Saturday, February 28, 2015
“Migration gains”, written by Moheindu Chemjong, JMDI Focal Point for Nepal
Dec 22, 2014
JMDI Focus area:
Migration and Development – General
Country:
Nepal
The 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit recently held in Kathmandu saw the eight heads of state agree to collaborate on migration management. Likewise, the Government of Nepal (GoN) recently launched the first national report on the status of the Labor Migration for Foreign Employment from Nepal 2013-2014. These recent important examples prove that the management of labor migration in Nepal is commanding the attention of policymakers and prompting dialogues for multi-stakeholder cooperation to address the many facets of labor migration.
Migration in Nepal has a long history with an outflow of migration to the neighboring India up to the mid-1980s, and dates back to more than 300 years ago. Fast forward to the 1990s which was marked by the restoration of democracy and where the democratically elected government brought about economic liberalization which coincided with the demand for industrial workers in the Middle East, creating massive opportunities for Nepali labor migrants. Economic globalization has also added to the internationalization of the labor markets and Nepal was not unaffected.
An estimated 1,700 Nepalis leave the country every day for foreign employment and the number of Nepalis working abroad is almost two million. These numbers, however, do not include Nepali migrants who use irregular channels, through the porous border to India and those who depart to foreign countries via India. This out-migration to India, Malaysia or the Middle East has brought about multiple changes in the socio-cultural fabric of the country.
Indeed, migration has been an alternative livelihood opportunity for many Nepali households. Remittances have become an important source of Nepal’s revenues and have been instrumental in keeping current account deficit under control in spite of negative trade. Remittances are first and foremost person-to-person transactions and as such elude interventions by financial institutions and government, but still add up to almost 25 percent of the country’s GDP.
Remittances from India but also from other destinations which are transferred through informal channels are not recorded. Thanks also to remittances; the country has halved the percent of people living on less than US $1.25 a day in the last seven years, thereby contributing to the attainment of MDG 1. Besides remittances, migrants also bring home local capital, human capital and affective capital (commitment and goodwill).
Slowly rising from the ashes of the post-conflict years, Nepal is moving towards a peaceful democracy. It is hoped that the long awaited democratic and inclusive Constitution will create the condition for Nepal’s graduation from Least Developed Country to a prosperous and developing nation. The government has been making continuous efforts to develop an enabling environment to accelerate development in partnership with private, corporate and non-governmental actors. But challenges abound. Political stability and a Constitution will hopefully allow the country to move out of energy crisis, reverse the flight of capital, lack of employment opportunities, double-digit inflation, lack of connectivity and so forth, made all the more difficult by the country’s tricky geo-politics.
Yes, remittances played an important role in securing the livelihoods during and in the post-conflict period, but they are only one side of the story; migrants also produce wealth, ideas and social capital. According to Dilip Ratha of World Bank, “Migration alone cannot bring about development and where political and economic reforms are absent; remittances are more likely to lead to inflation and greater inequality than a positive change.”
At the global levels, migration and its relation to development are becoming increasingly important. The first UN High Level Dialogue in 2006 firmly established the Migration and Development (M and D) agenda leading to the creation of the Global Forum on M and D and this debate will continue to gain prominence in upcoming years.
In Nepal’s case, the government has made efforts to improve labor migration processes including the enforcement of the Foreign Employment Act, 2007 and its Regulations as well as the establishment of the Foreign Employment Promotion Board and the Foreign Employment tribunal, the establishment of the Labor Desk at the TIA and the recruitment of the Labor Attaches for Nepali Embassies and Consular Offices. Similarly, the Labor Bank and Labor Village which are in the pipeline are significant moves to creating favorable environment in utilizing earned capital, acquired know-how and experiences for Nepal’s economic development.
There is not enough empirical research on impact of migration on development in Nepal. The Foreign Employment Act 2007 stresses that the returnee migrants be recognized as partners for national development and poverty reduction through the utilization of their skills and saving including the creation of employment and other re-integration opportunities. The need to incorporate migration in sectoral policies is an ever-growing priority. Given that migration is here to stay and since the deadline for the country to graduate from a LDC to a developing country by 2022 is fast approaching, the time has come to integrate M and D concerns into the legislation, policies and programs at the local as well as the national levels.
It is high time for the denizens of the country, the policymakers, the government, the civil society and the development partners to make concerted efforts on harnessing the potentials of returnees as well as the diaspora! Among many efforts, the Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI), a global initiative running in eight countries around the world including Nepal, is a realization that efforts need to be made to maximize beneficial impacts of migration on development!
