Kesh B Malla
Newsfront Weekly, 14-20, July, 08
Kathmandu, one of the most beautiful tourist destinations, is also listed among the most polluted cities of the world. The rapid and unplanned urbanisation of the valley in the last decades, which was the result of centralised development system, contributed to the making of the polluted Kathmandu. Increasing population, polluting vehicles and industries have acted together to deteriorate the environment in the valley.
The environmental degradation especially of water and air has a great negative impact on the health of people. One of the most serious public health issues facing Kathmandu is water pollution. Water pollution in Kathmandu has further degraded the water resources (like river, pond, well, water spouts) to the level of extinction. The transformation of the Bagmati River into sewerage happened due to dumping of sewage and garbage into the rivers. And this took place due to lack of a well planned drainage system.
Such high level of pollution in the river has made aquatic life almost impossible and has thus naturally disturbed the ecosystem; not to mention the harmful chain reaction on the people living around the river area. Polluted rivers are home to many water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, and skin diseases, through which an epidemic can spread anytime. Due to high pollution, a man made disaster can take place any time in Kathmandu.
Rapid urbanisation, poor transport management and maintenance are leading to deteriorating air quality in the valley. The recent report published by Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST) states that the amount of particulate matter in the air in Kathmandu is gradually increasing in the last one year, leading to poor air quality. The concrete jungle that Kathmandu has now become, lacks enough greenery which could have absorbed some carbon dioxide.
This has happened due to significant increase in the number of vehicles in the valley, narrow and poorly maintained road network, and poor physical condition of vehicles. Earlier, the government had launched programmes like introducing environment friendly Safa Tempo, ban on polluting brick kilns, mass awareness and strict monitoring policies to control deteriorating air quality. Unfortunately, it has stopped now.
Envisioning a clean environment of the valley, many organizations have been vigorously working for long time. Some campaigns like Save the Bagmati River System have also been launched but they have not been successful. Maybe, it lacks coordination among the various agencies working along similar lines.
The root of problems behind the environmental chaos of Kathmandu, it seems goes back to the policy levels. There is a need of high level coordination and consensus building among various agencies. However, the importance of community empowerment and sensitisation campaign for a clean Kathmandu cannot be ruled out.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Corporate social responsibility in Nepal
Kesh B Malla
THT, 10/04/08
Nepal is going through political, economic and social transition and every sector is in a state of flux. The political situation is grim and unpredictable. The issues of economic and social development remain sidelined. In the given condition, time has come for every responsible citizen to contribute for the country’s cause in their own ways. In this process, the contribution of corporate houses can be immense as they are regarded as the “super citizens”.
They can be champions in solving social problems with their commitment towards the society expressed in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) integrated in their core programmes. CSR refers to the contribution made by corporations/ business houses for the community they operate in. CSR is not simply a philanthropic act but a strategically important component of corporate world institutionalised by the concerned corporation itself. In other words, the corporation does not involve itself only in seasonal charity activities, but designs and integrates community development plans in its core annual management plan.
CSR is viewed not as an expense but as an investment that results in long-term profit. The efforts put into education, healthcare, employment, housing, environment preservation can prove a boon for both the society and the company. The industrial sector in Nepal contributes 23 per cent to the GDP while employing only three per cent of the population. In this connection, it also becomes important to assess the community development approach of the multinational companies (MNC) operating in the country. In Nepal, corporations like Standard Chartered Bank, Nabil Bank, Asian Paints, Yeti Airlines and some media houses claim to have started community development initiatives. The initiatives of some organisations to start campaigns like ‘Make Poverty History’ are laudable. But still the bulk of the work remains to be done.
The corporate sector can bring about meaningful differences in the lives of community members in many ways — planning and implementing its development programmes in partnership with NGO/INGOs, government organisations, academic institutions or by establishing its own trust or foundation. Intel’s assistance to academic institutions like IITs, IIS; Chevron and ICICI Bank’s association with NGOs and GOs and establishment of Wipro’s Ajim Prmeji Foundation in India can serve as good models for Nepali corporations.
Perhaps the true ethos of CSR is best captured in the following saying: “The Corporation cannot be an island of excellence. Along with the development of a business, the society around it too has to be developed. Otherwise, there are bound to be conflicts. It actually makes good business sense to work with the society in mind.” The need of the hour is to recognise the contributions of the corporate houses to social development and highlight them through media and thereby put pressure on other corporate houses to follow suit.
THT, 10/04/08
Nepal is going through political, economic and social transition and every sector is in a state of flux. The political situation is grim and unpredictable. The issues of economic and social development remain sidelined. In the given condition, time has come for every responsible citizen to contribute for the country’s cause in their own ways. In this process, the contribution of corporate houses can be immense as they are regarded as the “super citizens”.
They can be champions in solving social problems with their commitment towards the society expressed in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) integrated in their core programmes. CSR refers to the contribution made by corporations/ business houses for the community they operate in. CSR is not simply a philanthropic act but a strategically important component of corporate world institutionalised by the concerned corporation itself. In other words, the corporation does not involve itself only in seasonal charity activities, but designs and integrates community development plans in its core annual management plan.
CSR is viewed not as an expense but as an investment that results in long-term profit. The efforts put into education, healthcare, employment, housing, environment preservation can prove a boon for both the society and the company. The industrial sector in Nepal contributes 23 per cent to the GDP while employing only three per cent of the population. In this connection, it also becomes important to assess the community development approach of the multinational companies (MNC) operating in the country. In Nepal, corporations like Standard Chartered Bank, Nabil Bank, Asian Paints, Yeti Airlines and some media houses claim to have started community development initiatives. The initiatives of some organisations to start campaigns like ‘Make Poverty History’ are laudable. But still the bulk of the work remains to be done.
