AGEING IN NEPALI PRESS (Nov. 1-30, 2015) ADVOCACY Participated in the Campaign Ageing Nepal Kathmandu, November, 2015 Ageing Nepal participated in the Global Climate March Campaign to mark the COP21 of 29th November. On 29th November the leaders and head of the state of more than 190 countries came together for climate talks in Paris. The world took part in the Global Climate March, calling on leaders to use the opportunity of the UN climate talks in Paris to accelerate progress in the fight against climate change. Ageing Nepal organized various supportive campaign activities like: TV Talk show, Radio Talk show, article publication on the importance of COP21, workshop, petition handover to the government authorities and so on before 29th Nov. Similarly in the major event of the 29th Nov. various activities were conducted in different districts. The following table presents campaign activities and related districts. S.N. Activities Districts 1. Rallies Elephant Horse Cart Chitwan Rickshaw Older Person Jhapa Student Kathmandu 2. Cultural Dance Syangja 3. Paragliding with Banners Kaski 4. Joined a Rally Lalitpur Each campaign activities was conducted under the main banner of COP21 and campaign materials like non- plastic bags, pamphlets, stickers were distributed to participants of the campaign. Ph: +977-01-4485827 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ageingnepal.org 1 Major Highlights of the Campaign Total media mobilization: Print media: 1; Television programme: 2; Radio programme: 1 Total people reached with Media: 9,000,000 Total No. of Government and Non-Government organizations directly involved: 16 Total No. of people involved: 751 Workshop: 1 Social Media: Total number of Postings: 20; People reached: 6912; retweets: 103 Video produced: 2 Some Glimpses of the campaign: Find the links of: Completion Report: http://ageingnepal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Report.pdf The Summary Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEO0d9FywSM Ph: +977-01-4485827 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ageingnepal.org 2 SOCIAL SUPPORT Mahalaxmi Finance Distributed Blankets Nagarik Daily Kathmandu, November 30, 2015 Mahalaxmi Finance Limited has distributed blankets to residents of Padma Bhuwaneswori old age home in Sarlahi district on the occasion of its 21st anniversary. Organizations doing charity work for the older persons to mark their anniversary is catching up as a new trend in Nepal. Old Aged Allowance Distributed Gorkhapatra Daily Bhadrapur, November 9, 2015 The government decided to increase old age allowance (OAA) from earlier Rs. 500 per month to Rs. 1000 from this fiscal year. A total of Rs 14, 46,600 was distributed in Pathariya VDC of Jhapa district as the first installment of increased OAA for the elderly in the area. CSRC Distributes Materials The Himalayan Times Kathmandu, November 26, 2015 Community Self Reliance Center (CSRC) in coordination with Help Age International Nepal has completed the first phase of distribution of relief materials to senior citizens of quake-affected families in Sindhupalchok and Nuwakot districts. Altogether 3,004 families with senior citizens in the two districts were provided with zinc sheets and construction materials to build temporary shelters. The beneficiaries included 1,468 and 1,536 families of Sindhupalchok and Nuwakot district, respectively. The CSRC, founded in 1993, claimed it has been at the forefront of land and agrarian rights campaign in Nepal. It has carried out projects of building temporary shelters for the earthquake-affected old people since August 2015. Ph: +977-01-4485827 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ageingnepal.org 3 SOCIAL SECURITY Seniors Citizens in Trouble Annapurna Post Daily Parasi, November 7, 2015 Elderly and differently able people of Parasi district are not getting allowance since several months due to the ongoing general strike in the area. Among other elderly of the district, Bhimdevi Sharma, 71, of Ramgram was sent back home with empty hand repeatedly when she reached district headquarters with the expectation to collect her OAA. Ramgram Metropolitan Social Security Head Sanjay Sharma said, due to month-long strike, they are unable to distribute the allowance though the allowance amount for four months has been already received for distribution from District Development Committee. ACTIVE AGEING Campaign for Cultural Preservation Kantipur Daily Kathmandu, November 8, 2015 Late Ali Miya served Nepali Folk Song throughout his life. After his death, his son Hanif Miya, 68, is working hard to follow his father's footstep. Now he is trying hard to spread literature of his father. He has even established Ali Miya Literature Academy in Pokhara for the preservation of Nepali folk songs. Recently, he has returned from America conducting a symposium on Nepali folk culture. Elderly in business Ratopati Kathmandu, November 20, 2015 Basantapur, Kathmandu, one of the cultural heritage of Nepal is very popular tourist area. Large number of pigeons