This Op-ed entitled “Migration gains” by Moheindu Chemjong, JMDI Focal Point in Nepal, was initially published in My Republica here: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=88861
Kantipur 2071
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मोहेन्दुको डायरी
काठमाडौं , फाल्गुन १० - डायरी लेखन आफैंमा कला हो । यो समयको साक्षी र सिर्जनात्मक लेखनका लागि ऊर्जा र स्रोत पनि हो । मोहेन्दु चेम्जोङ स्कुले जीवनदेखि नै साहित्यकी असल पाठक भएकै नाताले आफ्नो डायरीमा थुप्रै विषय टिप्दै आएकी थिइन् । उनले यस्तै गुनिला कुरालाई पुस्तकाकारमा हालै सार्वजनिक गरेकी छन् । 'विज्डम पर्ल्स' अंग्रेजी पुस्तकमा विश्वका विख्यात चिन्तक, लेखक, दार्शनिक, कलाकार र राजनीतिज्ञका दिव्यवाणी र रोचक प्रसंग छन् । पुस्तकमा मोहेन्दुले बनाएका चित्र र प्राकृतिक दृश्यका तस्बिर पनि समेटिएका छन् । विभिन्न किताब, पत्रिका, पर्चा, ब्रोसर, बुकलेटबाट लिइएका मनोहारी उद्गार तथा जीवनोपयोगी प्रसंग छन् ।
समयको चक्र पल्टाउन सके...
kbs — Mon, 08/11/2008 - 18:08
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सामाजिक कथा
मोहेन्दु चेम्जोङ
नेपाल साप्ताहिक
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हजारौ वस्तुहरूले मलाई उसको सम्झना गराउछन् । उज्यालो अनुहार, सुन्तला रङ, बिहानको समय, सागको तरकारी, धेरै अग्ला मानिसहरू, राम्रो हस्तलेखन, पानी परेपछि भिजेको जमिन, बास्केटबल, साझको मन्द हावा, गन्स एन रोजेस, यूटूका गीतहरू खासगरी, 'वीथ वा वीदआउट यू' । धेरै वर्षछि भए पनि असहनीय पीडा छ र घाउहरू अझै आलो छन् ।
सुन्दर सा“झपखको समयमा मेरो मनमा उन्माद छाएको छ । मेरो मनस्िथतिमा हल्का खालको चञ्चलपन आएको छ । मनलाई ताजा पार्ने ग्रीष्म ऋतुको मन्द हावासगै रेडियोमा बजिरहेको छ, वीथ वा वीदआउट यू । साधारणतया मलाई बोनोको विश्वस्तरीय सङ्गीत मन पर्छ किनभने उनले आफूलाई धेरै मानवीय सेवामा समर्पित गरेका छन् । बोनोसग सुनको मुटु छ र हिमालयको जीवनमा उनी एक जना ठूला नायक पनि हुन् । उसले बोनोको जीवनलाई अनुसरण गरेको थियो । हाल ऊ धेरै टाढा गएको छ र मैले उसको सम्झनालाई आफ् नो हृदयमा राखेकी छु । अहिले बगै“चामा आराम गररिहदा मलाई थाहा छैन- बोनोलाई धन्यवाद दिउ कि हिमालयमाथि बर्सर्ूू मैले समयको महत्त्वलाई बुझिन, जबसम्म हिमालय मस“ग थियो । हाम्रो अन्तिम भेट एउटा पाचतारे होटलमा चार वर्षघि भएको थियो । ऊ सधैजस्तो अति सुन्दर, राम्रो सुहाएको लेभिज, कालो र्सट र र्फलस्केम जुत्तामा । हाम्रो गफ कुनै असामान्य थिएन । मलाई थाहा छ, त्यो गर्मी दिनलाई सुहाउदो मैले फूलहरू भएको हल्का रातो ड्रेस र यार्डली सुगन्ध लगाएकी थिए । साझ पर्नासाथ मलाई मेरो काकाको छोराको जन्मदिनको पार्टर्ीी दौडिनुपर्यो । मैले बिदा लिनुअघि उसले मलाई भाग्यले साथ दिए फेर िभेटौ“ला भन्यो । मैले त्यो कुरालाई हासेर उडाइदिए । तर, उसले ती शब्द भनिरहदा उसको खैरो आखामा एक किसिमको भयानक गम्भीरता झल्केको थियो । मैले उसको कुरालाई स्वीकार्न डराए र खासै वास्ता पनि गरनि । तर, त्यही रात हिमालयले त्यस्तो कुरा गर्दा मेरो मनमा चिसो पसेको कुरा मैले मेरो केटी साथीलाई भन“े । हामीले त्यस कुरालाई अति संवेदनशील पायौ ।
केही महिनापछि म देशबाहिर लाग“े । मैले उसको एकचोटि भेट्ने अनुरोधलाई स्वीकारनि । मेरो अति व्यस्तताले मैले हिमालयलाई आफू हि“ड्ने बेलामा छोटो फोन गरे“ । उसले मलाई पत्र लेख्नु भन्यो र मैले उसलाई आफ्नो ख्याल राख्न भने ।
