NEPAL ENVIRONMENT WATER WELL ESSAY

NEPAL ENVIRONMENT WATER WELL ESSAY 

Nepalese laborer Rishi Dev Yadav, aged 28, digging a well for a water source in Kathmandu, Nepal. Kathmandu has a growing population of about one million in the total municipal area of 50.67 sq km, according to the 2010 census. With the ever increasing population in the valley, People have been facing an acute water crisis in recent years. 

Climate change is as much a reason for water shortage and decreasing water level in the ground and river as the growing population is. The only alternative source of water for the inhabitants has been wells and stone taps which have been fulfilling the water needs of the people in communities of Kathmandu. Built more than 100 years ago, these water taps are still very much in use in Nepal. But urbanization and haphazard construction of buildings have disconnected the source of water from the stone taps. Today, most of these wells which used to supply everyone and currently are the only source of water for parts of the population are not functioning correctly. 

The Nepal government plans to launch the Melmchi water supply project by 2015 that aims to relief the acute water crisis in the capital. The project is supported by the World Bank and the Japanese development project JAICA. Yet at the present the wells seem to be the only alternative source of water for almost all the households in Kathmandu. 

Rishi Dev Yadav, a migrant worker from Inarwa district in eastern Nepal had to leave his wife and two sons behind in search for work opportunities. The last three years he has been digging wells in the capital of Kathmandu. Rishi receives a wage of 2,500 Nepalese rupees (35 USD) for each well which is hardly enough to survive. According to Rishi, he is sometimes required to go underground at depths of more than 50 feet (about 15 m) to get to the water which may result in accidents. According to the news report, more than 12 labors dies while digging well and cleaning. 

• at 12:49 AM
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SIBU’S FIGHT

SIBU’S FIGHT……………….By Narendra Shrestha

Thirty-five year-old Sibu Giri has been living with HIV for the last decade. He contracted the virus through the use of infected needles. People used to know him as a junkie (drug user), and when he told his family members and friends that he infected, all he got in response was neglect. He was convinced he would die within two years.

When he found out he was infected, Sibu went to neighboring country India with the desire to spend the remainder of his life there, so as not to burden his family and society. But after two years of struggle in India he came to know about the positive developments in HIV therapy. He returned and joined Navakiran Plus (NKP) in 2003.

NKP is a rehabilitation centre and hospice located in Shivapuri Heights on the outskirts of Kathmandu. It is run by HIV positive Nepalis under the leadership of Rajiv Kafle. NKP operates community care centres that provide support to over 350 children and adults living with HIV/AIDS across the country. Sibu works as a board member and advocacy officer for NKP. He also keeps busy as an executive member of DUNA (Drug Users Nepal Association) and volunteers in rehabilitation centres for drug users.

Unmarried Sibu lives in a rented room in Budhanilkantha, not far from his own home, where his mother, brother and sister-in-law live. He earns Rs 35,000 (USD 500/-) per month and provides some portion of this to his family. He is very health conscious, loves to play table tennis, and likes living clean. In his spare time, he enjoys playing with the children at NKP.

Sibu tests his blood every six months to keep track of his immunity levels, which are three times lower than normal. To maintain his immunity, he takes ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) pills every 12 hours. 

“One day scientists will find a cure for this disease, after all I have survived so far despite being HIV positive,” says Sibu. “If I live another five years, I am sure I will be able to witness a new era in the history of HIV treatment.”

• at 11:46 PM
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