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Interaction and Training Program on
Women Awareness
Idea Action and
National Bio Gas Company,
Kohalpur, Bankey
12th Ashwin, 2063 / 28th September 2006
Background
Idea Action is a
youth-led and youth-focused human rights organization in Nepal.
The main objective of Idea Action is
 to
develop a culture of peace and non-violence. We believe a
permanent end to the ongoing conflict can only be achieved if
fundamental changes take place, including:
-
Increased political
participation among the majority of Nepalese who are disengaged.
-
Greater value placed on the
importance of education.
-
Widespread and institutional
respect for human rights.
-
Freedom of expression without
censorship or government influence.
Idea Action
believes
that in order to
develop this culture of peace and non-violence, we must begin from
the ground up of Nepali society. Therefore, Idea Action
specifically targets youths in rural areas who tend to
be disconnected
from their community and country. By organizing educational
and social activities, Idea Action works to develop peace in the
short-term as well as cultivate a long-term culture of
non-violence.
 First,
by organizing youth forums and projects, we provide an alternative
to youths who might otherwise join the internal conflict or engage
in other illicit activities. Idea Action works to inform
youths of the reality of the conflict and discourage them from
participating in the violence. Second, Idea Action programs
work to develop future leaders who respect human rights and will
work to build a peaceful democratic Nepal. Future conflicts
and political instability can only be prevented if today’s youth
play an active role in the peace process.
Introduction
For the past 10
years, the conflict between the Government and the Maoists has
resulted in a failed state in Nepal. Development has stalled as
public works projects ceased and physical
 infrastructure was
destroyed. The fighting in the countryside is estimated to have
killed 12,500 people, wounding and disabling thousands more. Many
villagers have been forced to flee their homes, living displaced
lives in temporary locations. Once vibrant communities are now
deserted as festivals are not celebrated and there is no longer
any sense of brotherhood between the villagers. Nepal and
especially the villagers of Nepal are in grief.
The people residing
with
 the gobar gas plants for cooking purposes are in search of
perspective training for its operation and maintenance. Despite
being involved in the conflict or directly affected by it,
Nepalese women seeking for the training on awareness and the
motivation to the new changes, the orientation training regarding
the solutions of probable problems. On 28 September, 2006, Idea
Action organized a one-day Interaction Program in Kohalpur of
Bankey district to provide these women employing new and latest
version of bio gas technology and operation and maintenance of
entire plants. Almost 60 women including some local leaders,
social workers and other people participated in the Interaction
Program.
Objectives of
the Program
-
Ø
To familiarize the rural women
about the latest technology of Bio gas
-
Ø
To familiarize the rural women
the impact of Bio gas technology in different aspect of human
society to sustain their life.
-
Ø
To make them aware of the
pre-implementation and post-implementation phase of the plants.
-
Ø
To familiarize the women in the
operation and maintenance of the Bio gas plants.
-
Ø
To familiarize the rural women
enhancing the social status of the rural women.
Details of the
Program
At the start,
there was the introduction program for the guests, experts and the
trainees. The representatives of the local NGOs highlighted the
importance of the program and the district. The local partner of
this program was National Bio Gas Company, local organization that
works for the promotion and development of the Gobar gas plants.
Mrs. Shashi Tara Ghimire who is officer of Idea Action initiated
the program. The main guests were then introduced.
Guests:
-
The chairman: Mr. Bharat Adhikari, Community leader of Kohalpur VDC,
Bankey
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Chief Guest: Er. Bed Prakash Bhattarai, Renewable Energy Expert
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Guest: Shashi Tara Ghimire, Program Co-ordinator, Idea Action
-
Guest: Suresh Choudhary, Manager, National Biogas Company,
Kohalpur, Bankey
-
Guest: Rina Tharu, Representative, Women Awareness Group,
Kohalpur, Bankey
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Guest: Kumar Raut, Teacher, Bal Vidhya Mandir, Kohalpur, Bankey
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Guest: Nokh Bahadur Chhetri, Employee, National Biogas Company,
Kohalpur
 Inauguration of
the Program
The Program was
inaugurated by the chief Guest Er. Bed Prakash Bhattarai, the
Renewable Energy Expert.
Welcome Speech
The Program Co-ordinator
Mrs. Shahsi Tara Ghimire, delivered
the welcome
address and briefly shed light on the importance of the training
program.
Presenting the
concept paper
Renewable Energy
Expert Er. Bed Prakash Bhattarai addressed the mass regarding the
importance and implications of the program.
Comments from
Program Participants
1. Subani
Tharu, Participant.
-
Regular training is essential.
-
Motivational activities be increased.
-
Field visits are more u
 seful
rather than monotonous lectures.
-
All household women be made participated.
2. Mr. Bharat
Adhikari, Former Chairman
-
Women awareness is most desirable
-
Political parties should conduct activities and provide forums
for rural development.
-
The result should be meaningful.
3. Mr. Suresh
Choudhary, Manager, National Biogas Company.
-
Really impressive and useful to the rural women.
-
Promotional activities should be conducted for the income
generating groups.
-
The consumers be made aware for the development of their skills
and will power.
4. 4.
Mr. Kumar Raut,
Teacher
-
Rural women be made more responsible for the maximum utilization
of the Gobar gas for their rural and local energy needs.
-
The training may be equally useful for the school teachers and
students for they are the means of sharing of information's.
The queries and the
curiosities raised were clarified by the experts, local leaders,
social mobilizers and the technicians present in the program.
The
participants and the guests were more concerned towards the impact
of bio gas technology and the gobar gas plants in the field of
social, cultural, educational, political and environmental sector.
The people are in expectation of the easy access to the education
and brighter future of the families especially of the children.
The operation and maintenance of the gobar gas plants is the major
concerns of the rural women. There are several ways to have
benefits from the gobar gas plants in friendlier manner.
Conclusion of
the Program
Based on the
feedback of the participants and the discussion taken place on the
occasion, following conclusions were drawn:
-
There is more to be done regarding the operation and maintenance
of the gobar gas plants in the rural areas and also equal effort
is essential for the promotional activities.
-
People are in search of the prompt techno-socio-economic
support.
-
No
development is possible bypassing the peoples' initiation.
-
The technical support is desirable for the smooth operation of
the plants.
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Social transformation is possible only by the implementation of
the development programs.
Recommendations:
Based on the
conclusions from the training / inter4action program, followings
recommendations were made:
-
The governmental and non-governmental organizations working for
the promotion and development of gobar gas plants be more
responsible for the people as it is directly related to the
people of grass root level.
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People be convinced for the active participation in the
development.
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The problems being faced by the consumers be addressed clearly
and tactfully.
-
Government subsidy be increased so that financial burden to the
rural people be minimal.
-
The students, teachers, local leaders, social mobilizers be made
more informative towards the promotion and development of the
gobar gas plants.
-
In depth training and communication is needed for the people so
that a result oriented output may be in hand.
The - End
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