसैमा अरु बिधि पनि लागू गर्न सकिन्छ/ तपाईं case study पनि गर्न सक्नु हुन्छ/ यो qualitative research title को नमुना हो/ Quantitative गर्नु पर्दा topic मा Independent variable+dependent variable +method + location खुलाउँदा राम्रो/ जस्तो "Factors influencing education of the marginalized group:A survey of Raute in Nepal".

Lesson 3 (Research question)

हिजोको छलफलमा हामीले topic कसरी लेख्ने भन्ने बारे केहि भन्यौं/ बास्तवमा टपिक भनेकै तपाइंको Research Problem हो / हिजोको topic मा Ramesh Chaulagain र Kamal Gurung Smile ले quantitative research को लागि बनाउनु भएको research questions को लागि धेरै धेरै धन्यबाद/ दुबैको प्रश्नमा अनुसन्धानको दम छ/ 
Qualitative research का लागि भने बेग्लै research question बनाउनु जरुरी हुन्छ/ किनभने quantitative research ले बाहिर समाजमा जे छ त्यो नै सत्य मानेको हुन्छ भने qualitative research ले मानिसका भावना, विचार, सोचाइ फरक फरक हुने हुनाले सत्य एउटै हुन सक्दैन र फरक मान्छेका लागि सत्य पनि फरक हुन्छ भन्ने बिस्वास गर्छ/ बास्तवमा research question भनेको तपाइंले छान्नु भएको topic ले कस्तो उत्तरको अपेक्षा गर्छ र त्यसले अहिले भैरहेको ज्ञान मा के नयाँ कुरा थप्न चाहन्छ भन्ने संकेत हो / त्यसैले research question एकदम प्रष्ट, विशिष्ट, र समस्या संग प्रत्यक्ष गाँसिएको हुनु जरुरी छ/ त्यसैले हिजोको topic "Meaning of education to the marginalized group: An ethnography of Raute in Nepal" मै qualitative research को यस्तो research question हुन सक्छ/ तर यो भन्दा फरक हुनु हुँदैन भनेको चाहिं होइन है/ यो एउटा Example मात्रै हो ;
1. How do Raute people construct the meaning of "Education"?
2. How do they relate the meaning of "Education" to their cultural context?
3. What value of "Education" do they see in their daily life?अब तपाईं पनि एउटा research problem बिचार गर्नुस, त्यसैमा एउटा topic बनाऊनुस र research question लेख्ने अभ्यास गर्नुस/ संका लागे मलाइ लेखी पठाउनुस फेरी छलफल गर्न सकिन्छ/ (क्रमस:)

Lesson 4 ( Introduction Chapter)

Lesson 3 मा हामीले research questions बारे छलफल गर्यौं/ अब Introduction Chapter कसरी लेख्ने भन्नेमा छलफल गरौँ/ यो Chapter ले खास गरी तपाईंको अनुसन्धान समस्यालाई परिचय दिने काम गर्दछ/ पाठकले के थाहा पाउनु जरुरी हुन्छ भने तपाइंको अनुसन्धान को मुख्य एजेन्डा के हो (General Introduction), तपाइंले प्रयोग गर्नु भएका terminology ले के अर्थ राख्छ; topic ले भन्न खोजेको कुरा के हो; topic को संग सम्बन्धित छ; उनीहरुको अहिलेको अवस्था कस्तो छ; उनीहरुको अवस्था बारे मुलत: कस्तो कुरा उठिरहेको छ; आदि = (Background); किन तपाइंलाई त्यही अनुसन्धान गर्नु पर्यो? = (Rationale); त्यो अनुसन्धानले कस्तो knowledge को अपेक्षा गर्छ? =(Purpose and Research Questions); तपाइंले छान्नु भएको टपिक र research questions त्यस क्षेत्रको कस्तो knowledge gap बाट तानिएका हुन्? = (Statement of the Problem); तपाइंको अनुसन्धान ले उक्त टपिक अन्तर्गत कति मात्रै अध्ययन गर्न सक्छ? = (Delimitation) / Chapter को अन्तमा एउटा Summary लेख्दा राम्रो हुन्छ जसले तपाइंको Introduction Chapterमा मुख्य रुपमा छलफल भएका बिषयबस्तुलाइ सारमा उल्लेख गर्छ/ 
तपाइंले Background ५०० शब्दको, Rationale ३०० शब्दको, Purpose २ वाक्यमा , Statement of the Problem २०० शब्दमा, Research Questions ३ वटा, र Delimitation २०० शब्दमा लेख्ने प्रयास गरे पुग्छ, धेरै लामो लेख्नु जरुरी छैन/ तर एउटा कुरा के बिचार गर्नु जरुरी छ भने Literature Review दोस्रो Chapter मा लेख्ने भएता पनि, Literature Review तपाइको पहिलो काम हुन्छ/ Literature Review नगरी knowledge gap थाहा हुँदैन र यो थाहा नपाइ न त topic नै छान्न सकिन्छ, न त Statement of the Problem र research questions नै बनाउन सकिन्छ/ (क्रमस:)

