New Delhi, ANI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday proposed that the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries should hold a discussion via video conference to chalk out a joint strategy to fight coronavirus.
“I would like to propose that the leadership of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus. We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy,” PM Modi tweeted.
I would like to propose that the leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus.
We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy.
Together, we can set an example to the world, and contribute to a healthier planet.
Prime Minister also said that SAARC countries can set an example to the world, and contribute to a healthier planet. “Our planet is battling the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. At various levels, governments and people are trying their best to combat it,” PM Modi said in another tweet. PM Modi asserted that South Asia should fight against the virus to ensure people’s safety. “South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population should leave no stone unturned to ensure our people are healthy,” he added. The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country has risen to 75. The country has also reported its first COVID-19 death in Karnataka, the health ministry had stated earlier. World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the novel coronavirus as a pandemic with 125, 048 confirmed cases globally and 4,613 deaths as per the latest data made available by WHO. (ANI)
London — World Humanitarian Drive, an International NGO based in Croydon, U.K. founded by Mayor’s International Ambassador- Abdul Basit Syed organised the inaugural event of “The Science Bazaar” at the Panimalar Engineering college, Chennai, India, on 06th & 7th March 2020.
“The Science Bazaar” was inaugurated by the Russian Cultural Center Director & vice consul Hon. Gennadii Rogalev as the event Chief Guests and Dr M Arumugam -Founder Broadline Group of Companies & IIT PHD Council Head, and Mr C Sakthikumar Director of Panimalar Engineering College.
Photo : WMD
On the second day , best projects from the Science Bazaar were honoured by the Chief Guests Mr Mike Muralidharan- CEO Bahwan CyberTek & Prof Dr Sultan Ismail- Research Director MGR Janaki College.
According to the press note provided by WHD, more then 800 new innovations, models, projects, posters and ideas was displayed at the science bazaar.
Event organiser Abdul Basit Syed, said “Science & Technology can be effectively used to trigger and transform the world into a beautiful paradise where humanity will thrive with love, peace and happiness” this is the main soul concept of #TheScienceBazaar.
AFP, KATHMANDU: Nepal on Friday suspended permits to climb Everest over the coronavirus pandemic, closing off the world’s biggest mountain a day after China halted access from its side.
Nepal has halted climbing on all mountains in the country and stopped issuing tourist visas, Yogesh Bhattarai, Minister for Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation told AFP.
The Himalayan country earns millions of dollars a year from Everest permits.
“The government has decided to suspend all spring expeditions and scrap permits for the time being. The decision can be reviewed after analysing the global scenario over the coming month,” Bhattarai said.
Last year’s spring window saw a record 885 people summit Everest, 644 of them from Nepal and 241 from the northern flank in Tibet.
The traffic-clogged season saw 11 deaths on the mountain, with at least four blamed on overcrowding.
Everest attracts hundreds of mountaineers from all over the world each spring, when a window of good weather opens up between late April and the end of May, prompting a rush for the summit.
Nepal has so far confirmed only one case of coronavirus.
Mumbai — As the World Health Organisation declares a pandemic, the Government of India has suspended all tourist visas and e-visas granted on or before March 11.
All incoming visitors including Indian nationals are advised against non-essential travel.
“All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020,” it has said in the statement.
The order comes into effect from 1200 GMT on Friday, March 13.
Visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid and they may contact the nearest FRRO/FRO through e-FRRO module for extension/conversion etc of their visa or grant of any consular service, if they choose to do so. A notification to this effect is being issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BOI), Business Traveller writes.
Kathmandu — The Chinese government has suspended all expeditions attempting to climb Everest from the Tibetan side because of the coronavirus epidemic. The climbing season happens in spring, with most summits typically taking place at the end of May. At the moment, the Nepalese side of the mountain is still open, which is where most climbers make their ascents., SCMP writes .
“Life … as we struggle with losing a friend, business and the world and coronavirus don’t stop. This is the whirlwind we choose to surround ourselves with. Today, China announced the closure of Mt Everest for the spring season,” wrote Adrian Ballinger, a guide on the Chinese side of the mountain, on Instagram.