तीनमहिने विदेश बसाइमा मैले विदेशी संस्कृतिबाट धक्का खा“दै आफूलाई व्यवस्िथत गर्नुपर्ने थियो । आफूलाई व्यस्त राख्ने क्रममा म बाहिरबाट केही स्वार्थी भए पनि भित्रबाट उस्तै थिए । हो, मलाई उसको सम्झना बेलाबेलामा आइराख्थ्यो तर मलाई सधै“ गृहकार्य गर्नुपर्ने, अर्को पेपर पेस गर्नका लागि तयारी गर्नुपर्ने र नया जर्नल पढ्नुपर्ने बाध्यता थियो । मैले कहिल्यै पनि फोन, मेल तथा आफ्नो साथीलाई सम्भिmन कार्ड पठाइन“ । केही समयपछि, भोलि अवश्य, यो सेमेस्टरपछि, योपछि, त्योपछि भने पनि मैले यसमा कुनै कार्य गर्न सकिन“ ।
मेरो पहिलो सेमेस्टरको चौथो महिनामा मेरो साथीले रु“दै फोन गरेर हिमालय मरसिकेको सुनाई । मैले विश्वास गर्नै नसकी एक शब्द पनि नबोली फोन राखिदिए“ । यो हुनै सक्दैन । हिमालय मर्न सक्दैन । अर्कै कोही होला । यो झूटो हल्ला मात्र होला । धेरै समयपछि म होसमा आए“ र मेरो दाइलाई फोन गर्दा मैले सुनेको कुरा सा“चो हो भन्ने थाहा पाए“ । त्यसपछि उसको यादमा म धेरै सातासम्म उदास भए“ । उसको त्यो विशेष मुस्कान, सधै“का लागि नफर्किने गरी उसले यो पृथ्वी छाडेछ । यदि मस“ग टाइम मेसिन भएको भए म लाखौ“ महासागर पार गरी उस“ग एकपल्ट कुरा गथर्ें, मात्र एकपल्ट ।
आफू २० वर्षी हु“दा सारा संसारले मलाई पर्खिरहेको सोच्थ“े र समयका बारेमा अनगिन्ती दर्शनहरू मेरालागि बनेका होइनन् जस्तो लाग्थ्यो । मस“ग सध“ै अपार समय भएको र खर्बाैं अवसरहरू भएकाले म मानिसहरूलाई प्रशंसा, माया र मेरो जीवनलाई स्र्पर्श गरेकामा धन्यवाद दिन सक्छु । मैले मेरो साथीको मृत्युको खबर पाउ“दा मेरो मस्ितष्कमा हजारौ“ पश्चात्तापका भावनाहरू आए । मैले आफूलाई धेरै सरापे“ किनभने उसलाई न त मैले एउटा फोन, न एउटा मेल लेखे“ । म धेरै खिन्न भए“ किनभने मैले उसका धेरै निमन्त्रणाहरूलाई स्वीकार्न सकिन“ । यसबाहेक विदेश हि“ड्नुभन्दा अगाडि मैले हाम्रो भेटघाटलाई अन्तिम समयमा आएर रद्द गरे“ । म कतिसम्मको अभद्र भए“, जब मैले उसलाई मिहिनेत नगरेको, मलाई राम्रोस“ग हेरचाह नगरेको र मेरो राम्रो साथी बन्न नसकेको भनी धेरै कारणहरू देखाए“ ।
अहिले मलाई के थाहा भयो भने उसलाई मैले हदैसम्म सजिलो रूपमा लिएकी रहेछु । म खेद प्रकट गर्छर्ुुक मैले उसलाई एउटा राम्रो साथी भएको भन्न सकिन“, जसको मुटुको आकार उसको नामजस्तै विशाल थियो र मेरो जिन्दगीमा आएको एउटा अति राम्रो आत्मा थियो । मैले उसको चित्त दुखाउन भनेका शब्दहरू, उसलाई पर्याप्त विश्वास नगरेको र उसलाई पर्याप्त प्रोत्साहन नगेरेकामा खेद व्यक्त गर्छर्ुु यसका साथै, एउटा साह्रै राम्रो साथी, एउटा मिल्ने सहकर्मी तथा धेरै मानिसहरूको जीवनलाई स्र्पर्श गरेकामा उसलाई मैले यथेष्ट मात्रामा आभार व्यक्त गर्न नसक्दा म दुःखी छु । मैले धेरै प्रयास गर्दा पनि आज म सक्दिन“ ।
म यहा“ धेरै भोलिहरू छैनन् भनी सोच्थे“ । मैले हिमालयलाई धन्यवाद र माफीहरू कुनै अर्को दिन उस“ग भेट भएका बेलामा भन“ुला भनी था“ती राखे“ । म एउटा गर्वित नेपाली हु“ तर एउटा योग्य नेपाली बन्ने क्रममा मैले सोचे“ कि उसले मेरो मस्ितष्क पढ्यो होला । हामी धेरै मानिसहरूलाई सजिलै लिन्छौ“ । मलाई लाग्छ कि मेरो लजालुपन र अहम्ले ठूलो मूल्य चुकायो ।