Lesson 5 (Literature Review)
गएको ४ वटा खण्डमा हामीले मोटामोटी रुपमा Introduction Chapter कसरी लेख्ने भन्ने बारे कुरा गर्यौं / आज Literature Review बारे केही कुरा गरौँ/ खासगरी थेसिस लेख्नेहरुका लागि यो खण्ड एकदमै महत्वपूर्ण छ/ Literature Review बाट प्राप्त गरेकै ज्ञानको आधारमा सम्पूर्ण थेसिसमा सकारात्मक बल प्राप्त हुन्छ/ पुस्तक, जर्नल, थेसिस, शिलालेख, डायरी, नीतिगत दस्ताबेज जस्ता लेखोट; मूर्ती, तस्बीर, धार्मिक र सांस्कृतिक महत्वका बस्तुहरु जस्ता artifacts; भिडिओ, अडियो, जस्ता मिडिया र तपाईंको अनुसन्धान संग सम्बन्धित अन्य कुराहरु Literature Review का लागि सामग्री हुन सक्छन/ सबभन्दा पहिले आफ्नो थेसिससंग सम्बन्धित सामग्री पहिल्याउनु पर्ने हुन्छ र त्यसलाई राम्रो संग अध्ययन गर्नु पर्छ/ अध्ययन गर्दै जाँदा तपाइंको थेसिस संग मिल्ने कुराहरु वा तपाईंको थेसिसलाइ सहयोग पुग्ने कुराहरु नोट गर्ने गर्नु पर्छ/ नोट गर्दा दुइवटा कुरामा ध्यान दिनुहोस 
१. घत लाग्दा र साना साना बाक्यहरु हुबहु सारेर inverted coma भित्र राखी त्यो कुन स्रोतबाट झिकिएको हो पेज नम्बर सहित कोष्ठमा वा फुटनोटमा जनाउनु पर्ने हुन्छ/
२. धेरै लामा परिच्छेदहरु हुबहु सार्न मिल्दैन/ त्यस्ता परिच्छेदहरु हुबहु सारेको पाइएमा त्यसलाई plagiarism अर्थात् बौद्धिक चोरी गरेको ठहरिन्छ र तपाइंको थेसिस अस्वीकृत गरिन्छ/ त्यसैले त्यस्ता परिच्छेद आफैंले पढ्ने, अर्थ बुझ्ने अनि आफ्नै किसिमले लेख्ने गर्नु पर्दछ जसलाई paraphrasing भनिन्छ/ paraphrasing गर्दा पनि कोष्ठमा वा फुटनोट मा उक्त सामग्री कहाँ बाट प्राप्त भएको हो वा कसले लेखेको हो भन्ने कुरा उल्लेख गर्नु पर्छ/ 
अर्को lesson मा हामी Literature Review गर्दा के के गर्ने र कसरी गर्ने भन्ने बिषयमा केन्द्रित हुनेछौं/ (क्रमस:)

Lesson 6 (Literature Review continued...)

