Student- Focused Research Symposium on Contemporary Issues …anhs-himalaya.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Student... · 2016-09-16 · STUDENT-FOCUSED RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ON CONTEMPORARY

STUDENT-FOCUSED RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ON CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN NEPAL 2016: RETHINKING RESILIENCE, FORGING FUTURES

Student-Focused Research Symposium

on Contemporary Issues in Nepal

Rethinking Resilience, Forging Futures

12-13 September 2016 – Yalamaya Kendra, Lalitpur, Nepal

TUGEnGEO


Dear participants,

Namaste! Welcome to the first Student-focused Research Symposium on Contemporary Issues in Nepal. We’re thrilled to host this event as the culmination of exciting new collaborations between universities and institutions to promote opportunities for emerging scholars of Nepal and the Himalayan region. We’re also pleased to be able to host the event at the historic Yalamaya Kendra here in Patan.

When we began planning for this event, Nepal was still reeling from the immediate aftermath of the devastating earthquakes last year, and the more than 400 tremors and aftershocks that followed. As the coverage of destruction and loss subsided, media coverage and discussions slipped easily into those focused on the resiliency of Nepal and Nepali people. This is a familiar trope, yet perhaps it is even less appropriate for understanding and seeking to address the ‘acute on chronic’ disaster that shook Nepal last year. That is to say, there were many ‘unnatural consequences’ of the natural disaster. These roll down steep gradients of inequality, and thus hold important meaning for how Nepal continues to grieve, heal, and take strides forward.

To this end, the theme of this first co-hosted conference is “Rethinking Resilience, Forging Futures.” From discussions of civil war and post-conflict Naya Nepal beginning nearly a decade ago, to contemporary debates about constitutional federalism and “building back better”, the idea of resilience has dominated discussions about Nepal. The symposium brings together students to critically examine assumptions and possibilities inherent in notions of resiliency in Nepal’s historical and contemporary contexts. There are several annual conferences, panels, and speaking events in Nepal each year for faculty and advanced scholars, but there are few opportunities for students to showcase their work, gain experience engaging critically with their peers, and feature their own voice as emergent scholars. Indeed, it will require the collective energies and input of many disciplines and skill sets to assist with next steps forward for Nepal.

Thank you all for your participation in this exciting new symposium, and we look forward to many more events like this.

David Citrin Heather Hindman Co-Director Associate Professor Nepal Studies Initiative University of Texas Austin University of Washington President, Association of Nepal and Himalayan Studies

Biraj Karmacharya Co-Director Nepal Studies Initiative University of Washington

Manohari Upadhyaya Director Kathmandu Center Association of Nepal and Himalayan Studies

Heather Hindman


Day 1: 12 September 2016 • Registration: 12:00-3:30pm• Introduction and keynote: 4:00-5:00pm

o Keynote: Dr. Krishna Bhattachan, Tribhuvan University• Welcome reception with light refreshments (provided): 5:00-6:00pm

Day 2: 13 September 2016 • Registration: 8:00-9:00am• Welcome speech: 9:00-9:15am• Panel 1, Global Health and Humanitarianism: 9:30-11:30am

o Discussant: Dr. Sushil Baral, HERD• Lunch hour (provided): 12:00-1:00pm• Panel 2, Human and Economic Development: 1:15-3:15pm

o Discussant: Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari, Tribhuvan University• Tea: 3:30-4:00pm• Panel 3, Political Ecology and Climate Change: 4:15-6:15pm

o Discussant: Peter Gill, Independent Consultant• Closing remarks: 6:30-7:00pm

* Keynote, panels, and speeches will be held in the upstairs meeting hall at Yalamaya Kendra.

** All food and refreshments are catered by Dhokaima Café.

Schedule


We are pleased to welcome Dr. Krishna Bhattachan as the keynote speaker. Dr. Bhattachan is a leading Nepali sociologist and indigenous rights activist. He began his teaching career as one of the founding faculty members of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Tribhuvan University in 1981, and is currently a professor of Sociology at TU. Dr. Bhattachan received his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley in 1993 on a Fulbright-Hays fellowship, and then returned to Nepal to engage in struggles for social justice and equality. His research and advocacy has focused on the rights-based social movements of indigenous groups, women, dalits, Madhesi groups, and other linguistic and religious minorities.

