Chhaupadi
Chhaupadi is a social tradition in the western
part of Nepal for Hindu women, which prohibits them from
participating in normal family activities during a menstruation period,
as they are considered "impure". The women are kept out of the house
and have to live in a cattle shed or a makeshift hut. This period of time lasts
between ten and eleven days when an adolescent girl has her first period;
thereafter, the duration is between four and seven days each month. Childbirth also results in a ten to eleven-day
confinement.
During this
time, women are forbidden to touch men or even to enter the courtyard of their
own homes. They are barred from consuming milk, yogurt, butter, meat, and other
nutritious foods, for fear they will forever mar those goods. The women must
survive on a diet of dry foods, salt, and rice. They cannot use warm blankets
and are allowed only a small rug; most commonly, this is made of jute (also known as burlap). They are also restricted from going to school or
performing their daily functions like taking a bath and
forced to stay in the conditions of the shed. Women have died while performing
the practice, including two young women in late 2016 who died from smoke
inhalation in poorly ventilated huts.
This system
comes from the superstition of
impurity during the menstruation period.
In this superstitious logic, if a menstruating woman touches a tree, it will
never again bear fruit; if she consumes milk, the cow will not give any more
milk; if she reads a book, Saraswati the
goddess of education will become angry; if she touches a man, he will be ill.
Chhaupadi was
outlawed by the Supreme Court of Nepal in 2005, but the tradition has been
slow to change.
Its history is said to be from religious practices where
it was believed to that Gods and Goddesses were angered at women staying in the
family house at such a time. According to religious folklore, Indra, the King
of Heaven was accused of killing a Brahmin and because of the illicit acts with
women that Indra committed during his quest to redeem his sin, for these acts
all women were said to be punished through menstruation.
In some cases
women are instructed to live in a separate area of the house, however commonly
women are forced to live in a mud hut that is completely separate to the house
and in some case hundreds of yards away. Young women growing up are told
of horror stories of how if their father’s would become possessed if they
stayed in home during their period. Indeed women are forbidden to touch cattle
or crops at such a time for fear of harming them, though they are allowed to
touch other women. If contact is made with the women then it is said that one
must be purified, and washed for example in cow urine. Conditions of the
cowsheds are horrific, subjecting women to the cold extremities, and dangerous
risk of various infectious diseases. There are often cases of women becoming
seriously ill from the cowsheds. The worst case scenarios involve suffering
from diarrheal and respiratory diseases and also malnutrition. Whilst in sheds,
the women are not able to wash or even comb their hair. In some areas, women
are not even taught or aware of the use of sanitary towels and so are forced to
bare the ‘’condemned’’ stains on their unwashed clothes. Furthermore girls are
restricted from even going to school during such a time.
Women
who have just given birth are also considered to be part of the
‘’untouchables’’ too and so are forced to live in the same conditions. At such
a vulnerable stage, the mothers and newborns are significantly compromised and
many cases of infant and maternal mortality result.
Nepali Times reported a husband whose
wife died as a result of chaupadi, in the area of Achham, Kanchha Chhetri's
wife delivered a baby with the help of his relatives and immediately afterwards
she ‘‘was whisked away to the
chaupadi shed because childbirth had made her "impure".’’ Three tortuous days later,
the new born baby had died and his wife, suffering from terrible bleeding had a
high fever, yet there was no one there to help her. Kanchha Chhetri said he was
only aware of his wife’s sickness on the fifth day; "I defied family pressure
to rush her to Nepalganj. By the time we got there over the rough roads, her
condition had worsened. She could not be saved."
Though the
premise of chaupadi pratha is arguably a religious tradition, the fall out
effects of the practice cannot be condoned by any religion or society. The
horrific treatment of young girls and women is in fact undoubtedly far from the
notions of any tradition or religion. However, as its roots and custom
are sturdily imbedded amidst the older generations, a change in practice would
and has been seen as too be too radical and away from the norm. With such
topics like puberty, especially with women, it is still often taboo and so to
question age old practices is unheard of as to do so would be disrespectful and
bring dishonour to the family. That being said Kanchha’s defiance and rejection
of chaupadi shows a definite shift of attitudes towards chaupadi from within
the community itself.