“While I am saddened for all the hard work our members, guides, Sherpa, local staff, partners and office have put in, and that they and we won’t get to test ourselves on the highest playground in the world this year, I am in agreement with China’s decision.”
He added that he and his expedition company were leaning towards cancelling this year’s climbs anyway.
“Climbing a mountain is not currently worth the transmission risk in the Base Camps, nor upon returning home,” he wrote.
The coronavirus epidemic started in Wuhan, China, and has since spread around the globe. Countless airlines have stopped flying to China as a result, and there are an increasingly large amount of travel bans worldwide. President Donald Trump has banned all travel from Europe to the US as the virus takes hold in Italy, France and Germany.
There have been more than 80,000 cases in China and more than 3,000 deaths related to coronavirus as of March 12. Italy has more than 12,000 infections and 800 deaths, the second most of any nation.
London– British MP and Labour Party leader, Virendra Sharma, has condemned the Government’s budget saying that “it has failed to properly tackle the coronavirus, climate change and the crisis in social care.”
These three crises follow a decade of decline and cuts under the Conservatives, with life expectancy stalling, homelessness rising, rampant regional inequalities and a lack of preparedness for the coronavirus outbreak, the veteran MP said.
In responding to the budget, Mr Sharma said, “This budget has failed to deliver solutions to the problems facing Britain today. Ten years of Tory Government have left us unprepared to face coronavirus, climate change, and the crisis in social care.”
“Boris Johnson is a part-time Prime Minister and the government is offering hollow promises and half-measures. This Budget offers none of this and risks another five years of disappointment. This Budget is not an end to austerity, has not delivered investment, and has not delivered security for workers,” he added.
The last ten years have left us unprepared for coronavirus, our NHS is creaking, workers’ rights and our welfare system has been eroded and stagnant growth has left our economy vulnerable. Staggeringly, there was not one mention of social care in the Chancellor’s speech today, the Labour MP said.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has reported that a further £54 billion of current spending is needed to return departmental spending per head to 2009/2010 levels – austerity will be “baked in” to the economy, as the IFS says.
The Chancellor must do more to prepare for the immense economic damage that could be caused by coronavirus, including by adopting Labour’s five-part economic plan on the virus.
There is an urgent need for an end to austerity and Universal Credit, a reversal of tax cuts to the rich, and an end to the scandals of privatisation and outsourcing, Mr Sharma said in a statement.
London — Members of the Bracknell Nepalese Association donated money to fund the Mayor’s chosen charity.
The Mayor of Bracknell Forest, Councillor Pauline McKenzie felt delighted after receiving a £1,300 cheque from the Bracknell Nepalese Association, Bracknellnews reported.
Money donated from the members will help support the Sandhurst Day Centre which helps elderly people in the community.
Councillor Mrs McKenzie said “On behalf of the staff, volunteers and trustees, I would like to thank the Bracknell Nepalese Association for their most generous donation, which will be used for the ongoing refurbishment of the Day Centre”
The Sandhurst Day Centre provides a hub for older people to improve their social needs and wellbeing.
With this, they run a minibus service to collect and return members to and from the centre.
Mental wellbeing is also improved through socialising, reducing loneliness and enjoying social activities and hot meals.
The key points of the Budget expert by This is Money :
CORONAVIRUS MEASURES
-The Chancellor begins at 12.34 by addressing the novel coronavirus outbreak. ‘We will get through this together’ Sunak says. The Government is doing ‘everything it can’ to keep the UK healthy and financially secure’, he adds.
-Sunak said there is likely to be a ‘temporary disruption’ to the economy while up to a fifth of the working age population could be off at any one time.
-The total spent on fiscal stimulus measures to fight the impact of the virus will be £30billion. ‘One of the most comprehensive packages anywhere in the world’, Sunak says.
–Whatever extra resources the NHS needs to cope with the coronavirus ‘it will get’ he pledges, beginning with a £5billion emergency response fund.