All symposium activities will be held at Yalamaya Kendra near Patan Dhoka in Lalitpur, Nepal. Yalamaya Kendra is easily accessible by public transportation and is centrally located near Patan Durbar Square, Pulchowk, and Jawalakhel. For more information about Yalamaya Kendra, please visit their website here: https://www.facebook.com/Yalamaya-Kendra-134650350073191/ or www.dhokaimacafe.com/.

All guests are requested to register in-person at the symposium. Registration fees for panelists and discussants are waived. There is no online pre-registration. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we can only accept cash for the registration fee.

Fees: Nepali/300 NRs; non-Nepali/1000NRs

We want to get the word out about our symposium and we need your help! Please tweet, tag, and share with your peers, colleagues, and friends:

Twitter: Please use #2016NepalStudentSymposium when tweeting.

Facebook: Please tag: University of Washington Nepal Studies Initiative (@uwnsi) and The Association of Nepal and Himalayan Studies (@ANHS) in your posts. Please mark your locations at Yalamaya Kendra (@Yalamaya_Kendra)

Website: The official website for the symposium is located at: http://southasia.washington.edu/nepal/programs/nepalsymposium/

This first symposium would never have been possible without generous contributions from many collaborators. The symposium staff members wish to express our deepest appreciation to the following people and organizations:

- University of Washington, Office of Global Affairs for supporting through a 2016 Global Innovation Fund award.- Maya Magarati, University of Washington for assistance with visioning, abstract reviews, and additional support.- Deepa Rao, Annette Fitzpatrick, Nicolaas P. Barr Clingan, Bill Lavely, Keith Snodgrass, and Sunila Kale at the

University of Washington for supporting the symposium’s funding application and visioning.- Sapana Singh, Pooja Ghale, Poonam Ghale, and Sajeena Gurung with the Kathmandu Center, Association

of Nepal and Himalayan Studies for volunteering your time and energy at the symposium.

Keynote: Dr. Krishna Bhattachan

Venue: Yalamaya Kendra

Registration

Social Media and Communication

Acknowledgements


Originally called the University of Washington Nepal Group, the Nepal Studies Initiative was formed in 2013 in response to a critical mass of students and faculty from a broad range of disciplines and departments with a collective desire to make Nepal a more prominent part of South Asia studies, and the broader University of Washington community in general.

The Nepal Studies Initiative seeks to foster inclusive engagement with scholars, student groups and other Nepal and Himalayan studies centers as we further develop our programs. Please do reach out to us to share your ideas and interests; and please join us in planning next steps as we deepen existing connections between the University of Washington and Nepal.

The Nepal Studies Initiative is funded by a Title VI US Department of Education National Resource Center Grant. Our home is the South Asia Center at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies.

The Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies (ANHS) is the oldest academic organization devoted to the study of the Himalaya in the United States. ANHS was founded in 1971 as the Nepal Studies Association with support from the Ford Foundation. In 1999, to reflect a widening member base and area of interest, the association broadened its mandate to cover the entire Himalaya-Karakoram-Hindukush region and adjacent mountain areas of High Asia, and adopted its current name. In 2010, ANHS became a Center in Developing Status with the Council of American Overseas Research Centers to reflect it growing focus on supporting research. In 2013, ANHS successfully was granted full CAORC status to become the newest American Overseas Research Center. ANHS – Kathmandu is directed by Manohari Upadhyaya.

ANHS members include universities and colleges, faculty, scholars, resource and development professionals, students and other Himalayan-region residents and enthusiasts. ANHS members work or live in or are experts on Bhutan, Nepal, the Indian Himalaya, Pakistan, Tibet, Afghanistan and Central Asia.

ANHS is a non-profit 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by its Constitution.