The
psychological effects are just as shocking, as the young women often live in
fear as well as physical pain and discomfort. Exposed to the dangers of assault
and sexual abuse many women are too afraid to even sleep whilst in the shed at
the risk of being attacked by men in the village. Such acts signify the
misogynistic nature of certain regions of Nepal and the constant fight that
women face. Forever repressed and even pressurised by their own mothers as well
as fathers, it seems to be a downward spiral of uneducation and subjugation of
young women by the elders of the village.
For women in
these areas their monthly menstruation subjects them to monthly imprisonment.
Pollution In Kathmandu
Katmandu, nestled among the highest
mountains in the world, had been, until fairly recently in history, free from
pollution. However, nowadays, massive pollution and eco-problems diminish the
quality of life in this once pure, lush, and fertile valley. Katmandu's air is
dusty and smoke-filled; its rivers are like open sewage, and its garbage lies
scattered everywhere like hay to be dried in the sun. The narrow streets of
Katmandu are jammed with smoke-belching three-wheelers, buses, and scooters.
Water for drinking, washing, and cleaning is scarce. With too many people and
the corresponding destruction of the surrounding forests, the rivers are drying
up, rainfall has become unpredictable, and extreme temperature fluctuations
prevail. Every year the papers report landslides, floods, and famines. Acid
rain destroys crops and buildings, while the unbreathable air causes cancer,
emphysema, and other afflictions. Moreover, air pollution contributes to such
global environmental problems as the greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion,
and loss of agricultural productivity.
In a latest finding which may not surprise many,
Kathmandu has been ranked the third most polluted city in the world, according
to Pollution Index 2016.
According to latest pollution index published by
Serbia-based research website Numbeo.com, Nepal’s Capital city sits in the
third position of the pollution ranking with a pollution index of 96.66. The
last pollution ranking published in the middle of 2015 had also placed
Kathmandu in the third position while in the beginning of 2015 Kathmandu was in
the fifth position.
The rankings are based on perceptions of visitors to the
website and includes some relevant data from World Health Organisation and
other institutions, Numbeo.com says about the pollution index. The index is an
estimation of the overall pollution in the city with the biggest weight given
to air pollution and then to water pollution.
The dismal performance in pollution index was expected as
a 2014 report of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment shows that
Kathmandu air contains 400 micrograms of particulate matter up to 10
micrometres in size per cubic metre or the PM10 is 400µg/m3. However, the
maximum limit for PM10 set by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards is
120µg/m3. Likewise, another 2014 report by Clean Energy Nepal shows that
Kathmandu air contains 260 micrograms of particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres
in size per cubic metre or the PM2.5 is 260µg/m3 against maximum limit of
40µg/m3. The air quality samples for both results were taken from Putali Sadak.
The existing situation of water pollution is equally
troubling. According to a research conducted by Bagmati Civilisation Integrated
Development Committee in October last year, water in the Bagmati River at
Minbhawan contains 0.53 milligrams of dissolved oxygen per litre or the DO is
0.53mg/l. Comparing this to the fact that any aquatic animal cannot survive in
water with less than 3mg/l shows how polluted our rivers are. Likewise,
chemical oxygen demand of water--total measurement of all chemicals in the water
that can be oxidised--at the same place is 128.44mg/l and biochemical oxygen
demand--the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological
organisms--is 68.3mg/l. The effluent standard for industries for both COD and
BOD is less than 30mg/l.
In the latest pollution index, Tetovo city of Macedonia
has been ranked the most polluted city in the world followed by Egypt’s capital
city Cairo. Other Asian cities Philippines’s capital Manila, Noida and Delhi of
India, Guangzhou of China and Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam also make the top 10.
In the Pollution Index for Country 2016, Nepal sits in
the 17th place with Egypt as the most polluted country in the
world.
