Solidarité France Népal

Activity Report

Jan & Feb. 2009

Contact

Pramod Khakurel Jayaram DULAL E’mail: [email protected]

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ABOUT THIS REPORT

Jaya has prepared this report by telephone contact and visit to some people in Dhulekhel and Kathmandu. If we didn’t submit any report January 2009, because there was non real progress compared to November and December 2008 and we decided that Jaya should work more for the preparation to receive the members of 2009. We started to collect precise data of different villages where SFN members of mission 2009 would work. The data we are compiling concern mainly to find the exact number of different institutions or organizations working in the village, the number of households and its members, the size of land belonging to each family, annual crop production and number of cattle. This data helps us to design our future activities in those villages.

We established a collaboration with Maina Dalit Saving and Credit Cooperative to collect data as this helps also the cooperative. Let’s remind us that SFN has helped to establish this cooperative and will work together in the near future For the moment we have some data from some villages of Sathighar, Koshidekha, Bolde, Birta Deurali, Pokharichauri, Lamagaoan, Walting, , , Kanpur,and VDCs. We will continue to complete our database each time we have new information. SFN is already present in some of these villages and could start to work in others.

In coming weeks we’ll present to the new team a small introduction of those villages and we’ll start to work concretely with the members of the mission 2009. To make this mission more interesting and more efficient we think that, based on the presentation of the village, at least one team of 2 members could be appointed to

ii work in a village and this team would start to think concretely and in distance what type of activities could be developed once they will be in the field. For this an interaction between team and the members of the mission 2009 is essential. And we encourage to the members of the new team to discuss among them and start to discuss with Nepal team.

Pramod Khakurel & Jaya Ram Dulal

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. WALTING, POKHARITOLE KAVRE: 1 1.1. The School Toilet: ...... 1 1.2 The Adult Literacy class:...... 1 2. METHINKOT-8, KAVRE 2 2.1. The Chhahari Farmers Saving and Credit Cooperative ...... 2 3. , KAVRE 2 3.1 Kali Ganga School & Kali Ganga Women Saving Group: ...... 2 4. KOSHIDEKHA AND KHARELTHOK KAVRE: 2 4.1 Shree Amarjyoti English Boarding School:...... 2 4.2 Shree Ram Secondary School, Koshidekha:...... 3 5. BHIMKHORI -3, KAVRE: 3 5.1 The Mahabharat Dairy cooperative:...... 3 5.2 The Jugeshwor Primary School: ...... 4 6. , KAVRE: 4 6.1 The Cattle Farming Micro Credit Group...... 4 7. MANGALTAR- 5 KAVRE: 4 7.1 The Toilet Construction Committee...... 4 7.2 The public Library: ...... 5 7.3 The Adult Literacy Class:...... 5 8. TIMAL CHAPAKHORI, KAVRE : 5 8.1. Sun cookers ...... 5 8.2. The soap Production:...... 6 9. MAINA DALIT SAVING & CREDIT COOPERATIVE, DHULEKHEL: 7 9.1 Maina Dalit Cooperative's Activities: ...... 7

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1. Walting, Pokharitole Kavre:

1.1. The School Toilet:

The construction of the school toilet at Saraswoti Primary school Walting has been completed in January 2009. Mr. Bishowraj says that the public health post didn’t support to make large toilet because the health post do not have the money to take part with the school for the construction. The school has constructed two toilets at the same place and one will be used for the children and another will be used for the staff. I didn’t go to the village as Mr. Bishowraj is in frequent telephone conversation with me and I had visited to him on 13 th February in in order to give him the data collection format. He has been collecting the data from Walting Village Development Committee Ward No. 2 & 3. SFN Nepal has already invested NRS 12000 for the construction of the toilets in November 2008.