Nepal Studies Initiative University of Washington South Asia Center Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies

Symposium Co-Hosts

Association of Nepal and Himalayan Studies


Global Health and

Humanitarianism

ABSTRACTS PANEL DISCUSSANT

Nikita Bhusal: Effect of Nixtamalization on Calcium Content of Maize and Evaluate the Quality of Nixtamalized Maize Flour Biscuit Introduction Maize (Zea mays L.), the third most consumed cereal crop worldwide are having interest because of their easy availability, affordability and higher nutritional values. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of nixatamalization in increment of Calcium (Ca) content in maize and prepare biscuits from its flour. Nixtamalization is an alkaline treatment method in which the grains are cooked and steeped usually in limewater or Calcium Hydroxide Ca(OH)2 to increase the mineral value of the grains. Methods The study was set up at College of Applied Food and Dairy Technology (CAFODAT) in 2016 in maize flour and biscuit at constant cooking time but varying steeping time: nixtamalization (6 hrs), nixtamalization (12 hrs), nixtamalization (18 hrs) and nixtamalization (24 hrs), including non nixtamalization (control measure) where all those five treatments were

triplicated. The Ca content was analyzed by volumetric method whereas proximate analysis of maize flour and biscuits were carried out by standard method, and sensory evaluation respectively. Results and Discussion The results showed that Ca content was significantly increased on increasing steeping time with strong linear regression (R2= 0.711, p<0.05) which was found maximum (148 mg/100 gm) in nixtamalized maize grains of 24 hrs and minimum (11.94 mg/100 gm) in non nixtamalized maize grains. Both the proximate and sensory evaluation from panelists showed that nixtamalized (18 hrs) flour and its biscuits were found more acceptable than others. Conclusion Thus, this study concludes that the biscuits prepared from the nixtamalized maize flour can increase the bioavailability of Ca content. Nishant Lama: Dietary Diversity and Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women

Dr. Sushil Baral Dr. Sushil Baral has spent more than 20 years in the area of public health and has extensive work experiences in Nepal, India, Pakistan and UK. He specializes in the areas of health policy, health systems and service, strategic planning, programme development, implementation, research and monitoring and evaluation. He is also the Executive Director of HERD (Health Research and Social Development Forum), where he manages research and development projects in health sector with a particular focus on programme based operational research, surveys, action research, and evaluation assessments.

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 Time: 9:30am-11:30am Room: Upstairs Hall

Reuters/Navesh Chitraka


Attending Antenatal Care in Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal Introduction Nutrition during pregnancy is imperative to meet woman's demand of physiological changes as well as to create the environment in which the foetal development will take place. Nutrient adequacy and diet quality is ensured by dietary diversity. Inadequate dietary intake has been identified as immediate cause of maternal malnutrition. The purpose of this study is to determine the status and factors influencing dietary diversity and nutritional status of pregnant women attending antenatal care in Western Regional Hospital. Methods The cross sectional descriptive study was carried out. Systematic random sampling was used to select 282 pregnant women of third trimester attending antenatal care in Western Regional Hospital. Semi-structured questionnaire, MUAC tape and ANC card were used to collect information. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to summarize the result. Results and Discussion The study evokes that the medium dietary diversity was predominant as revealed by PoSHAN study. Similarly, 23.8 percent of the pregnant women had MUAC< 23 cm, 67 percent had low gestational weight gain and 12.1 percent of them were anaemic which contrast to the findings of PoSHAN study, Dhulikhel hospital study and NDHS respectively. Education of the pregnant women and occupation of her husband had significant association with dietary diversity which is supported by study done in Uganda and in Bangladesh. Food security, ethnicity and dietary diversity were significantly associated with the nutritional status of pregnant women and this has been supported by study done in India, Bangladesh and Malaysia. Conclusion Increase in dietary diversity promotes nutritional status of pregnant women