Dowary System
A dowry is a transfer of parental property at
the marriage of a daughter. Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower. While bride price or bride service is
a payment by the groom or his family to the bride's parents, dowry is the
wealth transferred from the bride's family to the groom or his family,
ostensibly for the bride. Similarly, dower is the
property settled on the bride herself, by the groom at the time of marriage,
and which remains under her ownership and control.[2] Dowry is an ancient custom, and its existence
may well predate records of it. Dowries continue to be expected, and demanded
as a condition to accept a marriage proposal, in some parts of the world,
mainly in parts of Asia, Northern Africa and the Balkans. In some parts of the world, disputes related to
dowry sometimes result in acts of violence against women, including killings and acid attacks. The custom of dowry is most common in cultures that
are strongly patrilineal and
that expect women to reside with or near their husband's family (patrilocality). Dowries
have a long history in Europe, South Asia, Africa and other parts of the world.
The practice of dowry is common in Nepal, and dowry-related violence is
increasingly becoming a problem. As a result, the dowry system has been banned
in Nepal. Despite the laws, the violent incidents continue, under a general
perception of impunity. Nepali people of
the Madhesi society still
freely welcome dowry as a right to the groom's side. Even highly educated
people living in the Terai of Nepal accept dowry without any
second thoughts. Parents have thus started dreading the birth of daughters in
the family, going as far as determining the sex of fetuses in order to abort daughters. Many
deaths have also been caused by not giving dowry to the groom's side. Dowry
system, however, is not practiced by Non-Hindu people or Indigenous people.
In Nepal, the
practice of dowry is closely related to social prestige; and dowry violence is
especially prevalent in the Terai belt. In 2009, Nepal enacted the Social
Customs and Practices Act outlawing dowry; however, there have been no known
cases of enforcement.
Many daughters in law and wives are physically and
mentally tortured due to the lack of dowry. This system had made fun of
equality of women. Nowadays, marriage is supposed as lottery of making money.
It is harmful for society because the bridegroom’s side openly demands the
dowry before arranging marriage. People will give priority to give birth of
baby body due to the passion of dowry which increases gender inequality . we
also read news on online newspaper and Tvs that many girls are died because of
insufficient dowry by girls side.
To solve this dowry system public awareness should be
raised through different means of communication to change the attitude of
people. Parents should be incourage to invest money on girls study not in dowry
for them. The Dowry prohibition Act should be implemented strickly which helps
to Stop Dowry system in Madesh and all over the Nepal.
Native Technology In
Nepal
Nepal, in terms of
indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK), is considered as one
of the richest, due to its geographical diversities and many ethnic
communities.
All of these communities have some kind of traditional knowledge
associated with their life from time immemorial. Indigenous
peoples have contributed their wisdom on sound use of natural
resources, conservation,
and restoration. But, none of the national policies in Nepal
has emphasised the documentation and study of indigenous knowledge
and issues. Indigenous technical knowledge refers to the art
of using natural resources, and is passed on from generation to
generation. ITK
practices are farmer-friendly, socially accepted, economic,
environmentally sound, and suited to the specific local and
environmental conditions. Despite their importance, ITK
practices are neglected and often disregarded on the pretext
of being unscientific. But, something unexplained is not necessarily
unscientific
and discarding ITK on the belief of being unscientific is not
justifiable. Indigenous practices may have some weaknesses, problems
and constraints, but it should not be forgotten that farmers
have survived in past under extreme conditions based on the local
knowledge they
possess. Modern and advanced technologies have not reached
many farmers in Nepal with the pace at which they are developed .
Indigenous soil fertility
management practices
The role of indigenous
knowledge in soil fertility management in the hill
farming of Nepal has been documented. This
study was conducted in Gulmi and Arghakhanchi
districts to identify the types of soils in the
ban land using PRA and RRA techniques. Farmers have
developed indigenous soil classification systems mainly based on features which can be sensed such as colour, texture, soil fertility and other physical properties22. Soil fertility is related to the aspect of
the land. Northern aspect is reported to
perform better for mandarin orchards.