अगिल्लो पाठमा हामीले Literature Review का बारेमा परिचय लिने काम गर्यौं/ आज हामी Literature Review मा के के Review गर्ने भनेर छलफल गर्नेछौं/ खासगरी Literature Review मा ४ किसिमका Literature खोजेर Review गर्ने गरिन्छ/ ती हुन् 
१. Thematic Review: तपाइंको topic संग मेल खाने कुनै पनि बिषय बस्तु यसमा पर्दछन/ कुनै किताब, अनुसन्धानात्मक प्रकाशन, थेसिस, पिरियाडीकल्स जस्ता आफ्नो research problem र research questions संग मेल खाने (प्रत्यक्ष वा अप्रत्यक्ष) सामग्रीहरु तपाईंले Review गर्नु पर्ने हुन्छ/ 
२. Theoretical Review: खास गरी social science मा थेसिस लेख्नेहरुले कुनै न कुनै social theory को सहयोग लिने गर्छन/ यसो भनेको के हो भने तपाईं आफ्नो thesis लाइ कुन theory को आँखा बाट हेर्नु हुन्छ वा ब्याख्या गर्न चाहनु हुन्छ भन्ने हो/ जसलाई तपाइंको theoretical perspective पनि भन्ने गरिन्छ/ Theory नभई thesis बन्ने कुरै भएन किनभने थेसिस भनेकै भएका theory हरुमा नयाँ ज्ञान थप्नु हो वा नयाँ theory निर्माण गर्नु हो/ 
३. Empirical Review: यो भनेको तपाइंको thesis संग मिल्ने खालको research यस अगि अरु कसैले गरेको हुन सक्छ/ चाहे त्यो थेसिस को रुपमा होस् वा कुनै जर्नल आर्टिकल को रुपमा/ त्यो नेपालकै हुनुपर्छ भन्ने जरुरी छैन/ त्यस्ता previous research हरुले तपाइंले रोज्नु भएको अनुसन्धानको समस्याका बारेमा के भनेका रहेछन त? त्यो कुरा Literature Review मा अत्यन्तै आवस्यक ठानिन्छ/
४. Policy Review: कुनै पनि देशका आफ्ना नियम कानून हुन्छन/ तपाइंको थेसिस संग सम्बन्धित पक्षमा आफ्नो देश र अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय कानूनमा केही policy, rules and regulations तय गरिएका हुन्छन नै/ थेसिस ले त्यस्ता नियम कानूनको बारेमा तपाइंको ध्यान आकृष्ट गर्ने गर्छ/ तपाइंले आफू त्यसमा सुसूचित छु भन्ने प्रमाणको रूपमा त्यस्ता document हरु खोजी Review गर्नु पर्ने हुन्छ/
अर्को lesson मा Literature Review का लागि प्राप्त document हरु कसरी Review गर्ने भन्ने बारे छलफल गरिनेछ/ (क्रमस:)/

उच्चस्तरीय शिक्षा अयोग गठन

रुबी रौनियार

बदलिँदो परिवेश अनुसार शिक्षा क्षेत्रलाई नयाँ व्यवस्थापन गर्ने लक्ष्यसहित मन्त्रिपरिषदको शुक्रबार बसेको बैठकले उच्चस्तरीय शिक्षा अयोग गठन गरेको छ।  

शिक्षामन्त्री चित्रलेखा यादवको अध्यक्षतामा गठित १७ सदस्यीय आयोगले समग्र शिक्षा क्षेत्रमा समय र देशपरिवेश सुहाउँदो नयाँ शिक्षा नीतिका लागि सिफारिस गर्ने बताइएको छ। आयोग उपाध्यक्षमा त्रिभुवन विश्वविद्यालयका पूर्व उपकुलपति केदारभक्त माथेमा छन्। सदस्यहरुमा सुरेशराज शर्मा, तीर्थराज खनिया लगायत छन्।