Prajita Mali: Depression and its associated factors among Elderly people of old age home and community of Kathmandu district: A comparative study Introduction Depression is a common public health problem among elders worldwide and is associated with high morbidity and disability. This study aims to assess depression and its associated factors among elderly in old-age homes and a community of Kathmandu district. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study recruited 122 elderly from old-age homes and a community of Kathmandu district. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale. Socio-demographic and medical history was collected using semi-structured questionnaire. We utilized logistic regression to assess the association of depression with each variable. Results The prevalence of depression among elderly in old-age homes was 74.6% (95%CI=66.87%-82.32%) and in community was 41.8% (95%CI=33.05%-50.55%). In old-age home, not receiving old-age allowance (AOR=3.88; 95%CI=1.21-12.41), bad perception of life (AOR=8.02; 95%CI=1.71-37.62), bad social relation (AOR=7.78; 95%CI=1.72-34.93) and having a chronic disease (AOR=25.31; 95%CI=2.63-243.54) were associated with depression. In the community, stress (AOR=8.63; 95%CI=1.49-50.11), feeling of neglect (AOR=3.64; 95%CI=1.01-13.08), older age (AOR=14.10; 95%CI=1.10-180.53), lesser monthly income (AOR=9.53;95% CI=1.96-46.85) had positive relation with depression. Discussion The prevalence of depression was higher among elderly in old-age homes compared to those living in community. This is similar to the findings of a study conducted in Nepal by Choulagai et al (2013) and Rasquinha et al (2012) in Karnataka, India. The cross sectional study is however limited by lack of temporal association. Conclusion

Depression is highly prevalent among Nepalese elderly, with higher burden in those living in old-age homes. This emphasizes the need for screening of depression among elderly, to initiate early intervention measures.

Binod Rayamajhee: Serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Vibrio and Shigella isolates from HIV positive children patients visiting Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku Introduction Diarrheal disease is being an indicator of lack of social development continues to be a major global public health problem. Lack of proper nutrition and antimicrobial resistance gained by microbes cause leading cause of death of children. Early diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment can reduce the disease burden. The objective of this research was to understand the recent blueprint of antimicrobial resistance of major infectious agents to assure the proper antibiotic treatment for HIV positive children. Methods Stool samples were processed following standard microbiological protocol recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute. Serological confirmation and serotyping were done using specific antisera from Denka Seiken Co., Japan. CD4 cell counting was done using computerized GeneQuant spectrophotometer. Results Among the 286 stool samples analysed, 45 samples were found to be positive for enteric bacterial pathogens of which 14 were Vibrio (4.8%) and 21 were Shigella (7.34%), the total prevalence being 7.8%. The identified bacterial enteropathogens showed that Vibrio cholerae was found to be the highest with (5.2%), followed by Shigella flexneri (6.64%), Shigella sonnei (1.3%), S. dysenteriae (1.75%), and S. boydii (1.04%) respectively. All Vibrio cholerae strains belonged to the serogroup O1 and serovar Ogawa. All the Vibrio isolates were sensitive to cefotaxime and cotrimoxazole and 75% were sensitive


to ciprofloxacin. Shigella isolates were mostly susceptible to cefotaxime (85%) while ciprofloxacin (43%) and ofloxacin (48%) were less effective. Conclusion These results on the prevalence of enteropathogens and their recent antibiotic resistance pattern in HIV positive children is indeed in order to guide the accurate treatment.

Nayan Sainju: The risk factors for hypertension among medical and dental students at a private medical college: Findings from a cross-sectional study

Introduction Risk of hypertension depends on life style, which is the result of person’s knowledge and practice adopted at a young age. This study aimed to determine the risk factors of hypertension among medical and dental students attending a medical college in Kathmandu. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in November 2014 at a private medical college at Kathmandu. A total of 400 medical and dental students were surveyed in the study. A self-administered semi-structure questionnaire was used to assess risk factors of hypertension. It was followed by physical examination with measurements of the height, weight and blood pressure. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Results Response rate for the survey was 87.75% (351/400). Out of the total respondents, 10% were active smokers of which 40 % smoked daily. Approximately, 40% of the respondents reported a habit of consuming alcohol (70.3% male and 29.7% female; p< 0.001).Nearly half of the participants were not doing exercise regularly. Hypertension was found in 32 males and 2 females (p< 0.001). Around 21% of the respondents consumed fruits less than once a week (p= 0.004). A significant association between BMI and hypertension (p=0.008) was found. Discussion and Conclusion

The prevalence of hypertension and pre hypertension among the study respondents was lower than in general population in urban areas. However, a well-structured awareness and interventional programs for controlling modifiable risk factors of hypertension is desired, especially for those with more than one risk factors or strong family history.