-Sunak said statutory sick pay will be available for ‘all those who are advised to self-isolate’ even if they have not displayed symptoms. Businesses with less than 250 staff will get refunded for two weeks of pay if workers need to stay at home.
-The ‘Coronavirus business interruption loans scheme’ will support companies through the crisis with banks to offer loans of up to £1.2million to small and medium-sized businesses.
-For the coming year the ‘exceptional step’ of abolishing business rates for businesses with a rateable value below £51,000 will be taken.
-A £3,000 cash grant to businesses eligible for small business rates relief
-Sunak said statutory sick pay will be available for ‘all those who are advised to self-isolate’ even if they have not displayed symptoms. Businesses with less than 250 staff will get refunded for two weeks of pay if workers need to stay at home.
-The ‘Coronavirus business interruption loans scheme’ will support companies through the crisis with banks to offer loans of up to £1.2million to small and medium-sized businesses.
-For the coming year the ‘exceptional step’ of abolishing business rates for businesses with a rateable value below £51,000 will be taken.
-A £3,000 cash grant to businesses eligible for small business rates relief
-Sunak said the OBR forecasts a current budget surplus in every one of the next five years, with borrowing increasing from 2.1% of GDP in 2019/20 to 2.4% in 2020/21 and 2.8% in 2021/22.
-The OBR forecasts that headline debt will be lower at the end of this Parliament than it is currently, falling from 79.5% this year to 75.2% in 2024/25.
-Sunak said research and development investment will be increased to £22billion a year.
-Science Institute in Weybridge, Surrey to get a £1.4bn funding boost
-There will be an extra £900m for research into nuclear fusion, space and electric vehicles.
-The Chancellor said he will establish Treasury offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and open a new ‘economic campus’ in the north with over 750 staff.
-Sunak said the government is providing an additional £640million for the Scottish Government, £360million for the Welsh Government, £210million for the Northern Ireland executive and £240million for new city and growth deals.
TAXATION AND MINIMUM WAGE
-The National Insurance threshold will increase from £8,632 to £9,500, cutting taxes for 31 million workers by around £100.
-The Chancellor said ministers would publish a new remit for the independent Low Pay Commission to have a formal target of the National Living Wage reaching two-thirds of median earnings by 2024 ‘as long as economic conditions allow’ -a rate of more than £10.50 an hour.
-VAT charges on sanitary products widely known as the ‘tampon tax’ will be abolished.
-Sunak said he will introduce a ‘plastics packaging tax’ charging manufactures and importers £200 per tonne on packaging made of less than 30% of recycled plastic.
-The government will freeze the levy on electricity from April 2022 and raise the levy on gas to help tackle climate change.
-Corporation tax will remain at 19%
-The Chancellor announced VAT on digital publications including books, newspapers, magazines and academic journals is being abolished from 1 December.
ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FUEL DUTIES
-Sunak said the planned increase in spirits duty will be cancelled and that duties for beer, cider and wine drinkers will be frozen as well.
-Fuel duty will be frozen for another year.
-‘Red diesel’ tax relief scheme to be abolished ‘for most sectors’.
ROADS AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE
-£27billion to be invested in Britain’s road’s with 50 million potholes repaired.
-Spending on flood defenses is to be doubled. £120million available immediately to repair all defences damaged in the recent winter floods.
-£600billion will be invested over the next five years. ‘If the country needs it we will build it,’ Sunak says.
-Sunak said the Budget provides £5billion to get gigabit-capable broadband into the hardest to reach places and £510million of new investment for the shared rural mobile phone network. He says that means 4G coverage will reach 95% of the country in the next five years.
-The Chancellor adds that ‘the OBR has said today’s Budget will be the largest sustained fiscal boost for 30 years.’
EDUCATION
-Sunak said he is providing every region in the country with funding for special 16-19 maths schools, an average of £25,000 per year for secondary schools to invest in arts activities and £30million a year to improve PE teaching.
-The Chancellor said he is committing £1.5billion of new capital over five years to improve the further education college estate.
THE NHS
-Sunak announced £6billion of new funding to support the NHS over this Parliament.
