WASH Forum March Series "Bagmati Movement: River festival to cleaning mega campaign"

Bagmati Movement: River festival to cleaning mega campaign

Group Photo on WASH Forum

Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO organized its 28^th series of WASH forum on ‘Bagmati Movement: River festival to cleaning mega campaign’ on 28^th March, 2014 at ENPHO Hall, Thapagaun. The objective of the discussion program was to share Bagmati movement as cleaning campaign and to highlight the role of youth towards environment conservation through such initiatives. Mr. Mausam Khanal, Executive Director of Nepal River Conservation Trust was the key speaker for this interaction program. Total 25 participants from different organizations, colleges and institution actively participated in the program.

Mr. Mausham Khanal on WASH Forum

Winner of Facebook Photo Competition Mr. Naresh Kusi

Winning Photo: “No fish, No dish: The livelihood
base of the Bhote community in the
 lowland Tarai rests almost entirely on fishing.
This little girl from Amaltari, Nawalparasi,
 has to get busy searching for fish with her family
 early in the morning. The rivers harbor
 fish and they depend on them for their living.
 Water is the foundation on which they sustain their life”

Mr. Roshan Chaulagain, Advocacy Coordinator of Paschim Paaila briefly introduced about WASH Forum and highlighted the program objective which was then followed by the welcome speech from Ms. Padmaja Shrestha, Senior Program Manager at ENPHO where she briefed the activities that ENPHO has been conducting including water quality monitoring and analysis of Bagmati River since 2011.

During the program, Mr. Mausam Khanal shared about the mega cleaning campaign which started from the early initiation of river festival in 2001. Mr. Khanal emphasized on the need for the conservation of Bagmati river, as it has high cultural value and also spiritual and emotional significance to Nepali people. The program formulated discussion on major problems for Bagmati being polluted, the initiations taken till date and the achievements gained and the activities to be undertaken in the future.

Mr. Naresh Kusi was announced the winner of the facebook photo competition which was organized during World Water Week 2014 on the theme ‘Water for Life’. Mr. Kusi was awarded with certificate during the program. 

Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila delivered vote of thanks to the resource person and to the active participants. Finally, the program concluded by appreciating the resource person with Token of love followed by feedback collection and a group photo.

Celebration of World Water Day – 2014, Advocating WASH as basic Human rights

Celebration of World Water Day – 2014, Advocating WASH as basic Human rights

CA members and WASH Advocates

To mark the World Water Day, 22 various organizations (INGOs, NGOs, Civil Society Networks, Government, Private Sector) which included Water-Aid, ENPHO & Paschim Paaila jointly organized the “Walk for Water” program on 22^nd March 2014 at National Table Tennis Hall, Lainchaur. Almost, 500 participants gathered and walked all the way through Kings Way, Jamal and then concluded the walk in the same hall, with a formal program.

Network Coordinator of PP handover Appeal to CA
members

Paschim Paaila presented a drama to depict WASH as basic Human Rights and should be properly addressed on upcoming constitution which is under draft. The hardships faced in both rural and urban areas due to scarcity of safe drinking water, the potential risks of using unsafe drinking water and the deteriorating conditions of public toilets in the capital were also well presented in the drama.

Volunteers form PP Demonstrating Drama

The chief guest for the program was Hon. Vice Chairperson and Deputy Speaker of the Constituent Assembly Ms. Onsari Gharti Magar. Other distinguished guests included Hon. CA Member Kiran Yadav, Nepali Congress; Hon. CA Member Ananda Prasad Pokharel, UML; Hon. CA Member, Kunta Shahi, Rastriya Prajatantra Party ; Hon. CA Member, Dr. Shivji Yadav, Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum and Former Environment Minister Mr. Ganesh Shah.

WASH mela on the occasion of World Water day and Water Week – 2014

WASH mela on the occasion of World Water day and Water Week – 2014

General public observing WASH mela 

Paschim Paaila in collaboration with Nepal Government, Lalitpur sub-Metro Politian city, UK-Aid, Oxfam and ENPHO under Urban disaster Risk Management (UDRM) Project successfully celebrated World Water Day and water week 2014 through “WASH mela” on 21^st and 22^nd March, 2014 at Patan Durbar square. The program was organized with main objective of raising awareness on importance of safe water during Emergency along with disseminating knowledge and information to local people on safe water, sanitation and hygiene, water quality, water resource management during emergency.

Street Drama on Disaster Risk reduction

The program was semi-formally inaugurated by guest of the program Mr. Shree Bhakta Basnet Project Manager Oxfam. There was huge public participation at “WASH mela” as the program was followed by various innovative and entertaining events. There was stall exhibition where different techniques and models like rainwater harvesting, DEWATS, POU options of water purification, ECOSAN toilet along with informative flex were exhibited. There was also photo exhibition showing diarrhea epidemic which occurred in west Nepal on 2009. People entertained snake ladder game; hit the germs game and quiz where they got to learn more about disaster risk management and also got lots of prizes by winning the games.

Participants playing Snake ladder Game 

Docu Show screening

Likewise there was also shown Docu-Show which disseminated message on Nepal’s current position in case of Disaster and steps that can be taken. Most of the viewers found the docu-show very heart touching and informative some of them also suggested expanding these kinds of programs to every parts of Nepal. 

The main event street drama grabbed attention of lots of public as the drama was on what can be the condition at post disaster in urban setting along with the consequences of unsafe water. People enjoyed every shows of drama performed by active Paailas of Paschim paaila. More than thousand public directly and indirectly benefited through Two days long “WASH mela” where more than 20 volunteers from Paschim Paaila actively involved.