Human and Economic

Development


Kumar Prasad Aryal: Community level resilience during and aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake in a peri urban area of Kathmandu district Introduction This paper is an in-depth investigation into community level resilience practices in the immediate aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake that was carried out in Dharmasthali, a peri urban locality in the northern part of Kathmandu district. Methods It is based on two months of ethnographic research. The community is purposively selected and is comprised of 19 households that belong to different caste/ethnic groups with different resource capabilities. The investigator collected data through lived in the community itself to benefit from better rapport building with the local people and to observe and understand the community more intimately in order to better understand people’s experiences and resilience practices that the victims have faced in normalizing their lives in the aftermaths of the earthquake. Result and Discussion This paper shows how people have forged a strong solidarity among

themselves overlooking through class and ethnic differences. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the relief materials help to support them to cope with the abnormal situation and resilience patterns were differently perceived based on the class and ethnicity of the people in the community where relief distribution process plays a vital role. Conclusion The existing ties of kinship and social relationships became elemental in fostering people’s sense of unity and equality. Later, people tried to use their own initiatives and external supports to restore the desire normalcy in their everyday lived conditions. Ian Bellows: The End of Everest? Place, Identity, and the Future of Himalayan Adventure Travel Introduction The remote Himalaya is one of the world’s leading adventure travel destinations. The development of a trekking and expedition mountaineering infrastructure in areas of Nepal, India, and the Tibet Autonomous Region has integrated the region’s indigenous peoples into vast new economies. In a few generations, the Sherpa have undergone a radical

Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari Shiva Raj Adhikari holds a PhD in Economics from Chulalonglongkorn University, Thailand. Dr. Adhikari is an Associate Professor of Economics at Tribhuvan University in Nepal. He is also a member of multiple professional bodies including the International Health Economics Association as well as the President of the Institute for Nepal Environment and Health System Development. He has been involved in a number of high-profile research projects examining issues relating to health policy and health care financing.

Tuesday 13 September, 2016 Time: 1:15pm-3:15pm Room: Upstairs Hall

Ashish Acharya


transformation from an isolated mountain people to Nepal’s most well-connected citizens and the world’s most celebrated ethnicity. However, a series of recent incidents and disasters have resulted in political turmoil and raised renewed questions of equity and safety. Methods I conducted fieldwork in the Nepal, India, and Tibet from November 2014 to July 2015 and from August to September 2016. My research consists primarily of participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Results My fieldwork, along with literature review, analysis of new media, and ongoing conversations, suggests the emergence and development of contested imaginaries about the adventure travel industry among indigenous actors. Discussion Adventure travel creates subtle and divergent conceptions of ethnospatial identity within and among Sherpa communities. The proximity of indigenous actors to core infrastructure dictates their connectivity to the wider world and opportunity for accumulation of material wealth and prestige. Actors less spatially integrated into existing socioeconomic systems tend towards assertive or innovative actions as they seek novel ways to reclaim and reimagine the epithet “Sherpa.” Conclusion The Himalayan adventure travel paradigm is best understood as an organic process heavily influenced by existent structural determinants and the evolving interplay of ethnicity, identity, and place. Contemporary events have accelerated differentiation, meriting further investigation. Gayatri Prasad Bhattarai: Socio-cultural dynamics of disaster recovery Introduction Recovery mostly concerns social values and group interests. Understanding socio-cultural norms particular to a community - during pre-disaster phase of response and recovery planning, and mitigation implementation – is of vital

importance in effective recovery process. This study has tried to assess the recovery process of a village in the Sindhupalchowk district with focus on the dynamic interplay between the external recovery initiatives, and the local resilience mechanisms inspired by existing cultural practices of the community. Methods Ethnographic engagement and review of existing literature constitute the methodology. Informal interviews and participant observation helped to garner much of the information. It is complemented with semi-structured interviews. Results The relief and recovery programs instead of capitalizing on the informal risk-sharing mechanisms and culturally inspired resilience patterns of the community - including kinship ties, household and family structures, informal labor and capital exchanges, land holding patterns – have jeopardized the same and rendered the affected population as dependent, expectant, inferior, passive and sometimes even thug and liars. Discussion Alternate phases of harmony and conflict shaped the daily lives of the villagers. Subsequent rupturing and weaving of the social fabric, breaking of households and erosion of social norms, have not only complicated the everyday lives of the affected people, but also the functioning of recovery bureaucracy. Absence of pre-disaster vulnerability information and poor utilization of the existing data has also hindered the effective recovery process. Conclusion Further studies, incorporating both temporal and spatial dimensions are needed to better understand the recovery process over time. Richa Bhusal: Role of Feminization of Non-Traditional Agriculture and its implication in Asset Building: A Case of Commercial Ginger Farming in Barbote VDC, Ilam District Introduction