gather there in search of food. The visitors also enjoy to feed pigeons. Among other, resident Shanti Devi KC, 70, also sells grains to help her daughter with whom she is living. She makes profit of Rs. 300 to 400 every day. “I can’t do other work. I need to go to Ph: +977-01-4485827 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ageingnepal.org 4 hospital for regular checkup and the earning by selling grains to visitors who enjoy feeding pigeons support for my treatment" says Ms. KC. Active Elderly Ratopati Jhapa, November 21, 2015 Mr. Hari Prasad Wagle, 103, celebrated his birthday with family members. He is still living an active and healthy life in this age. He wakes up early in the morning and remains busy at meditation and worshipping. He eagerly says the reason behind his activeness in this age is due to meditation and healthy food. DEVELOPMENT Elderly Donated Money to Schools Setopati Rupandehi, November 26, 2015 Mrs. Belkumari Bhattarai, on her 84th birthday has donated Rs 500,000 for three schools in Palpa and Rupendehi districts. On the occasion, her son Surya Bahadur Bhattarai, who is also a social worker, said “it is her wish to donate money for schools. Her dream came true only in her 84th birthday." Generous Elderly Gorkhapatra Daily Kanchanpur, November 9, 2015 Parmal Chand, 102, a retired army personnel, has donated land worth Rs.700000/- to an organization for building a house for religious purposes. Ph: +977-01-4485827 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ageingnepal.org 5 EMERGENCY No Place to Celebrate Tihar Kantipur Daily Bhaktapur, November 11, 2015 An elderly woman of Bhaktapur, Uma Lohala lost her home in earthquake of April 25. She along with her family has been living in a tent for past six and half month. She says” Dashain has not been joyful for us. So will be the Tihar (one of the National festival of Nepal) because we don’t have even a place to celebrate Tihar". They are forced to live miserable life in tent even in winter. Elderly Searching Firewood Kantipur Kathmandu, November 15, 2015 The economic blockade imposed by India has aggravated the situation of Nepalese especially older persons. Min Bahadur Gurung, an octogenarian, is standing in a long queue to get firewood at Gaushala, Kathmandu. These sorts of scenes are common in the valley at present. Ph: +977-01-4485827 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ageingnepal.org 6 Elderly Doubts the Prime Minister Annapurna Post Daily Gorkha, November 22, 2015 Balkanya Chepang, 82, of Hiklung 8 was so happy when the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli made a decision to replace the ropeway by suspension bridge within a year. However, Mr. Chepang has doubt that the government could fulfill its commitment within stipulated time or not as the government has not taken any initiative yet. Prolonged Shortage of Essential Supplies Worries Senior Citizens Himalayan News Service Kathmandu, November 27, 2015 Senior citizens have expressed worries about the impact of prolonged crisis of essential supplies on the aging population. “The devastating earthquake of April 25 and its subsequent aftershocks affected more senior citizens compared to other age groups. While the government has yet to start rehabilitation programmes for the elderly people, the protest under way in the southern plains for the past three months and blockade at Nepal-India border checkpoints have added to their woes,” a press statement issued by the National Senior Citizens Federation Nepal said today. Read More… Earthquake Victims in Trouble Kantipur Daily Kathmandu, November 28, 2015 Krishna Shova Rajbhandari, 69, and Dev Laxmi Koju, 86, of Byasi, Bhaktapur have been living under a tent after devastating earthquake of April destroyed their house. Having suffered the parching hot and devouring rain in last few months, now they are suffering from severe cold. Along with them other elderly and children have been also suffering from common flu, asthma, cough and other diseases. Ph: +977-01-4485827 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ageingnepal.org 7 ELDER ABUSE A total of 5 faced elder abuse in November 2015. S.N. Name Age Sex Address Reason Culprit Form of Status Date Source abuse 1. Dan Bahadur 61 M Kathmandu Unknown Villager Physical ND 7 Police Tamang Report 2. Dilli Bahadur 64 M Salyan Personal Villager Physical D 16 Police Thapa Dispute Report 3. Jingu Prasad Kafle 80 M Dolakha Unknown Villager Physical ND 22 Police Report 4. Ganga Kafle 60 F Dolakha Unknown Villager Physical ND 22 Police Report 5. Ebrahim Mansure 65 M Mahotari Dispute Villager Physical D 26 Nagarik 6. Parmeshwor 70 M Sarlahi Personal Neighbour Physical D 28 Police Paswan Affair Report 13th Issue of JyesthaNagarik is out Now!!! Find the magazine: http://ageingnepal.org/wp- content/uploads/2015/11/JN-Issue-13-web-1-1.pdf Ph: +977-01-4485827 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ageingnepal.org 8 NEGLECT Unattended Death Two unattended dead bodies of senior citizens were found in October 2015.