Researchers documented indigenous TJyapoo method
of soil management and some 12 methods of
indigenous soil fertility management1. Use of
farm yard manure, green manuring, in-situ manuring
such as by keeping animals in sheds or in open
fields and also by using migratory flocks of sheep and goats, mulching, use of nitrogen fixing plants, crop
rotation, fallowing, terrace riser slicing, trapping
flood water for fertigation, burning of trash,
use of forest soils and black soils, and
burying of dead animals and mobile toilets are
recognised as indigenous soil fertility management
practices common in Nepal.
Jato (जाँतो)
is a form of grinder in the
Himalayan region of Nepal, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Bhutan, which is made of up of stone. It consists of two
round stone of which the bottom part is attached to the ground or the floor in
the house and has a big nail or wood in the centre to keep the top stone in
place while grinding. The top part however has two holes in it, one in the
middle to keep grains and the other on the side to place a handle for grinding.
The grains are ground using a circular motion with the help of the handle and the
person has to be sitting down to do the task.
Possibility of Organic farming
in Nepal
Organic
farm Nepal is a model organic
farms practice sustainable agriculture in Nepal, utilizing the modern techniques of farming in Nepal and produces verity of organic foods. We never use
chemical fertilizer and pesticides, birds and animals are feeding grains, grass
and grazing on natural pasture.
Nepal is an agriculture biased country main source of food, income and employments for the majority are agriculture about 88% populations live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for livelihood. Natural farm Nepal was established with the objective to protect the production capacity of soil and ecosystem of the planet. Our mission is to minimize the negative impact on environment, economically empowering the society and grows healthy foods through the bio-dynamic philosophy.
Agriculture farm Nepal provides farming internship opportunities with animals, fish, poultry and cash crops farm, if you are interested to know about organic farming training and techniques, get involve in Agriculture volunteer in organic farm Nepal. Sustainable agriculture is the production of food and fiber, it address many environmental, social concerns and animal welfare.
Nepal organic coffee products
There is something compelling about coffee. No matter how you look at it, you’ll find that there is something grand about the fresh aroma, and the taste of a good cup. Whether you take organic arabica coffee in the morning, or you drink it at any other time, there’s something absolutely beautiful about this drink, when it’s right. Nepali organic coffee is something that is definitely worth looking into, especially when it’s not heavily processed to the point where you no longer gain any sort of benefit. The following are just some of the benefits that come with organic coffee, especially that, which comes from Nepal, can be seen in the following ways.
A boost to the immune system
The most compelling of benefits starts with the
antioxidant content that is found within organically grown, fair trade roasts.
You’ll find that the antioxidant content of just one cup a day could in fact
boost your immune system to fight the formation of free radical mutations. Free
radicals are the building blocks of cancer cells when they mutate, but with a
healthy boost of certain nutritional foods such as organic coffee, you’ll be able to fight off the formation early
on and gain leverage in your health.
Improved brain function
Studies show that people that drink at least one cup a day found improved cognitive function, memory and more. Over time it was found to help staving off dementia and even Alzheimer’s. While this is not a “cure” it’s definitely worth noting that the studies today feature a great deal of improvement overall.
Helping the environment
Stepping away from the biological benefits for a moment, you’ll find that farming organic coffee helps improve the environment a great deal. By focusing on crop development, soil nutritional levels, and improving the overall harvest of beans grown to specific standards, there is less detriment to the planet. This sustainability lends itself credence to reducing the carbon footprint of the industry as a whole.
Of course there’s benefits to this that transcend the above, including the caffeine boost that most people seek. Organic options not only improve workflow, they do so with a good taste, and a caffeine boost that has other fringe benefits as well. If you have yet to try this option, consider looking into it, as it will change the way you see coffee forever.