-This will pay for 50,000 more nurses, 50 million more GP surgery appointments and work to start on 40 new hospitals, Sunak says.
-The Chancellor pledged a package of measures to benefit the NHS including clamping down on ‘aggressive tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance’ with extra funding for the HMRC to secure £4.4billion of extra revenue.
-Sunak said the immigration health surcharge is being raised to £624, with a discounted rate for children.
HOUSING
-Sunak said the government will extend the affordable homes programme with a new multi-year settlement of £12billion.
-There will be £1.1bn from the Housing Infrastructure Fund to build nearly 70,000 new homes in high demand areas across the country, he says.
-He announced a £1billion ‘building safety fund’ to ensure all unsafe combustible cladding is removed from buildings above 18 metres tall.
ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
-Sunak said 30,000 hectares of trees will be planted over the next five years and 35,000 hectares of peatland will be restored.
–That’s equivalent to a forest larger than Birmingham, according to Sunak.
London: British junior health minister Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with coronavirus after falling ill on Friday, UK time.
Dorries, who is now in isolation and recovering, met hundreds of people in Parliament in the past week.
She also attended a reception with Prime Minster Boris Johnson, the Times of Londonsaid.
“Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice,” Dorries was quoted in The Independent.
“I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.”
He was found in the River Stour near Bowens Field.
A police helicopter was spotted over the park on Sunday night, and Victoria Park was cordoned off by officers yesterday as they continued their search.
Kent Police tweeted: “We’re no longer appealing for information to locate Yugal Limbu, a man reported missing from Ashford.
“Yesterday a body was located and, although formal identification has not taken place, his family have been informed.”
Police added that the circumstances are not being treated as suspicious.
Bhagirath Yogi, London- Nepali women have a long way to go to achieve gender equality, experts have warned.
Addressing a seminar on women’s empowerment organised by the NRNA Women’s Forum on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on Sunday, sociologist Dr Meena Poudel said market and media were shaping the attitude towards women. “Market and media make women naked and profit out of it.
Making a presentation on the theme, ‘Socio-cultural construction of personhood in contemporary Nepal,’ Dr Poudel, who now works for International Organisation of Migration and is based in Libya, said that Nepal is moving from feudalism to capitalism and is in a state of transition but our situation is more complex. “The biggest criterion is moral perfection defined by the society. Our society expects women to uphold their ijjat (honour) and it is related to women’s sexuality.”
Dr Poudel said that Nepali women were still pursuing the agenda set by (pioneering women leaders) Sahana Pradhan and Mangala Devi Singh. “Nepal’s political process is not moving in the right direction. Until and unless you address these issues by prioritising socio-cultural transformation, changing laws alone won’t change things,” she added.
“Where’s equality?” asked Dr Poudel. “It’s only rhetoric. “There is legal subordination, economic dependency, cultural obligations to preserve ijjat , and social position (of women is) lower than that of men. She called upon Nepali media to come up with positive narratives.
Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Dr Punam Yadav, said how she had an opportunity to pursue higher studies despite being born in a Yadav family in the terai. Deliberating on her research, Dr Yadav said women are not always victim, they can also benefit from war. They have not been able to prior to the war because of their gender role and “The conflict also created a situation when women get new opportunities and were empowered.”
In order to bring changes, you have to ask questions, said Dr Yadav. “When we ask questions we are seeking new knowledge. Women could drive in Nepal, but we did not have a single woman tempo driver until 1996. Now many women drive tempos in Nepal and this change has been accepted by the society,” she added.
Dr Yadav further said that there have been a lot of positive changes at different levels and sectors in Nepali society. “Madhesi women are now being recruited in the Nepal Army and they are well respected in the family. From ghumto (veil) to uniform should be seen as a positive development,” she added.
Women’s Participation
Prior to 1990, women’s participation in the political process was low. By 2008, women’s participation was only around 8 percent. But after 2008, 33 percent of all elected seats were reserved for women. “These changes came post war and due to changes in political discourse,” said Dr Yadav adding, “women in terai still have ghumto (veil) on their faces but they are also being recruited in the army and police and our society has accepted that. These are the changes we must take into account.”