शिक्षा मन्त्रालयका प्रवक्ता हरि लम्सालले मन्त्रिपरिषदले गठन गरेको उच्चस्तरीय शिक्षा आयोगले देशको आवश्यकता र मागअनुसार विद्यालयदेखि उच्च शिक्षासम्मको नयाँ नीति तय गर्नेतर्फ काम अघि बढाउने जनाए। आयोग सदस्य एवं काठमाडौं विश्वविद्यालयका पूर्व उपकुलपति सुरेशराज शर्माले सरकारले समग्र शिक्षा क्षेत्रमा नयाँ आयाम थप्ने उद्देश्यले समय र देशसुहाउँदो शिक्षा नीति ल्याउन उच्चस्तरीय शिक्षा अयोग गठन गरेको बताए। उनले अबको शिक्षा नीति सीपमूलक, प्रविधियुक्त र रोजगार सृजना गर्ने किसिमको हुनेतर्फ आयोगले जोड दिने सुनाए।

आफु पनि विज्ञानको विद्यार्थी भएको र हालको युग विज्ञान प्रविधिको युग भएकोले देशको आवश्यक्तामा आधारित प्रतिस्पर्धायुक्त उत्पादनमुलक जनशक्ति तयार पार्न तर्फ शिक्षा नीति ल्याउने पर्ने उनको भनाई छ।

देशमा ठूलो राजनिति उथल पुथल भयो। समय निकै परिवर्तन भइसक्यो तर शिक्षा निति राणाकालिननै भएकोले विश्वविद्यालयहरु बेरोजगार उत्पादन गर्ने थलो बन्दै गएको छ। तीन दशकअघि गाउघरमा शिक्षा पुगेकै थिए। राणाकालिन समयमा २ प्रतिशत जनता मात्र साक्षर थिए। तर १५ वर्ष अघि मात्र युनेस्कोको सबैकोलागि शिक्षा भन्ने अभियान चलायो। यसले नेपालमा पनि नागरिकहरुलाई अक्षर चिनाउने काम गर्यो तर रोजगार सृजना गर्ने अक्षरै चिनाउन नसकेकोक कारण ठूलो युवा जमातहरु बेरोजगार बनेको उनले जनाए।

‘गठित उच्च शिक्षा आयोगमा प्राविधिक,मेडिकलदेखि साधारण शिक्षाको समयनुकुल अध्ययन अनुसन्धान गरी देशको माग र आवश्यक्ता अनुसारको नयाँ शिक्षा नीति ल्याउन अयोगले काम गर्ने छ,'आयोग सदस्य शर्माले नागरिकसँग भने‘यसले विद्यालयदेखि विश्वविद्यालयसम्मको शिक्षा नीतिमा नयाँ आयाम थप्ने छ।'

हुनत सरकारले २०४९ र २०५५ सालतिर पनि शिक्षा अयोग गठन गरेका थिए। तर विभिन्न कारणले त्यो सक्रिय हुन नसकेको अवगत गराउँदै अबको उच्चस्तरीय आयोगले जिम्मेवारीपुर्ण आफनो कार्य गर्ने प्रतिबद्धतचा समेत जनाए। ‘हाल हाम्रो देशमा पुरुस र महिलाको शैक्षिक स्तर करिब समान हुन थालेको छ,'शिक्षाविद शर्माले नागरिकसँग भने‘तर हाम्रो शिक्षा नीति उही चार दशक पुराना छन्। आजको युग सिप,प्राविधि युक्त ब्यवस्थापन गर्न सक्ने शिक्षा नितिको आवश्यक्ता छ।'उनले थपे‘अबको शिक्षा नितिले युवाहरुको हातहातमा सिप दिएर रोजगार सृजना गर्नसक्ने किसीमो शिक्षा दिन सक्ने हुनु पर्छ।'

डिग्री र परीक्षामुखि शिक्षा नीतिको अन्त गर्न पनि नयाँ शिक्षा नितिको आवश्यक छ। जुन उच्चस्तरीय शिक्षा आयोगको जिम्मेवारी हुने उनको भनाई छ।

Source:  http://nagariknews.com/society/nation/story/35551.html 

Local Mess

Purna Bahdur Thapa/ Maheshwor Rijal 

Village Development Committees in Nepal function, in principle, as the decentralized local governance bodies working at the grassroots, which are also taken as leading development agents. But in absence of elected local bodies since 2002, VDC secretaries have been working as chairpersons with executive authority in these bodies.  But their working modalities are not people-friendly thus victimizing the very people whom they aim to serve. The prolonged absence of elected representative, abuse of public authority and misuse of development budgets has hindered the pace of development. As the VDC secretaries do not carry out their duties responsibly, there is no good governance in the local bodies. This article attempts to explore the existing scenario of corruption, and unethical behavior at VDC offices. 