The corporate sector can bring about meaningful differences in the lives of community members in many ways — planning and implementing its development programmes in partnership with NGO/INGOs, government organisations, academic institutions or by establishing its own trust or foundation. Intel’s assistance to academic institutions like IITs, IIS; Chevron and ICICI Bank’s association with NGOs and GOs and establishment of Wipro’s Ajim Prmeji Foundation in India can serve as good models for Nepali corporations.
Perhaps the true ethos of CSR is best captured in the following saying: “The Corporation cannot be an island of excellence. Along with the development of a business, the society around it too has to be developed. Otherwise, there are bound to be conflicts. It actually makes good business sense to work with the society in mind.” The need of the hour is to recognise the contributions of the corporate houses to social development and highlight them through media and thereby put pressure on other corporate houses to follow suit.
State of public toilets mirrors a city
Kesh B Malla
THT, 31/07/08
The fate of Nepalis is such that they cannot afford to meet even the most basic necessities of daily life. Defecation is one such essential which has become a bugbear for Kathmandu residents if nature calls them at the inopportune moments. Despite proudly declaring itself as the capital of the country, Kathmandu has not been able to provide this basic service to its denizens. The simple reason: Kathmandu has barely 50 public toilets for approximately 3 million people.
The 50-something public toilets, mostly run by municipalities in the Valley, are in a deplorable state with filth all around, sans water and flushing systems. One cannot comfortably relieve oneself in these sinkholes. The toilets in most government offices including hospitals and colleges are in a similar condition; even the big and modern-looking buildings lack proper toilet facilities. For example, Nepal Telcom office at Jawalakhel and brand-new Kathmandu Mall have very poor toilet systems, belying their modern outlook.
Municipalities as well as the local public should be held responsible for the paucity and maintenance of public toilets. The public has not been able to exert pressure on the municipalities due to the lack of awareness about health and hygiene; while the municipalities lack the will to carry out all its duties. Interestingly, some staff at municipality office believe that there are enough public toilets in the city and criticise the passers-by for not making the right use of the available ones. They believe that lack of awareness among the public on sanitation and high admission fees are major reasons for people not using public toilets, leading them to make empty plots and street corners filthy.
Further, with Kathmandu's unplanned urbanisation, the metropolitan authority has a ready-made excuse: lack of space in the busiest corners is hampering the construction of toilet buildings. On a positive side, public toilets directly run by Kathmandu Metropolitan City are in a relatively good shape, but again, they are very few around. KMC has plans to build some mobile public toilets at busiest junctions, keeping in view the lack of space for toilet building. But it is yet to be seen whether the promise is ever realised.
Often deemed the reflection of civility of any city, public toilet system may also contribute a lot towards creating a pleasant environment and ensuring sound public health. For that to happen, the major stakeholders in the society need to do their bit. Among them, the business community, as part of its social obligation, should play the important role of coordinating with the municipalities and NGOs in various areas to open toilet facilities. The municipalities, for their part, need to craft a new role for themselves in new Nepal. Similarly, local communities can function as pressure groups through their proactive actions; and the passers-by make best use of the available services.
THT, 31/07/08
The fate of Nepalis is such that they cannot afford to meet even the most basic necessities of daily life. Defecation is one such essential which has become a bugbear for Kathmandu residents if nature calls them at the inopportune moments. Despite proudly declaring itself as the capital of the country, Kathmandu has not been able to provide this basic service to its denizens. The simple reason: Kathmandu has barely 50 public toilets for approximately 3 million people.
The 50-something public toilets, mostly run by municipalities in the Valley, are in a deplorable state with filth all around, sans water and flushing systems. One cannot comfortably relieve oneself in these sinkholes. The toilets in most government offices including hospitals and colleges are in a similar condition; even the big and modern-looking buildings lack proper toilet facilities. For example, Nepal Telcom office at Jawalakhel and brand-new Kathmandu Mall have very poor toilet systems, belying their modern outlook.
Municipalities as well as the local public should be held responsible for the paucity and maintenance of public toilets. The public has not been able to exert pressure on the municipalities due to the lack of awareness about health and hygiene; while the municipalities lack the will to carry out all its duties. Interestingly, some staff at municipality office believe that there are enough public toilets in the city and criticise the passers-by for not making the right use of the available ones. They believe that lack of awareness among the public on sanitation and high admission fees are major reasons for people not using public toilets, leading them to make empty plots and street corners filthy.
Further, with Kathmandu's unplanned urbanisation, the metropolitan authority has a ready-made excuse: lack of space in the busiest corners is hampering the construction of toilet buildings. On a positive side, public toilets directly run by Kathmandu Metropolitan City are in a relatively good shape, but again, they are very few around. KMC has plans to build some mobile public toilets at busiest junctions, keeping in view the lack of space for toilet building. But it is yet to be seen whether the promise is ever realised.
Often deemed the reflection of civility of any city, public toilet system may also contribute a lot towards creating a pleasant environment and ensuring sound public health. For that to happen, the major stakeholders in the society need to do their bit. Among them, the business community, as part of its social obligation, should play the important role of coordinating with the municipalities and NGOs in various areas to open toilet facilities. The municipalities, for their part, need to craft a new role for themselves in new Nepal. Similarly, local communities can function as pressure groups through their proactive actions; and the passers-by make best use of the available services.
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