Many people asked me with doubt
and irate manner, so aren’t you working as nurse? Or why do you leave your
nurse job? Or so many others when they knew me as nurse in my introduction.
Originally, I did staff nurse, I practiced Anaesthetic Assistant Nurse for 24/7
hours for 4 years and by specialization, I am public health nurse. The
additional degrees added value to understand the dynamics of society and its
growing pattern through the lens of health education, sociology and development
from home town to aboard. Even today, I am working in public health in many
ways. I always feel pride and proud of my nursing profession, gives an added
value while working in any forms of crisis such as Maoist insurgency 2001-2006,
2006/2007 people war, Madhesh movement in 2007 and 2015, Koshi flood 2008 or
Earthquake 2015.
Last winter was the first winter after
the devastating earthquake April 25, 2015 in Nepal. The media continuously
reported that the morbidity and mortality is increasing in those affected
areas. Sadly, the government failed to demonstrate its seriousness and people have
experienced of severely shortages of essential materials due to more than 5 months’
protest in Terai by Madhes leaders. Everywhere the culture of work and quality
shrank at the name of protest.
Likely as Jure landslide,
Darchula flood or any upheaval situation since history, Nepal has few hearts
and intellectuals who take care of these casualties which is practice in Nepali
society since civilization as part of satisfaction, fortune or duty or religion
etc. This is a kind of humanitarian work; it is important but not effective as
intended at large.
Mostly, from the developed
countries, donors or supporters have already learned from their doings. Today,
they are seeking impact or sustainability of their deeds in developing
countries. Unfortunately, Nepalese folks are unable to learned from them and
they are repeating the same kinds of malpractices no matter whether they are in
Nepal or outside, individual or institution including Non Residence
Nepalese. It is more rampant due to
introduced of social and other media.
Perfection is not possible
everywhere but the vision should be for perfection. Government, NGO (INGOs/UNs)
have best leaders no matter whether policies flourish or not but largely
occupied by non-real heroes due to poor enforcement of policies and systems,
systemic corruption and mostly occupied by incompetent bureaucrats. The government should hold accountability but
not happened and NGOs are rarely representing the independent civil society.
Since childhood, I am following either
blaming or naming mostly associated with feudal mind set. Many of us very keen
to recognize as social worker, or praising by others or awards without gauzing
the magnitude of commitment, hardship, contribution towards sustainability.
Mostly, Nepali society start to praise at the name of person, position, politics,
personal benefit or power. Many people
are blaming to government, but not ready to develop or contribute to monitor
the poor governance system of government. I saw many intellectuals paid money
under the table at the name of rapid response, or comfort or culture. Likewise,
many intellectual blamed to NGOs and doing the same or less at the name of
social work. Each organization should fulfil the basic criteria of government,
and one day , it demands money and people to expand the work and organization.
This is very normal phenomena but the governance is most important and urgency
everywhere. In Nepal, at the name challenge or quality of good practice or
political strategy, many organizations are in existence but they are charity in
model largely. The new comers who like to work in development or social work
not ready to listen the reality or fully occupied by prejudices. In other hand,
the NGOs are not ready to create space for new comers. There is huge scarcity
of mutual trust instead of commitment and resources. Usually, people don’t like
to talk or associated with organization which hasn't has resources and usually
thinking about the personal benefit from the resources instead of people.
For instance, if someone
encountered or heard the news about poor kid, everyone showed their kindness by
giving money to. They do forget simple steps to follow; i) explore the
underlying causes of poor, ii) explore the economic condition family and
support them for their livelihood, iii) support to school to take care of that
kid, iv) initiate foster family, v) lobby, advocacy for policy reform and
enforcement. Sadly, the so called social workers compete to support that kid,
bring to Kathmandu and put in hostel or orphan home. The media started praise
the person who donate or support. No one even imagine the long term of impact
of that kid, family and impact to the society both in Kathmandu or respective
village and country at large.
When the news came of dying due
to cold in earthquake areas. Many recognized people asked for money or clothes
for that. They also forget to follow same simple steps; i) put pressure to
government to take care of government, ii) to identify the organizations who
have experience and working for that and joined the hand with them, iii)
mobilize the local leaders. Till date, most of the Nepali people do donate very
dirty, or bad clothes while someone asking the clothes for survivors of
landslide or flood or fire or anything since long. The dignity of poor or victims
or survivors is not accounting in charity work for them which is so sad and
irony too. Without considering the culture on clothes, purchasing capacity of
the villagers and future impact, clothes are distributing where the expectation
of villagers are high or changing mind-set or dependent.
While Nepal encountered with
earthquake, each restaurant and programs were talked about it and urgency of
help in Europe or USA. Most of the people donated. Many organizations are
registered and started to work who don’t know the exact need of the people,
culture of respective place or so on. They have accessed with language and
media, they mobilized the people. They also come with their family and children
and brought them field and distributed the materials. No doubt, they have done
something for people as temporary but they have done more on their tourism,
educate their children on humanitarian work, recognize as social worker, spent
more money while travelling and other associated expenses. More sadly, they mislead the mind of poor
people by making them pampered and dependent by giving modern materials, money
etc. instead of empowering them. Even in the emergencies there are many ways of
empowering. Even the money or materials raised from charity approach can use as
right of the affected people and society.
Nepali folks should be only one
healers for people who are crisis from the natural disaster, human made crisis
or social injustice. But these healing hands should go with love, trust,
acceptance and looking forward the social transformation and sustainability no
matter whether we have a single rupee or piece of clothes.