Inspirational of Nepal and Dignity without Danger,’ Reader at Liverpool John Moores University, Dr Sara Parker said she first went to Nepal in 1986 and has witnessed first hand socio-economic transformation Nepali society has gone over the years.
“I went back in 1992 and stayed in Sikles village, Kaski district, for six months as a teacher. There were no female teachers at the school in Sikles in 1992, today more than 50 percent of the teachers are female and local. It’s so important to have that support locally.”
Talking about Chhaupadi, Dr Parker called upon media and political leaders to pay more respect to local culture and traditions. “In social media, I saw local women fighting with police who were trying to pull down their cowsheds. You have to see it in a much broader context. Media should try to look into context,” she added. “There is no one single narrative. You have to work with local people to find local solution. We need to talk what does dignified menstruation mean. No woman should be at risk of abuse, rape or death because of her period. All schools in Nepal should have a menstrual box,” she added.
Taking part in floor discussions, Kamal Khanal from the Nepalese British Community UK, said he has two grown up daughters who have finished Universities. “Though I come from a Brahmin family, we have told them that they are free to enter into relationships with whomever they like. I told them what we want is their happiness. Let’s learn from our children,” he added.
Former President of NRNA UK, Yog Kumar Phagami, however, said in the 21st century, inter-caste marriage is still not accepted in our families. He advised youths to talk to their parents. “Even in the UK, many marriages are taking place as decided by their parents. Youths should be aware and persuade their parents. Youth have more role to play vis a vis their parents,” he added.
Youngest Olympian in 2018 Olympics, Ms Gaurika Singh, said that feminism is about equality, not undermining men against women. We heard from Chelsea Gurung, Nisha Gurung, young and old and we have very lively debate. Panel discuss ion on Inter-Generational Perspective on Contemporary.
A student and youngest speaker, Chelsea Gurung, said that we live in a world where culture dominates. “We must rethink stereotypes and give priority to young people like me. We must change mindsets and behaviour to ensure equality,” she added.
Respect Each Other, Celebrate Diversity
Speakers called upon women to respect each other, question society and challenge their own prejudices and work in partnership with different groups to bring a stronger voice
They also advised to celebrate diversity.
President of the NRNA UK, Mrs Punam Gurung, said that international women’s day afforded an opportunity to express far reaching values for our society and future generations. “It is a day to recognise and champion the political, economic and social achievements of women. Our efforts don’t end today. Each for Equal campaign runs all year long,” she added.
Chief guest at the programme and Second Secretary at the Nepali Embassy, Mr Laba Subedi, said we should observe women’s day every day. “Yesterday, how our mum and grand mum lived their lives. To what extent can we transform our society so that our future generations can enjoy a society without discrimination,” he added.
Amrita Giri Gajurel and Sushmita Thapa performed a drama. Laxmi Rai ‘Lara’ and Nisha Rai introduced the panel members while President of NRNA UK Women Forum, Prasuna Kadel, thanked all the panellists and participants.
ANI, Kathmandu: Nepal on Monday temporarily suspended its visa on arrival services for nationals of three more countries — Spain, France, and Germany — effective from Tuesday, as part of the measures to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.
Department of Immigration has suspended Visa on Arrival facilitity in Nepal for nationals of People's Republic of China (including Special Administrative Regions), Iran, Italy, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Germany and Spain. For detail visit: https://t.co/sIpqNK6Syg
— Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (@hello_CAANepal) March 9, 2020
In a statement on Monday, Nepal’s Immigration Department said that the nationals of the aforementioned countries wanting to visit the Himalayan nation can obtain visas beforehand from the Nepali missions abroad.
“Those applicants and also the nationals transiting from these countries bound to arrive Nepal are required to submit a recently issued health certificate stating that they are not infected by COVID-19 along with their visa applications,” added the statement.
Earlier, the country had suspended the said services for the coronavirus-hit countries of China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan.