Women’s participation is increasing in agricultural sector. The aim of this paper is to examine the involvement of women and men in commercial ginger production and its contribution to building their assets. It also explores on how ginger cultivation has helped in their empowerment. Methods Ilam district lies in the eastern part of Nepal with 50 VDCs, among which Barbote is one of the beautiful VDC which cultivates various cash crops. This study has undertaken qualitative research with 22 In-depth Interview, 4 Key Informant Interviews, 4 Focus Group Discussion and 2 case studies. All the questionnaires were open ended and semi-structured. Additionally, it has used Sustainable Livelihood Framework and Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index to analyze the findings. Results There is more involvement of women in commercial ginger farming compared to men. They are usually involved in both on and off farm work. Commercial ginger has brought in cash and also helped farmers sustain their livelihood. There is high enrollment in saving groups. Major issue that farmers are facing are diseases, less support from government, lack of irrigation facilities and technical assistance with trainings. Discussion The study shows that women still have less access and control over land ownership. Farmers have perceived assets differently, and have been able to build asset to some extent. Most of the money that comes from ginger goes in husband’s hand. Proper government intervention focusing on women and improving their status as farmers is necessary in Barbote. Conclusion This paper concludes that commercial ginger farming has played a positive role in women and their lives. Sony KC: Farmers Perception on Decision Making in Households producing High Value Cash Crops: A gender based evidence from Eastern Nepal


Introduction This paper assesses male and female’s perception of decision-making on different elements, (decision-making on growing cash crops, participation in employment activities and decision making on finances) in the households producing cash crops. A perception on comparison of income with partners is also a crucial element of this paper. Methods Using mixed method, a sample of 513 households was selected in Ilam district of Eastern Nepal. A standard household questionnaire was deployed to identify the respondents and elements of commercial cash crop production. The first part of the survey was administered to either male or female of the households while the second part was administered to both male and female. Results and analysis for this paper is derived from second part, which included a Likert scale on degree of “influence on decision making.” To support the findings an in-depth qualitative study was done in randomly selected households. Results & Discussion Of the 513 households, this paper analyses perception of 439 males and 475 females. Findings suggest, significantly higher number of male reported of having “most important influence in decision making” in purchasing and allocating land for crops, using fertilizers and technologies in the farms, hiring labour, harvesting and selling products. 33.5% men against 19.8% females reported of having important influence in decision making in choosing to work outside of home. Interestingly, both men and women tend to have equal access to their earnings. Moreover, institutions such as cooperatives have played crucial role in encouraging women to voice their concerns. Conclusion This paper concludes that there are gender differences in perceptions about factors affecting decision-making in commercial farming participation and use of income. There is need to explore the impact of institutions on

household decision making, particularly among women. Sujindra Lohorung (Rai): Social memories of the past as a source of cultural resilience in an earthquake affected rural village in Nepal Introduction This paper highlights the ways old aged people in one rural village in Nepal retell their grandparent’s experiences of the previous earthquake as a way of comforting the people devastated by the 2015 earthquake. I will show how sharing of the experiences that people heard from their grandparents has become an important cultural practice of resilience in the post-earthquake period in rural Nepal. Methods This is a two months ethnographic research carried out at Jyamiremane village in Sindhupalchok district. I collected peoples’ experiences of the 2015 earthquake through in-depth interviews in twenty households. Results and Discussion The experiences of the 25th April earthquake differ in terms of people’s age, sex, gender, caste/ethnicity and so forth. In Jyamiremane village, people consciously or unconsciously categorize their experiences of the earthquake in terms of the events which they can control and which are beyond their control. People relate their experiences of events that are beyond people’s control with myths and stories they have heard from their parents and grandparents. Such retellings and sharings of the previous experiences of their parents and grandparents, I argue, need to be understood as everyday practices of cultural resilience. People always do not rely on physical or tangible means of resiliences; amidst the devastating impacts of the earthquake, people try to make sense of their lives by locating their experiences with the experiences and stories of others who had lived the similar critical situations in the past. Conclusion The ways in which they remember their grandparents’ experiences in the time of present day crisis provide people