मेरो प्रशंसाका शब्दहरू त परै जाओस्, मेरो प्यारो साथी आफ्नो जीवनको २७औ“ वर्षा भारतमा एउटा दर्ुघटनामा परी एक शब्द पनि नबोली मर्यो । यदि मैले समयको घडीलाई पछि धकेल्न सके मेरो लजालुपन र अहम्लाई म आफ्नो नियन्त्रणमा राख्थे“ । मैले उसलाई ऊजस्तो भएकामा धन्यवाद दिई धेरै प्रशंसाका शब्द समय अनुसार भन्थे“ होला । उसको असफलता र उसको जीवनमा आएको उथलपुथलबारे म उसका धेरै कुरा सुन्थे“ । म उसको धेरै वास्ता गर्दै उसलाई आवश्यक परेका बेला एउटा असल साथी बन्ने प्रयास गर्थें । उसको हजारौ“ अनुरोधलाई स्वीकार्दै एउटा भरपर्दो साथी र उसलाई अति आवश्यक परेका बेलामा उचित सल्लाह दिने साथी म हुन चाहन्छु । म उसको सुखमा खुसी हुन चाहन्छु र हामी स“गै भएका बेला सम्पर्ूण्ा रूपमा उसित हुन चाहन्छु ।
मैले मृत्युलाई यति चा“डै महसुस गर्नुपर्ला भनी सोचेकी थिइन“ । जीवन यति अकथनीय हुन्छ भन्ने थाहा भएको भए म अर्कै रूपमा काम गथर्ें होला । मैले यो थाहा पाए“ कि जीवन र मृत्युको बीचमा समय निश्चित छ । हाम्रो अन्तिम समय नआउन्जेल यो बीचको समय रहस्यमय छ ।
कहिलेकाही“ मैले सोच्दा मेरा यी सोचाइहरू अर्थहीन छन् किनभने यिनीहरू तर्कसङ्गत छैनन् । म अवश्य नै मलाई धोका दिने मानिसहरूका बारेमा सोच्ने छैन । मलाई थाहा छ कि आजसम्म मैले चिनेका, माया गरेका र समय स“गै बिताएका मानिसहरूका बारेमा सोच्ने छु । मलाई जीवनले दिएको हा“सो, खुसीको समय र राम्रा चीजहरू मात्र सम्झने छु । यसको साथसाथै म ती आत्माहरूलाई सम्झने छु, जसले मेरो जीवनमा ठूलो प्रभाव र मलाई विभिन्न तरकिाले प्रेरति गरेका छन् ।
यदि म आज राती मर्ने भए, मैले जीवनमा गरेका कार्यहरूप्रति मलाई कुनै खेद छैन † तर, मैले नगरेका कामहरू, मैले नगरेका प्रयासहरू, मैले नगरेका फोन कलहरू, मैले कहिल्यै नपठाएका पत्रहरू र मेलहरू, म उपस्िथत नभएका सभाहरू, मैले नदेखेका वस्तुहरू र मैले कहिल्यै नबोलेका शब्दहरूप्रति निकै दुःखी छु । म आफूलाई धिक्कार्छर्ुुवार्थी, आत्मकेन्द्रित र अति नै होसियार भएकोमा ।
मलाई लाग्छ कि यसपछि मात्र म जीवनको अर्थ बुझ्न सक्छु होला । जीवन एउटा जीवनको समयसम्म मात्र रहन्छ । मैले केही गर्नु भनेको जीवनबाट विशेष समय पाउनु हो ।
नेपाल साप्ताहिक
अंक ३०६
kbs — Mon, 08/11/2008 - 18:08
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सामाजिक कथा
मोहेन्दु चेम्जोङ
नेपाल साप्ताहिक
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हजारौ वस्तुहरूले मलाई उसको सम्झना गराउछन् । उज्यालो अनुहार, सुन्तला रङ, बिहानको समय, सागको तरकारी, धेरै अग्ला मानिसहरू, राम्रो हस्तलेखन, पानी परेपछि भिजेको जमिन, बास्केटबल, साझको मन्द हावा, गन्स एन रोजेस, यूटूका गीतहरू खासगरी, 'वीथ वा वीदआउट यू' । धेरै वर्षछि भए पनि असहनीय पीडा छ र घाउहरू अझै आलो छन् ।
सुन्दर सा“झपखको समयमा मेरो मनमा उन्माद छाएको छ । मेरो मनस्िथतिमा हल्का खालको चञ्चलपन आएको छ । मनलाई ताजा पार्ने ग्रीष्म ऋतुको मन्द हावासगै रेडियोमा बजिरहेको छ, वीथ वा वीदआउट यू । साधारणतया मलाई बोनोको विश्वस्तरीय सङ्गीत मन पर्छ किनभने उनले आफूलाई धेरै मानवीय सेवामा समर्पित गरेका छन् । बोनोसग सुनको मुटु छ र हिमालयको जीवनमा उनी एक जना ठूला नायक पनि हुन् । उसले बोनोको जीवनलाई अनुसरण गरेको थियो । हाल ऊ धेरै टाढा गएको छ र मैले उसको सम्झनालाई आफ् नो हृदयमा राखेकी छु । अहिले बगै“चामा आराम गररिहदा मलाई थाहा छैन- बोनोलाई धन्यवाद दिउ कि हिमालयमाथि बर्सर्ूू मैले समयको महत्त्वलाई बुझिन, जबसम्म हिमालय मस“ग थियो । हाम्रो अन्तिम भेट एउटा पाचतारे होटलमा चार वर्षघि भएको थियो । ऊ सधैजस्तो अति