1.2 The Adult Literacy class:

The Adult Literacy Program in Walting, Pokharitole has been completed. As it had started in August 2008, it lasted for 6 months. The class lasted till 29 th Jan 2009. I have been giving the news in the previous reports that the class had more than 20 students till the end of Jan 2009. Ms. Kabita Hamal, the facilitator of the adult literacy class says that, the class still needs to give continuity in the next summer because many adults haven’t progress very well and they want to give continuity to the class. As per the last progress report presented by the facilitator, I have tried to present the summary:

No. of Average Progress in Nepali Average Progress in Mathematics Students 5 Read and write simple Nepali Addition, subtraction of two digits number with sentences carry over system

10 Read and write Nepali words with Single digit addition with carry over system letter formation 6 Read and write Nepali words Counting number 1-100.

1 2. Methinkot-8, Kavre

2.1. The Chhahari Farmers Saving and Credit Cooperative

Mr. Puskar Kafle, a board member of SFN Nepal says that the Cooperative has the fund of more than NRS 167000 for the time being. As I have also mentioned in the previous reports, the cooperative invests cash to its members for agricultural activities; mainly for the cattle and vegetable farming at the rate of 12% interest to its members and one time loan will be for maximum 6 to 10 months. The farmers can pay back the loan with interest to the cooperative in installment basis which ranges from 3 months to 10 months. However, if the loan is less than NRS 10000, the farmers should pay back within 3 months. As SFN Nepal has invested NRS 50000 to the cooperative, the farmer committee is committed to reimburse the sum of NRS 40000 in 5 years. Mr. Rebati Prasad Gairapiple, the chairman of Chhahari Saving Group is also in frequent touch with us. As per our evaluation, it one of the well running cooperative supported by SFN for several years.

3. Khanalthok, Kavre

3.1 Kali Ganga School & Kali Ganga Women Saving Group:

In order to collect the information about the school, I had visited Mr. Puskar Kafle on 23 rd Feb. 2009 in Bhaktapur. Mr Puskar Kafle, in frequent communication with Mr. Ramesh KC, the Principal of the school, says that the construction of the building has been started from the end of December 2009. The school has received the fund from District Education Office so they have sufficient fund to construct the school. SFN and Shree Kali Ganga school of investing NRS 50000, the school is supposed to reimburse NRS 20000 till 15 th Sept. 2009 by itself and the remaining NRS 30000 will be reimbursed by the School managing Committee (SMC) with five year, i.e., till 15 th September 2013 collecting through the parents. As per the agreement made between SFN Nepal and Shree Kali Ganga Primary school in September 2008, the reimbursed money will be used in Khanalthok areas of innovative activities.

4. Koshidekha and Kharelthok Kavre:

4.1 Shree Amarjyoti English Boarding School:

I had a telephone conversation with Mr. Shiva Saran Shrestha, the principal of the school and Mr. Prem Ghatane, a representative from Dalit community. Mr Shiva Sharan Tamang said that, the new

2 academic year is going to begin after 1 and half month and all the books given by the SFN has been kept by the school in order to give to the Dalit children who will join the school before the new session begins. However, Mr. Shiva Sharan Tamang says that there are already 5 children who have joined the school from Nursery to Grade 1. As SFN members have also bought Science Lab equipments and other teaching learning materials, the students have got chance to use science equipments as experiment for practical classes.

4.2 Shree Ram Secondary School, Koshidekha:

SFN Nepal has no any significant news from Shree Ram Secondary School, Koshidekha. I had a telephone conversation with Mr. Rajman Tamang on 24th Feb. 2009. and according to him, the school has established a library in Principal’s room for the time being and it will be shifted to another formal library room after constructing the room which is under construction. As I’ve mentioned in the previous report, the school is going to upgrade it 10 + 2 by this year and the school has already the basic requirements for that.