Integrity refers to being honest and trustworthy. This comprises moral consciousness and loyalty to one’s own values. Local bodies need people guided by this principle but there is conspicuous lack of such people. It is obvious that VDCs have been receiving millions of budget from the government, which is increasing every year. It is VDC secretaries who are responsible for overall planning and budgeting of development activities and programs. However, in absence of elected representatives and civil servants, VDC secretaries have to work both in the capacity of people’s representatives and the managers and administrators. This has created fertile ground for corruption. Collusion among the political parties to misuse the local budget has made the situation even worse.

There is nominal development outcome despite huge money funneled for village development. Yet nobody seems to care. As VDC secretaries represent the government, they are least accountable to people. They misuse social security allowance by producing fake data of the dead and migrated people. Most graft cases are related with local bodies. Commission for Investigation and Abuse of Authority (CIAA) report shows 11,000 corruption cases related with local bodies.

Rising corruption at the local bodies has frustrated local youths. They see going abroad as the only escape from this mess. Thus corrupt officials not only corrupt the national resource, but also erode working environment for country’s youths. We are backward in development because of lack of dedicated and loyal personnel. If we cannot change the situation, we will remain backward forever. 

Government of Nepal has adopted policy of zero tolerance on corruption. But this has not been practiced on the ground.  Corruption is rampant in local bodies though there are a number of Acts and Regulations in place to discourage grafts. Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, and National Anti-corruption Strategy 2009 highlight the need for preventing corruption in the public sector.  The government has made the provision of social audit, financial audit and public hearing in the local bodies to ensure transparency and accountability.  CIAA has also been filing cases against the wrongdoers. But nothing has stopped corruption at the local level. So what should be done?

We believe that we need to develop absolute integrity and trustworthiness in local officers.

Integrity in local actors is vital. Thus it is time to use this moral tool which link with the individual belief, values and ethics as a tool to fight graft. VDC secretaries should stop supporting political parties and political parties should stop interfering in VDC work. Developing moral values alone may not be able to abolish graft in the local bodies but it will surely have positive outcomes. For the permanent solution, however, we must hold the election of the local bodies at the earliest and fill the vacuum.

Meanwhile, it is also vital to have men with integrity, self-commitment and proven dedication at the local bodies. This should be the first step towards creating a corruption-free society.  This can also be the means of making vital services available to the people in the remote areas.

 http://new.myrepublica.com/opinion/item/16798-local-mess.html#sthash.CWd105gk.dpuf  

Please Implement Semester!!

Maheshwor Rijal

Implementing the semester system for the master level courses in all its constituents’ colleges of Tribhuvan University in the Kathmandu valley has been recently cancelled due to the pressure from the students’ unions, blaming the decision was wrong as there are no adequate preparation and management regarding the physical infrastructures, the curriculum/syllabus design and the teachers’ availability.  Some says this is good to not to implement decision now as this not apt time. But, there are some circles of intellectual opposing the decision saying why the semester is a matter of headache for students’ union padlocking the campuses and threatening the college administration?  This was the great debate in academia recently.

Yes, we have been following the yearly education system except some faculties since a long decade in TU. I am not blaming the yearly based education system, but in the context of Nepal, everyone can see this is not effective since there is lack of platform for the research based learning.  This makes students only exam oriented all the time. Anyone can see, in the testing modalities of year based model of education, students go to the exam centre with piles of book and reading in the toilets.  And it is not contextual to test the students a year’s learning achievement within three/four hours of paper pencil test.  Thus, Nepali academia needs to have paradigm shift in terms of quality to get international recognition so that students would be autonous and the unemployment rate will get reduced.

Let me reflect myself here. I did my Bachelor from TU following the yearly system of education and completed the master level of study from the Kathmandu University under the semester system a year back. Then, I have found the remarkable difference in terms of teaching techniques, the guidance of the teachers, and the testing and evaluation.  I was examined every time by the tutors and busy in the research and the project works. There was no fear of examination since I was not judged only by paper pencil examination, and the more, I was evaluated based on my performance in every task assigned.  This makes me autonomous and proactive.  Thus, semester system has bundles of advantages if this is used wisely. 