सुन्दर, राम्रो सुहाएको लेभिज, कालो र्सट र र्फलस्केम जुत्तामा । हाम्रो गफ कुनै असामान्य थिएन । मलाई थाहा छ, त्यो गर्मी दिनलाई सुहाउदो मैले फूलहरू भएको हल्का रातो ड्रेस र यार्डली सुगन्ध लगाएकी थिए । साझ पर्नासाथ मलाई मेरो काकाको छोराको जन्मदिनको पार्टर्ीी दौडिनुपर्यो । मैले बिदा लिनुअघि उसले मलाई भाग्यले साथ दिए फेर िभेटौ“ला भन्यो । मैले त्यो कुरालाई हासेर उडाइदिए । तर, उसले ती शब्द भनिरहदा उसको खैरो आखामा एक किसिमको भयानक गम्भीरता झल्केको थियो । मैले उसको कुरालाई स्वीकार्न डराए र खासै वास्ता पनि गरनि । तर, त्यही रात हिमालयले त्यस्तो कुरा गर्दा मेरो मनमा चिसो पसेको कुरा मैले मेरो केटी साथीलाई भन“े । हामीले त्यस कुरालाई अति संवेदनशील पायौ ।
केही महिनापछि म देशबाहिर लाग“े । मैले उसको एकचोटि भेट्ने अनुरोधलाई स्वीकारनि । मेरो अति व्यस्तताले मैले हिमालयलाई आफू हि“ड्ने बेलामा छोटो फोन गरे“ । उसले मलाई पत्र लेख्नु भन्यो र मैले उसलाई आफ्नो ख्याल राख्न भने ।
तीनमहिने विदेश बसाइमा मैले विदेशी संस्कृतिबाट धक्का खा“दै आफूलाई व्यवस्िथत गर्नुपर्ने थियो । आफूलाई व्यस्त राख्ने क्रममा म बाहिरबाट केही स्वार्थी भए पनि भित्रबाट उस्तै थिए । हो, मलाई उसको सम्झना बेलाबेलामा आइराख्थ्यो तर मलाई सधै“ गृहकार्य गर्नुपर्ने, अर्को पेपर पेस गर्नका लागि तयारी गर्नुपर्ने र नया जर्नल पढ्नुपर्ने बाध्यता थियो । मैले कहिल्यै पनि फोन, मेल तथा आफ्नो साथीलाई सम्भिmन कार्ड पठाइन“ । केही समयपछि, भोलि अवश्य, यो सेमेस्टरपछि, योपछि, त्योपछि भने पनि मैले यसमा कुनै कार्य गर्न सकिन“ ।
मेरो पहिलो सेमेस्टरको चौथो महिनामा मेरो साथीले रु“दै फोन गरेर हिमालय मरसिकेको सुनाई । मैले विश्वास गर्नै नसकी एक शब्द पनि नबोली फोन राखिदिए“ । यो हुनै सक्दैन । हिमालय मर्न सक्दैन । अर्कै कोही होला । यो झूटो हल्ला मात्र होला । धेरै समयपछि म होसमा आए“ र मेरो दाइलाई फोन गर्दा मैले सुनेको कुरा सा“चो हो भन्ने थाहा पाए“ । त्यसपछि उसको यादमा म धेरै सातासम्म उदास भए“ । उसको त्यो विशेष मुस्कान, सधै“का लागि नफर्किने गरी उसले यो पृथ्वी छाडेछ । यदि मस“ग टाइम मेसिन भएको भए म लाखौ“ महासागर पार गरी उस“ग एकपल्ट कुरा गथर्ें, मात्र एकपल्ट ।
आफू २० वर्षी हु“दा सारा संसारले मलाई पर्खिरहेको सोच्थ“े र समयका बारेमा अनगिन्ती दर्शनहरू मेरालागि बनेका होइनन् जस्तो लाग्थ्यो । मस“ग सध“ै अपार समय भएको र खर्बाैं अवसरहरू भएकाले म मानिसहरूलाई प्रशंसा, माया र मेरो जीवनलाई स्र्पर्श गरेकामा धन्यवाद दिन सक्छु । मैले मेरो साथीको मृत्युको खबर पाउ“दा मेरो मस्ितष्कमा हजारौ“ पश्चात्तापका भावनाहरू आए । मैले आफूलाई धेरै सरापे“ किनभने उसलाई न त मैले एउटा फोन, न एउटा मेल लेखे“ । म धेरै खिन्न भए“ किनभने मैले उसका धेरै निमन्त्रणाहरूलाई स्वीकार्न सकिन“ । यसबाहेक विदेश हि“ड्नुभन्दा अगाडि मैले हाम्रो भेटघाटलाई अन्तिम समयमा आएर रद्द गरे“ । म कतिसम्मको अभद्र भए“, जब मैले उसलाई मिहिनेत नगरेको, मलाई राम्रोस“ग हेरचाह नगरेको र मेरो राम्रो साथी बन्न नसकेको भनी धेरै कारणहरू देखाए“ ।