5. Bhimkhori -3, Kavre:

5.1 The Mahabharat Dairy cooperative:

I had telephoned to Mr. Bal Krishna Shrestha on 25 th Feb.2009 in order to collect the information about the Mahabharat Dairy cooperative. I have planned to visit him on 29 th Feb. 2009 in order to give the data collection format to collect the data from Katarje-3, Bhimkhori Kavre. Mr. Bal Krishna says that the cooperative collects nearly 675 liters of the milk daily. The cooperative has been selling that milk to Nepal Dairy. Nepal Dairy collects that milk from the cooperative and produces cheese and butter in Swiss made old Cheese Center, Katarje- 3 Bhimkhori. According to them, there are nearly 165 members in the co operative. The Dairy cooperative has been paying NRS 3.70 per fat unit which range minimum 4 units to maximum 10 units in a liter of milk. However, this price is less than the private dairies rate which gives NRS 4 for 1 unit of fat.

Mr. Bal Krishna further says that, there is no fair competition between private and cooperative dairies because the private dairies sell the milk to elsewhere putting 30% water on it and the dairy cooperatives sell the milk to Nepal Dairy Corporation directly. The Nepal Dairy Corporation gives commission to the cooperatives and the cooperatives can adjust the employs. The Mahabharat Dairy Cooperative has given employments to 3 people from the village including the porters. The villagers have been trying to increase the rate of milk in the village requesting to Nepal Dairy Corporation to

3 make it maximum NRS 4 per unit of fat quantity. Normally, the farmers get NRS 25 to 30 for a liter of milk.

5.2 The Jugeshwor Primary School:

I had a telephone conversation with Mr. Dil Kumar Raya, the principal of the school on 26th Feb.2009. Mr. Raya says that, all the furniture has been used in the classrooms, especially for the upper level students. As SFN Nepal has contributed NRS 16500 for the construction of the iron framed desk- bench, the school has contributed NRS 5000 to cover with the wooden plate on those.

6. Pokhari Chauri, Kavre:

6.1 The Cattle Farming Micro Credit Group

As SFN Nepal has already deposited NRS 30000 to Cattle Farming Group’s account till Jan. 2009, we are supposed to deposit NRS 10000 this month. I will go to Banepa on 29th Feb 2009 in order to check the bank statement and put the money in the account. I had a telephone communication with Dipak Rasaile, one of the account holders on 26 th Feb. 2009; he said that the group members have deposited the money till December 2008. They will deposit the cash for January and February after one week. I will visit to Mr. Dambar BK and Dipak Rasaile on 28 th feb.2008 in Kathmandu. They will give me the name list of the members and the data of collected money till the date. I have also asked the minuting copy of the decision that the villagers made with the SFN team members in July 2008.

7. Mangaltar- 5 Kavre:

7.1 The Toilet Construction Committee

I had visited to Mr. Bishow Raj Koirala and Mr. Achut Adhikiri on 13 th Feb.2009 in Dhulikhel in order to collect the information and to give the data format to collect the data from Walting VDC 2&3, Kavre. Mr Bishowraj said that there is nearly the sum of NRS 17000 to the toilet construction committee’s account. The committee has been investing that money to its members for agricultural and domestic activities at the rare of 15%. Mr Bishow said that all the toilets have been used and the villagers have kept the toilets neat and clean. The environment has been very clean especially in the Dalit community where a person couldn’t pass through without closing the nose because the used to defecate on the way or elsewhere.

4 7.2 The public Library:

Mr Achut Adhikiri says that the public library is running well but it doesn’t have sufficient materials for all, including the children to the adults. There are some books given by the SFN team members and they collected some books from District Education Office, Kavre. In the beginning days Mr. Achut Adhikiri used to open regularly but now days he opens twice a day or more because the villagers have finished studying the books available at the library. However, there is the sum of more than NRS 700 in the library fund. They want to use that money to buy some books. It is a very few money so they can’t use for buying more.