Where there is a problem there is a solution also.  We need to make the academia as the centre of the excellence in the international community enhancing its quality. It’s urgent to reform the education of the varsity though there are challenges to implement the semester system as there is no appropriate preparation including the management in terms of input, process and output. We need to change the education system to make students proactive and develop learners’ autonomy.  In TU the students’ density is high and some students only appear in examination without taking classes.  For this case of students TU should lunch special package like distance or open mode of education.  For others, semester model is fine, I think.

Now, it’s time to seek the educational transformation breaking the boundary of route learning, memorization and banking modalities of education.  Only getting number in the examination is not an end, rather there is urgent need to make academia as a centre of excellence allowing research based learning so that there would be transformative and progressive changes in society. I, therefore, urge implementing semester in varsity is necessary to uplift the quality standards of education. 

The Talcha Airport: My Travel Memoir

OCT 22 -

Maheshwor Rijal 

This was an unforgettable travel experience I had in Mugu, one of the remotest places in the world. Here, life is difficult as there is no regular transportation expect the rare flight from Talcha Airport situated on the high Himalayan foothills near Rara National Park. Since this was a festive time, there were many people at the airport which is a two-hour uphill walk from Gamgadi, the district headquarters of Mugu. Many people from outside the district were also there to return to their homes. So the hotel near the airport was filled with government officers, NGO and INGO staff, teachers and local people. But it was not easy getting a ticket on the flight. You needed power and you had to pay extra over the normal airfare.

There was no system as the airlines only flew passengers they favoured. Only the people who had close connections with the airline staff would get flight permission. The others were compelled to pay a high amount as per the demand of the airline agents. It was really difficult for me to get a ticket despite several attempts. I realised that this was the kind of suffering you had to endure in a remote place where there is no transportation.

I saw a woman in her late 30s with a wrinkled face at the airport. She was suffering from uterine prolapse and had reached there after walking for three days from Kimri, the remotest village development committee in the northern part of the district. She wanted to go to Nepalgunj for her treatment, but it was impossible to get on the flight since she could not afford the extra charges and she knew nobody there. Meanwhile, I saw government officials getting tickets only hours after arriving when other people had been waiting for more than a week. Who cared for the pain of these marginalised and vulnerable people who could not get access to medical treatment?    

I finally got a ticket by paying extra. This was the best time for airline agents to earn money due to the Dashain festival rush. The airlines do not issue air tickets and boarding passes to passengers. I asked an airline agent at Talcha and he replied, “If you do not want to go, it’s your choice.” Where are the concerned authorities? It is really difficult for the people of Mugu since there is no means of transportation even if a road connecting the district headquarters was built two years ago. Despite the great challenge and struggle, I arrived at my birthplace Sindhupalchok to celebrate Dashain, and it was one unforgettable experience.

Every year, a huge amount of money is invested for the construction and repair of Talcha Airport, but its condition remains the same. I urge the government and concerned authorities to ensure a systematic mechanism and good governance to eradicate the horrendous problems there so that people’s lives could be easier.

Posted on: 2014-10-23 08:49

(published in The Kathmandu Post  http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2014/10/22/oped/postplatform--leaving-on-a-plane/268842.html) 

Letter of Concern

Dear political leaders,

I am writing to this letter of concern to you that what happening in our country in these days as the news of injustice; crime and corruption have been increasing!  The news of progress and prosperity are now being gradually decreased. Firstly, I would like to ask our honorable prime-minister, what did you do for drafting the constitution after you take oath of office and secrecy of premiership? I would not be wrong in saying that you did nothing except visiting abroad for your health checkup and recruit a person of your favor in the decision making level of government. Please, put your hand in heart and think for a while to reflect yourself.