अहिले मलाई के थाहा भयो भने उसलाई मैले हदैसम्म सजिलो रूपमा लिएकी रहेछु । म खेद प्रकट गर्छर्ुुक मैले उसलाई एउटा राम्रो साथी भएको भन्न सकिन“, जसको मुटुको आकार उसको नामजस्तै विशाल थियो र मेरो जिन्दगीमा आएको एउटा अति राम्रो आत्मा थियो । मैले उसको चित्त दुखाउन भनेका शब्दहरू, उसलाई पर्याप्त विश्वास नगरेको र उसलाई पर्याप्त प्रोत्साहन नगेरेकामा खेद व्यक्त गर्छर्ुु यसका साथै, एउटा साह्रै राम्रो साथी, एउटा मिल्ने सहकर्मी तथा धेरै मानिसहरूको जीवनलाई स्र्पर्श गरेकामा उसलाई मैले यथेष्ट मात्रामा आभार व्यक्त गर्न नसक्दा म दुःखी छु । मैले धेरै प्रयास गर्दा पनि आज म सक्दिन“ ।
म यहा“ धेरै भोलिहरू छैनन् भनी सोच्थे“ । मैले हिमालयलाई धन्यवाद र माफीहरू कुनै अर्को दिन उस“ग भेट भएका बेलामा भन“ुला भनी था“ती राखे“ । म एउटा गर्वित नेपाली हु“ तर एउटा योग्य नेपाली बन्ने क्रममा मैले सोचे“ कि उसले मेरो मस्ितष्क पढ्यो होला । हामी धेरै मानिसहरूलाई सजिलै लिन्छौ“ । मलाई लाग्छ कि मेरो लजालुपन र अहम्ले ठूलो मूल्य चुकायो ।
मेरो प्रशंसाका शब्दहरू त परै जाओस्, मेरो प्यारो साथी आफ्नो जीवनको २७औ“ वर्षा भारतमा एउटा दर्ुघटनामा परी एक शब्द पनि नबोली मर्यो । यदि मैले समयको घडीलाई पछि धकेल्न सके मेरो लजालुपन र अहम्लाई म आफ्नो नियन्त्रणमा राख्थे“ । मैले उसलाई ऊजस्तो भएकामा धन्यवाद दिई धेरै प्रशंसाका शब्द समय अनुसार भन्थे“ होला । उसको असफलता र उसको जीवनमा आएको उथलपुथलबारे म उसका धेरै कुरा सुन्थे“ । म उसको धेरै वास्ता गर्दै उसलाई आवश्यक परेका बेला एउटा असल साथी बन्ने प्रयास गर्थें । उसको हजारौ“ अनुरोधलाई स्वीकार्दै एउटा भरपर्दो साथी र उसलाई अति आवश्यक परेका बेलामा उचित सल्लाह दिने साथी म हुन चाहन्छु । म उसको सुखमा खुसी हुन चाहन्छु र हामी स“गै भएका बेला सम्पर्ूण्ा रूपमा उसित हुन चाहन्छु ।
मैले मृत्युलाई यति चा“डै महसुस गर्नुपर्ला भनी सोचेकी थिइन“ । जीवन यति अकथनीय हुन्छ भन्ने थाहा भएको भए म अर्कै रूपमा काम गथर्ें होला । मैले यो थाहा पाए“ कि जीवन र मृत्युको बीचमा समय निश्चित छ । हाम्रो अन्तिम समय नआउन्जेल यो बीचको समय रहस्यमय छ ।
कहिलेकाही“ मैले सोच्दा मेरा यी सोचाइहरू अर्थहीन छन् किनभने यिनीहरू तर्कसङ्गत छैनन् । म अवश्य नै मलाई धोका दिने मानिसहरूका बारेमा सोच्ने छैन । मलाई थाहा छ कि आजसम्म मैले चिनेका, माया गरेका र समय स“गै बिताएका मानिसहरूका बारेमा सोच्ने छु । मलाई जीवनले दिएको हा“सो, खुसीको समय र राम्रा चीजहरू मात्र सम्झने छु । यसको साथसाथै म ती आत्माहरूलाई सम्झने छु, जसले मेरो जीवनमा ठूलो प्रभाव र मलाई विभिन्न तरकिाले प्रेरति गरेका छन् ।
यदि म आज राती मर्ने भए, मैले जीवनमा गरेका कार्यहरूप्रति मलाई कुनै खेद छैन † तर, मैले नगरेका कामहरू, मैले नगरेका प्रयासहरू, मैले नगरेका फोन कलहरू, मैले कहिल्यै नपठाएका पत्रहरू र मेलहरू, म उपस्िथत नभएका सभाहरू, मैले नदेखेका वस्तुहरू र मैले कहिल्यै नबोलेका शब्दहरूप्रति निकै दुःखी छु । म आफूलाई धिक्कार्छर्ुुवार्थी, आत्मकेन्द्रित र अति नै होसियार भएकोमा ।
मलाई लाग्छ कि यसपछि मात्र म जीवनको अर्थ बुझ्न सक्छु होला । जीवन एउटा जीवनको समयसम्म मात्र रहन्छ । मैले केही गर्नु भनेको जीवनबाट विशेष समय पाउनु हो ।
नेपाल साप्ताहिक
अंक ३०६
Sunday, July 13, 2014
31-03-2009 Press article
Nepal: Deepa, Pushpa, Sita and Maiya
Deepa Pandey lives in Surkhet, Pushpa Chaudhary is from Kailali, Sita Thapa is in Rautahat and Maiya Mijar lives in Dhading. What they have in common is that they are all women in their mid-20s who suffered during the war and are now running small businesses to take care of their families.