चुरेको गिट्टी , बालुवा
करिव चार करोड वर्ष पहिले हिमालयको उत्पत्तिको क्रममा नदीजन्य पदार्थहरु थुप्रिएर बनेको सबैभन्दा कान्छो पहाड नै चुरे श्रृंखला हो । पश्चिममा पाकिस्तानको इन्डस नदी देखि पूर्वमा भारतको ब्रम्हपुत्र नदी सम्म फैलिएको चुरे श्रृंखला शिवालिकको नामबाट पनि चिनिन्छ । नेपालमा पुर्व इलामदेखि पश्चिम कन्चनपुरसम्म ३६ वटा जिल्लाहरुमा फैलिएको र कुल भू–भागको १२.७८ प्रतिशत चुरे क्षेत्रमा पर्दछ । अधिकांश ठाउँमा तराईको भू–भाग सकिएर माथि उठेको भू–भाग तथा महाभारत क्षेत्रको भू–भागबाट ओर्लिंदा भेटिने अन्तिम पहाडका रुपमा चुरे पहाड रहेको छ । सामान्यतया पूर्ण रुपमा नखाँदिएको खुकुलो पत्रे चट्टान भएको र महाभारतबाट बग्ने नदीहरु यही चुरे क्षेत्र भई तराईतर्फ बग्ने हुँदा प्राकृतिक रुपले यो क्षेत्र अत्यन्त संवेदनशील रहेको छ ।
सरकारले गिट्टी, ढुंगा र बालुवालगायतको निर्माण सामग्री भारत निकासी फुकुवा गर्न जुन किसिमको तयारी गरेको छ, त्यसले चुरेको विनाशलाई बढाइदिने भएको छ । क्रसर, गिट्टी, ढुंगा र बालुवा व्यवसायीको प्रभावमा परेर चुरे क्षेत्रबाटै उत्खनन गरी नदीजन्य पदार्थ निकासी फुकुवा गर्ने अन्तिम गृहकार्य हुनु चिन्ताको विषय हो । त्यसो त विगतमा सरकारले चुरे क्षेत्रको अत्यधिक दोहन भएको भन्दै २०७१ साउनदेखि गिट्टी, ढुंगा र बालुवालगायत निर्माण सामग्री निकासी रोकेको थियो । अहिले पनि वातावरण मन्त्रालयले यस किसिमको निकासी नियन्त्रण फुकुवा गर्न नहुने अडान राख्दै आएको छ । तैपनि वनमन्त्री र उद्योगमन्त्रीसहित प्रधानमन्त्री स्वयंले यसअघिको निर्णय उल्टयाउन चाहेको भन्ने जुन समाचार सार्वजनिक भएको छ, यस्तो अवस्था आउनु विडम्बनापूर्ण छ ।
वातावरण मन्त्रालयले खोला–नदीको किनार, राजमार्ग, पुल, मठ मन्दिर, सम्पदा, निकुञ्ज–आरक्षलगायतको ५ सय मिटरसम्म क्रसर सञ्चालनका साथै गिट्टी, ढुंगा र बालुवा संकलन गर्न दिन नमिल्ने प्रस्ताव गरेको हो । तर, अहिले सरकारले ५० मिटर मात्र कायम गरेर नयाँ निर्णय गर्ने गृहकार्य गर्दै छ । यदि यसअनुरूप निर्णय हुने हो भने चुरे क्षेत्रबाटै स्रोतको उत्खनन तथा दोहन गर्न सजिलो हुन्छ । यता कतिपय व्यवसायीले पनि मुलुकभित्र निर्माण सामग्री अभाव भएको भन्दै उद्योगमन्त्रीदेखि प्रधानमन्त्रीसम्मलाई दबाब दिएको र प्रभावमा पार्न खोजेको देखिन्छ । जब कि विगतमा यो क्षेत्रबाट निकालिएका अधिकांश गिट्टी, ढुंगा र बालुवालगायत निर्माण सामग्री देशभित्र खपत नभई सीमापारि भारततर्फ जाने गरेको तथ्य लुकेको विषय होइन । अहिले निकासी खुलाउने हो भने पनि यस्ता अधिकांश निर्माण सामग्री मुलुकबाहिर नै बाहिरिने निश्चितप्राय: छ । सीमापारि भारततर्फ ठूला भौतिक संरचना बन्दै छन्, जसका लागि ठूलो परिमाणमा यस्ता सरसामग्री आवश्यक पर्छन् । त्यसका लागि नेपालतर्फबाट जाने सामग्री सहज र सस्तो पर्न जान्छन् । सरकारले नयाँ निर्णय लिनुपूर्व यो वास्तविकतालाई राम्रोसँग बुझ्न जरुरी छ ।