with an important collective source of resilience in the post-disaster period. Cultural resilience plays more important role to overcome the agony and difficulties of the earthquake survivors.


Political Ecology and

Climate Change


Narayani Devkota: Provision of Open Space During the Time of Emergency in Kathmandu: Lesson Learning from the 2015 Earthquake Introduction In April 2014, Nepal Government, for the first time, declared 83 open spaces designated for emergency purposes in Kathmandu Valley (Gazette, 2014 April). These open spaces were expected to be optimally used during and after earthquake anytime in the future. The 2015 earthquake became a test case to examine how far the provision of the newly designated open spaces was realistic, and to what extend did it address the needs of earthquake survivors. This paper reviews the existing provision of open spaces in Kathmandu Valley and reflects upon the very process of declaring open spaces from policy perspective. Methods This research draws information from document review and field-based research. It reviews, first, research and purposed-based assessments accomplished by Government and different development organizations. Then, collects first-hand information from key informant interviews, which carried out among 5 respondent who were primarily engaged in the process of identification of open spaces in Kathmandu. In second phase I selected

six open spaces out of 83 and interviewed 30 persons. Results In Kathmandu valley open space identification process was did in three way and organization. One process was complete and declared as open space. Two process is running. Discussion The research identified several laps to identification and effective implementation of identified open spaces during the time of emergency. Conclusion Open Space for disaster is emerging issue in Nepal. Some organization (governmental and nongovernmental) work on it. Lake of collaboration, it had not effective in aftermath of earthquake. I conclude research with suggestion, based on interview. Sierra Gladfelter: Training Rivers, Training People: Interrogating the making of resilient riparian communities in the face of global climate change Introduction One of the most dramatic ways climate change will express itself in South Asia is through an increasingly unpredictable and more intense monsoon. This trend will significantly exacerbate vulnerable populations’ risks to flooding and has already triggered interventions across the

Peter Gill Peter Gill is an independent research consultant in Nepal. He has a bachelor’s degree in history, with a focus on Nepal, from Carleton College and a Master’s degree in Forestry from the University of Washington. Peter spent his formative years as a child in Nepal and has lived in Nepal for more than 12 years. He has also lived in Senegal, where he served as a Peace Corps volunteer from 2010 to 2012. His research interests include agriculture, forestry, and the environment, and he has published historical research on the political discourse surrounding land reform in Nepal during the 1950s and 1960.

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 Time: 4:15pm-6:15pm Room: Upstairs Hall

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region to build local climate resilience. This paper critically examines the limits of two projects actively being implemented in western Nepal’s Karnali River basin: the government-funded Karnali River Training Project and an early warning system initiated by the development organization Practical Action. Methods Drawing on qualitative data collected during four weeks of interviews and focus groups in the Karnali basin, this paper asks: what are the fundamental challenges and barriers that communities express in terms of long-term flood recovery and adaptation? And, to what extent do interventions initiated by external agents address these barriers? Results The most pervasive barriers to flood adaptation are residents’ struggles coping with sedimentation in irrigation canals, prolonged waterlogging in fields, bank cutting, sandcasting, and associated crop loss due to embankment breaches, and the cost of reconstructing homes. Discussion Highlighting places where people remain largely unassisted in their struggle to adapt to floods, this paper complicates the ways in which the impacts of climate change and associated development interventions become entangled in the lives of Karnali basin residents. Conclusion What is ultimately failing in the Karnali basin is not so much the interventions themselves, but rather the lack of a robust participatory process that takes seriously situated knowledge and needs in the coproduction of solutions.