This article was first published in the Nepali Times and is reproduced here with the newspaper's kind permission.
© ICRC/C. Von Toggenburg/v-p-np-e-00116
Sunamati, whose husband is missing since the war.
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Sunamati, whose husband is missing since the war.
© ICRC/C. Von Toggenburg/v-p-np-e-00116
All four women are now beneficiaries of an initiative by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Nepal Red Cross Society to help women whose livelihoods have been severely affected by the war with income-generating activities. The effort gives the women back some lost dignity by restoring household incomes so that the entire family benefits.
Under this initiative women-headed households first get an in-kind grant valued at Rs 10,000, which serves as start-up capital so the families can meet basic needs. The grant can fund livestock, small-scale farming, trade or vocational training. The beneficiaries include households of the missing and killed, disabled, children affected by war, the internally displaced and returnees. Households facing serious difficulties to meet their basic needs get priority.
Since ICRC and NRS launched the initiative in November 2006 women in 23 districts have benefited and 12 more will be added soon. Some 2,500 families, most of them women-headed households, have had help to restart their lives.
With the seed grant, Deepa started a shop in Surkhet and sits on her bed selling grocery items. She earns Rs 1,000 a month and her business is growing and can send her daughter to school. She has also got a wheelchair now and is more mobile.
Pushpa has done so well with her shop that her backers are extending her another Rs 10,000 grant. In Rautahat, Sita now has some goats and runs a shop so she can take care of her family. Maiya in Dhading bought a buffalo with her grant and took another to buy a buffalo calf. She now makes enough money to pay for her husband's medical treatment.
There are thousands of Sitas, Deepas, Pushpas and Maiyas all over Nepal. Many are widows who have the responsibility of supporting their families as well as the burdens of grief and bereavement. But these four women have shown that with very little help they can rebuild their lives and begin looking towards the future.
Moheindu Chemjong and Govinda Dahal
Nation
Explosive remnants of war
Long after the ceasefire, people continue to lose limbs
As the world prepares for states to sign the Cluster Munitions Convention in Oslo this month, Nepalis still face the threat of being maimed by unexploded mines.
In October 2006, shortly after his Bhai Tika ceremony in a village 15km from Pokhara, Ram Chandra Biswakorma, a regular 15 year-old teenager was helping friends powder some small explosives for fishing.
No sooner had they begun the process, the plastic bucket which bore the chemicals exploded. When he opened his eyes, Ram found himself in hospital, wrapped in plasters and his two legs amputated. Six other boys were injured.
Today, he is no longer the fun-loving youngster that he was. He used to be good in studies, but is now lagging behind. He worries a lot about his future and feels sad that neither he nor his friends had ever received any education on the risks posed by mines
Like a lot of mine and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) victims, Ram Chandra did not realise that he and his friends were in danger. The Maoists had formerly used their house as a storehouse for explosives and his story is repeated in the plight of many mine victims around the country.
The ten-year armed conflict has come to an end but it has left the threat of explosive remnants of war in its wake. In the first 10 months of this year alone, 58 people have been injured by mines in Nepal-most of them are children.
As part of its mandate to protect civilians from the effects of the conflict, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is working to prevent injuries, assist victims and reduce the socio-economic impact of this lethal debris on civilian populations. It provides assistance for emergency and hospital care, secondary surgery and physical rehabilitation services to the victims of conflict if they fail to get support from the government.
The ICRC is working with the Green Pastures Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre (GPH&RC) in Pokhara, where Ram Chandra has been treated. Today, he has artificial limbs and can walk to and from school even without crutches. He is catching up with school work. His aim in life is to help put an end to the stigma the disabled face in Nepal and around the globe.
As part of the ICRC's Micro Economic Initiative (MEI) project, which provides cash for income generating projects for conflict-affected people, Ram Chandra's family received Rs 10,000 in kind. This grant can fund livestock, small-scale farming, trade or vocational training. Since it was launched in 2006, approximately 3,500 families in 35 districts have benefited.