विगतमा पनि यसरी ठूलो मात्रामा निर्माण सामग्री बाहिरिने गरेका कारण चुरे विनाशको समस्या देखिएको थियो, जसको नियन्त्रणका लागि राष्ट्रपति चुरे तराई मधेस संरक्षण कार्यक्रम लागू गरिएको हो । त्यसैअनुरूप तराई र चुरे क्षेत्रका ३३ जिल्लाबाट गिट्टी, ढुंगा, बालुवालगायत सामग्रीको जथाभावी उत्खनन, दोहन गर्न नपाउने व्यवस्था गरियो । त्यसका लागि सुशील कोइराला नेतृत्वको सरकारका पालामा तराई र चुरेको भूभागलाई चुरे संरक्षण क्षेत्र घोषणा गरी त्यस क्षेत्रको व्यवस्थापनका लागि राष्ट्रपति चुरे तराई मधेस संरक्षण विकास समिति पनि बनाइयो । यो समितिले समस्या पहिचान गर्दै त्यसको सम्बोधन र त्यस क्षेत्रको स्रोतसाधनको व्यवस्थापनलगायत विषयमा अध्ययन गर्यो । समितिले तयार पारेको २० वर्षे गुरुयोजना यतिखेर वन मन्त्रालयमा थन्किएको छ । सरकारले यो गुरुयोजनालाई स्वीकृत गरी त्यसअनुसार काम अघि बढाउनुपर्नेमा त्यसको विपरीत गई चुरे क्षेत्रको स्रोतसाधनको दोहन गर्ने गरी निर्णय प्रक्रिया अगाडि बढाउनु कुनै हिसाबले पनि सही हुन सक्दैन ।
वन, उद्योग र वातावरण मन्त्रालयले यससम्बन्धी प्रस्ताव मन्त्रिपरिषदमा लगिसकेका छन् । वनमन्त्री शंकर भण्डारी स्वयंको क्रसर उद्योगमा लगानी रहेको छ, जुन कुरा उनले मन्त्रिपरिषद्मा बुझाएको सम्पत्ति विवरणमा समेत उल्लेख छ । यता उद्योगमन्त्री नवीन्द्रराज जोशी पनि मुलुकभित्रै पुनर्निर्माणका लागि सामग्री अभाव भएको भन्ने व्यवसायीको एजेन्डाअनुरूप यसलाई खोल्नुपर्ने पक्षमा उभिएका छन् । यसरी समितिले गरेको अध्ययनलाई बेवास्ता गरी सरकारले जथाभावी दोहन गर्न पाउने निर्णय गर्ने हो भने चुरेको तल्लो तटीय क्षेत्रदेखि महाभारत रेन्जमा नै गम्भीर असर पर्ने विज्ञहरूको राय छ । त्यसैले पनि अहिले गिट्टी, ढुंगा र बालुवालगायतका निर्माण सामग्री भारत निकासीका लागि फुकुवा गर्नु कुनै दृष्टिले पनि उचित छैन । यसले सिमित व्यक्तिलाई त फाइदा पुग्ला तर समग्र मुलुकलाई भने यसबाट ठूलो नोक्सानी हुने पक्का छ । प्राकृतिक रूपमा बगेका खोलानालाबाट नियमित संकलनलाई प्रभावकारी बनाउँदा मात्रै पनि आन्तरिक खपतलाई पुर्याउन सकिन्छ । त्यसैले आन्तरिक खपतको निहुँमा विदेश निकासीका लागि फुकुवा गर्न लागिएको अहिलेको कदम तत्काल रोक्न जरुरी छ ।
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