Dear leaders, why are you still reluctant to go ahead for the constitution drafting process?  As first four years journey to draft constitution  through Constitutional Assembly (CA) was  a failure  and the great lesson already learned,  now, its second chance to you that people gave  you mandate for  constitution drafting. It's really a reprehensible reality that parliament house has been a place of earning money but not the ideal place of addressing people' mandate. Don’t you have shame to ignore mandate of people!!  Please, hurry up to make new Nepal through constitution respecting the people's mandate.

What would be frustration than this that every day we are encountering the news of crime, injustice, and corruption? Such kind of negative wash-back and catastrophic figures of Nepalese society are never appreciable for the progressive changes and transformation.  Why are political leaders now busy in advocating for the notorious criminals and gangsters?  Instead of throwing such stigma of society forever some of the comrades are doing politics keeping backside to these criminal and this is proved by recent crossfire case of Chari.

Dear leader, please do work for victims doing immediate rescue of oppressed people in Sunkosi Landslide. Hope, sympathy and courage are the need of this time, but these are lacking. You need treatment for your diseases in Europe and American hospitals while majority of oppressed remote people are fighting for a tablet of para-citamol. Have you ever realized the pain of poor women in Karnali who died of not having treatment on time? 

On a separate note, the news of violence against women has been increasing seriously in home and foreign land. Women and girls have been unsecured in family and in society.  There is no protection and security. It was shocking news to everyone that gang rapes, blame of witch, sexual harassment, domestic violence have been occurred frequently.  What would be worse than this that a woman went for work in Arabian land recently sentenced to death, without having any diplomatic correspondence from government?

Now, it’s the alarming time to act wisely for the sake of nation but not for  personal benefits. It’s the time to throw injustice, crime and corruption forever and ensure justice, equality, and good governance in the society.  Most importantly, dear leaders please do work on drafting constitution, we are here to support you, and it's time to show our dignity in the international community.

Eliminate Chhupadi Now

Maheshwor Rijal 

JUL 16 -

It was really sad to hear that recently a woman sleeping in a Chhau shed was sexually assaulted in Karkiwada village development committee of Mugu district. Women have been struggling to get rid of the Chaupadi system which requires them to live alone in a secluded shed during their menstruation. But this has not been successful due to traditional and deeply rooted patriarchal norms and values. I am puzzled how to explore this reprehensible reality of Karnali as the Supreme Court has abolished Chaupadi, and enormous attempts have been made by NGOs and INGOs to combat such a vicious practice. Living in a Chhau shed is very dangerous as there is no security, good blanket and food. What’s worse, there is a high risk of snake bites, animal attacks and rape. Women live in fear and are treated as an impure and untouchable being.

It is a matter of curiosity for me why Chaupadi still prevails in far western Nepal. I have visited a majority of village development committees in Mugu district and got an opportunity to study its society from a phenomenological and ethnographic standpoint. I have come to the conclusion that the rigid culture and mindset of the people and the domination of traditional healers are the main barriers. Consequently, eliminating Chaupadi remains one of the challenging tasks for the organisations working in the sector of women empowerment in Mugu. I have met women who want to leave this odious practice, but it is impossible to do that immediately due to the patriarchal norms and values and the restrictions set by a conservative society.

Breaking the Chaupadi system in Mugu is considered to be going against the divine. It is a matter of surprise for me. Let’s take an example of the goddesses Saraswati, Durga and Laxmi who, according to Hinduism, are supposed to be symbols of knowledge, power and prosperity respectively. I don’t think they are being ostracised and forced to live separately during their period. Then why are people still following the system? The time has come to abolish the system forever to ensure a gender-friendly society.

As women are physically week during menstruation, they need proper care. But women are obliged to do heavy work here. Where is quality life? I have found that a majority of the very poor women look older than their age with wrinkled faces. Anyone can guess what will be the condition their children. This is a serious concern and needs to be understood by their male counterparts in society. Let’s throw out the criminal-like system of Chaupadi forever. It is urgent to promote empowerment of vulnerable and marginalised women and ensure their basic rights. I urge women activists and political leaders to please do something to improve the minimum living standard of poor women in Karnali. Let’s join hands to make Karnali a Chaupadi-free zone.

Posted on: 2014-07-17 08:57

(published in Kathmandu Post http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2014/07/16/oped/postplatform--eliminate-chaupadi-now)