Moheindu Chemjong
Explosive remnants of war
Long after the ceasefire, people continue to lose limbs
ICRC
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In October 2006, shortly after his Bhai Tika ceremony in a village 15km from Pokhara, Ram Chandra Biswakorma, a regular 15 year-old teenager was helping friends powder some small explosives for fishing.
No sooner had they begun the process, the plastic bucket which bore the chemicals exploded. When he opened his eyes, Ram found himself in hospital, wrapped in plasters and his two legs amputated. Six other boys were injured.
Today, he is no longer the fun-loving youngster that he was. He used to be good in studies, but is now lagging behind. He worries a lot about his future and feels sad that neither he nor his friends had ever received any education on the risks posed by mines
Like a lot of mine and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) victims, Ram Chandra did not realise that he and his friends were in danger. The Maoists had formerly used their house as a storehouse for explosives and his story is repeated in the plight of many mine victims around the country.
The ten-year armed conflict has come to an end but it has left the threat of explosive remnants of war in its wake. In the first 10 months of this year alone, 58 people have been injured by mines in Nepal-most of them are children.
As part of its mandate to protect civilians from the effects of the conflict, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is working to prevent injuries, assist victims and reduce the socio-economic impact of this lethal debris on civilian populations. It provides assistance for emergency and hospital care, secondary surgery and physical rehabilitation services to the victims of conflict if they fail to get support from the government.
The ICRC is working with the Green Pastures Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre (GPH&RC) in Pokhara, where Ram Chandra has been treated. Today, he has artificial limbs and can walk to and from school even without crutches. He is catching up with school work. His aim in life is to help put an end to the stigma the disabled face in Nepal and around the globe.
As part of the ICRC's Micro Economic Initiative (MEI) project, which provides cash for income generating projects for conflict-affected people, Ram Chandra's family received Rs 10,000 in kind. This grant can fund livestock, small-scale farming, trade or vocational training. Since it was launched in 2006, approximately 3,500 families in 35 districts have benefited.
Moheindu Chemjong
Nepal: where have the missing gone?
30-08-2008 Feature
The armed conflict in Nepal between the government and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist ended following the 2006 ceasefire agreement. The ICRC in Nepal is working to clarify the fate of people missing as a result of the conflict. The ICRC’s Moheindu Chemjong reports.
©ICRC/K. Kayastha / np-e-00213
Families of the missing
Families of the missing ©ICRC/K. Kayastha / np-e-00213
The pain is not only emotional; often it can be financially crippling. The impact of this tragedy on families is manifold and long-lasting.
Ram Janaki Tharu of Rajapur, Bardiya district, is one of the hundreds of Nepalese parents whose offspring have gone missing. “No matter how difficult it is to mourn the loss of a loved one, it is even more distressing not to be able to mourn at all”, she sobs. She clearly remembers the night her son was taken away. Since then, she has knocked on the doors of many authorities and spent her entire life savings on a fruitless search.
Who are the missing?
- In Nepal, the ICRC defines a missing person as an individual who is unaccounted for as a result of the armed conflict in the country between 13 February 1996 and 21 November 2006, and whose family is still waiting for one or more of the following:
- a satisfactory answer from the authorities clarifying their fate;
- an acknowledgement of the disappearance from the government (in the form of a declaration of death, a death certificate or the granting of a special status);
- support from the government to receive reparations;
- if deceased, information on the location of human remains and the recovery thereof;
- legal redress.
Searching for answers
The ICRC has redoubled its efforts to tackle the issue of missing persons on a global scale. To help people like Ram find answers to questions about missing family members, the ICRC is carrying out a range of humanitarian activities.
The organization advocates families’ right to know what happened to their missing relatives. It reminds the former parties to the conflict – the authorities and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist – of their obligation to provide information that might help shed light on the fate of missing people. It also reminds the authorities of their duty to support such people’s families.
Together with the Nepalese and other National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the ICRC accepts requests from families wishing to find relatives who disappeared during armed conflicts. Through its contacts, whether among former parties to the conflict, individuals or institutions, the ICRC gathers information to help trace the missing relatives.
The ICRC raises public awareness of the problems faced by the families of missing people. It also encourages individuals to come forward with information that might provide answers.
A herculean task
A lot remains to be done to address this pressing humanitarian issue and help families clarify the fate of their loved ones. International organizations play an important role in the process, but they all agree that national authoritie s must ultimately lead the way.
Preventing the disappearance of people during armed conflict or violence and clarifying their fate once they have disappeared is an arduous task. This is further complicated by the absence of political will among those directly concerned – government authorities and parties to the conflict – and lack of cooperation by those who might persuade them to act.
Everybody’s business
Everybody’s business
There is a need to work together for humanity and strengthen local and government partnerships in confronting complex humanitarian challenges. These include worldwide efforts to resolve the issue of people unaccounted for as a result of armed conflict or internal violence - and in so doing, to bring back together families torn apart by such events. Only when this issue is given the priority it deserves will society’s wounds begin to heal. Then the development of a beautiful new Nepal can begin in earnest.
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