7.3 The Adult Literacy Class:

According to Mr. Bishow Raj and Ms. Subhadra Mainali, the adult literacy class has been stopped from end of Jan. 2009. There were 18 adults regularly taking part in the class till the end of Jan. 2009. Unlike Walting’s class, it was running good. Ms. Subhadra Mainali says that is couldn’t finish both series of books Part I & II because of slow progress in the part of the adults. However, the class was very effective Mr. Bishowraj says. I have also summarized the overall evaluation as per the answer sheet form the final test conducted by Ms. Subhadra.

No. of Average Progress in Nepali Average Progress in Mathematics Students 10 Read and write simple Nepali Addition, subtraction of two digits number with sentences. Give answer just reading carry over system. the text. 5 Read and write some basic Nepali Single digit addition with carry over system. sentences. 3 Read and write Nepali words Counting number 1-50.

8. Timal Chapakhori, kavre :

8.1. Sun cookers

I had a telephone conversation with Bishnu Kharel on 28 th Feb. 2009 in order to talk about the on going activities. As I had written in the previous report, Mr. Bishnu had been facing the problems in the village. Now, the situation is getting better. Finally, Bishnu has no obstacles to work with the villagers.

5 As I've presented in the last report, I would like to present the summary of Bishnu’s problem in this report. Mr. Bishnu was working to collect the money to construct the Saraswoti Primary school for last 1 year. As a result UNICEF and the village development committee has decided to provide the incentive to that project. The UNICEF had decided to give NRS 340000 and the Village Development Committee had decided to give NRS 37500 to construct the school building. In order to make decision about where to construct the school building, there was a meeting on 1 st December 2008. It was already decided that the school was going to construct in Bhumedada, Narayan Sthan but the chairperson of school managing committee, Mr. Khamsang Lama put objection to construct in that place which was more convenient place. Mr. Bishnu’s mother was also in that meeting on that day, she appreciated Mr. Bishnu for collecting the fund and enforced the School Managing Committee to construct the building in the same place where decided. Immediately after that, the chairperson of School Managing Committee shouted her and threatened Mr. Bishnu’s family to leave the village otherwise Mr. Bishnu’s 4 brothers would be physically punished Mr. Bishnu’s family now has been displaced from the village and staying in Maina Cooperative Dhulekhel. Mr. Bishnu has been working with Maina Cooperative. Now days he has been helping SFN to collect the data and working to form Self Help Group in the villages where Maina Dalit Cooperative has been working.

Now the persons who threatened Bishnu’s family realized their error and seem to be mor reconciling. In near future, Bishnu could go back to te village ans start to work. As he is vely much involved in the developement of his village, he could be also a reference person for SFN in the future.

8.2. The soap Production:

As Mr. Bishnu has been facing the problem, the soap production project hasn’t started. Mr. Bishnu and the Cooperative for which he has been working proposed to use the money from sun cookers and soap production for poultry farming through Maina Cooperative. However the decision is not taken..Bishnu informed that the local association, called Indrakamal, trying to take the situation in hand and start the soap production. I will visit to the Indrakamal members next time and collect their idea for the production. Mr. Bishnu further says that if the money could use for income generating activities, it would be good for Indrakamal and the money can be used to prepare the soap because the Indrakamal members are interested to produce the soap.

6 9. Maina Dalit Saving & Credit Cooperative, Dhulekhel:

9.1 Maina Dalit Cooperative's Activities:

Maina Cooperative has been working to form Self Help Groups in different villages. There was a meeting in Maina cooperative on 28th Feb.2009, in order to develop its further activities. According to Mr. Bishnu, the manager to Maina Cooperative, Maina Cooperative has been forming Self Help Groups in different villages of Kavré. The formation of such groups is very important for SFN to work with them as the Cooperative, SFN’s local partner, is in regular contact with them.

SFN has helped this Cooperative to invest on the income generating activites by its members, Deepak Rokka and Bishnu Kharel, and they are committed to return back their loan on time. This is the first and concrete experience in the direction to work with the cooperative to help its members involved in the income generating activities.

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