Supriya Gurung: Labor Market Dynamics of Women’s Participation in the Production of Large Cardamom Introduction The aim of this research is to explore women’s involvement in the labor market that exists in the production of large cardamom. The main focus for this research is to gain insight regarding

the roles women hold in cardamom production and the comparative access they have to the cardamom labor market. Methods This study was conducted in the Jirmale VDC of the Ilam District, where the chosen site is considered to be a major area for cardamom production. A mixed – methods approach was utilized. For the qualitative data collection, in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were conducted. For the quantitative data collection, survey data was obtained from a previous study. Results The participation of women in the labor market of large cardamom was found to be isolated in particular roles due to the existence of a gender gap. Wage differences were observed between tasks such as harvesting (a male area with higher wage), and separating (a female area with lower wage). Government programs did not provide assistance for cardamom producers, however, cooperatives proved to be effective. Discussion and Conclusion This study has shown that a gender gap exists in the cardamom labor market, where women are primarily limited to production oriented tasks such as separating, and are noticeably absent in the areas of trading and export. Furthermore, women are also paid less and have less financial control over the household income. Government intervention and assistance has also fallen short in this area, however, cooperatives are assisting to facilitate exposure and empowerment. Ellison Heil: Sanraksan (संर�ण) and the Seven Sas: Assessing Annapurna’s Integrated Conservation Development Programs in Ghandruk, Nepal Introduction The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is Nepal’s largest protected area and annually attracts 60% of Nepal’s tourists. The long-term goal of ACAP is to establish the local people as the custodians of their natural and cultural heritage by

involving them in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of all development activities. Methods Research was conducted in the village of Ghandruk over a 30-day period in the spring of 2015. Information was gathered through semi-structured and unstructured interviews with i) ACAP staff, ii) marginalized population members and iii) a conservationist in the process of rewilding a leopard within the protected area. Results ACAP derives 80% of its funding through trekking permit sales, with 29% of their yearly budget, the largest allocation, invested back into developing tourism. In comparison, their Gender Development, Agricultural Development, and Alternative Energy programs, which are essential to social and economic empowerment, are the three lowest funded programs. Furthermore, activities which help the tourism industry are often to the disadvantage of the environment and to the marginalized groups. For example, the felling of trees for guesthouse construction results in the loss of natural habitat for apex predators and disregard for the needs of environmentally oriented marginal groups of Northwestern Ghandruk. Discussion The emphasis on tourism based development overshadows cultural conservation and sustainable resource use in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Conclusion ACAP’s funding decisions which favor tourism have resulted in a wider gap in prosperity between those involved in the trekking industry versus those that are not. Rojan Raut: Risk ratio of Water Supply Schemes for their functionality status after Gorkha EQ-2015: Case Study of Bhaktapur District Introduction The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Nepal on April 25, 2015 is expected to have affected the water supply schemes. The WASH reports


based on 14 severely affected districts show that out of 11,288 water schemes, 1570 sustained major damages(13.9%) and 3,663 were partially damaged(32.45%). The total cost for recovery and reconstruction is estimated to be 18.1 billion NRs (PDNA Summary). The objective of this paper is to check the risk ratio of the water supply schemes functionality with regards to the Gorkha-EQ and other disasters that occur every year. Methods Eighty schemes were randomly selected from the DWRC, Bhaktapur for the

study. Primary data was collected using focus group discussions with Water User’s Committee, and field observations. The data is analyzed using Risk Ratio Estimator/Parameter analysis. Results Out of the eighty schemes selected, it was found that 10 Schemes were non-functional (12.5%), 51 were partially-functional (63.75%) and 19 were fully functional. Among the partially-functional and non-functional schemes, 25 Schemes were affected by Gorkha-EQ (41%), 15 Schemes by Prolonged

Summer (25%) and ‘Other reasons’ accounted for 16 Schemes (26%). Discussion The Risk Ratio Estimator for Partially/non-functional cases due to Gorkha-EQ against Fully functional non-cases due to other disasters is calculated to be 0.568. At 95 % confidence interval the Risk Ratio Parameter is (0.4392, 0.7351). Conclusion This study shows that water supply schemes are at risk due to disasters that occur every year. The User’s committees are utilizing water

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