“Nationals from aforementioned eight nationalities are strongly recommended to use the Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu, the only one entry-exit point that will be remaining open for arrival and departure in Nepal. The rest of the land POE (Point of Entry and Exit) in Nepal are temporarily suspended till the date of further notice,” said the statement.
Concerning those who got visas to Nepal earlier, the Government of Nepal now has made it mandatory that the in-bound nationals from those enlisted countries must procure health certificate showing them having tested negative for coronavirus, along with the travel documents.
The health certificates should have been procured within seven days prior to their date of arrival in Nepal.
The 33-year-old is of slim build, around 5ft 10ins, with short black hair and brown eyes, an official twit of the Kent Police states.
He was last seen wearing a black cap, black coat, black trousers and black trainers.
Can you help? Officers have carried out a search of the area where he was last seen and reviewed CCTV and are becoming increasingly concerned for his welfare.
Anyone who has seen him or knows where he is should call Kent Police on 101 quoting 08-1310.
New Delhi: Investing in women is not just a social expenditure but it is an investment in the economy. These words were said by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development (WCD) and Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, on Saturday, as she released a report on the ‘Status of Women in Media in South Asia’, India Dictum writes.
On the eve of Women’s Day celebrated the world over on 8 March, the WCD Minister addressed the audience at an event organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Congratulating the IIMC for bringing out the report, Irani urged the sharing of it with the heads and owners of media houses in order to bring to their notice the gender gap and inequity that exists in newsrooms.
Irani said that the Ministry of WCD will be happy to collaborate with the IIMC to conduct a study on the impact of evolving technology on women in media. She stated that research needs to be done on women in regional media and the support ecosystem required by them during their job in the field.
Prof Veena Sikri, Founding Trustee and Convenor of South Asia Women’s Network highlighted the findings of the report. Sponsored by UNESCO, the report has been researched jointly by the South Asia Women’s Network (SWAN) and the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development. The working conditions of women in media was studied in nine countries of South Asia and has been brought out in two volumes.
The full report: The Status of Women in Media in South Asia, March 2020
The South Asia Women’s Network (SWAN) releases, in March 2020, its first ever publication, the Report on the Status of Women
in Media in South Asia, Volumes I and II.
The Report on the Status of Women in Media in South Asia encapsulates the outcome of over five years of coordinated, collective effort by the participating institutions and individuals from nine countries of South Asia, on the SWAN project Women for Change : Building a Gendered media in South Asia. The detailed trajectory of the work done on this project is outlined in the Introduction, Chapter I of the Report.
The SWAN project targets quantitative and, based on data collation and analysis, qualitative assessment of the Status of Women in Media in South Asia, covering nine countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Gender Sensitive Guidelines for Women in Media in South Asia (GSGWMSA) have been collectively formulated. The Regional Coordinators planned the Baseline Survey, providing the media research teams in each of these nine countries with specific details about inputs required research questions and allied issues. The Country Research Reports received from each of the participating institutions have been compiled in Volume II of the Report. Volume I of the Report has the collective and comparative analysis of the individual Country Reports, collated under nine chapters.
UNESCO (New Delhi Cluster Office) and SWAN conceptualized this project in 2013 and launched it in 2014, with the firm conviction that gender equality is central to the idea of a pluralistic and inclusive media eco-system. Gender equality is a pre-condition for genuine freedom of expression. UNESCO and SWAN agree on the critical role of the media as a reflection of society and an agent of change, through media freedom with responsibility. The media is an important partner, both in the promotion of gender equality as well as in removing negative gender stereotypes embedded in individual and community mindsets. Getting it right on gender and media is essential for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), beginning with SDG 5 on the empowerment of women and girls. UNESCO supported SWAN on this project until May 2018.
Research Highlights The seminal research through the project Women for Change: Building a Gendered Media in South Asia, undertaken in tandem in all nine countries, shows without any ambiguity that the issues and concerns of women in the entire region are largely similar. The research has examined the news media, the advertising sector, the entertainment media, including films; journalism and mass communication curricula; and the existing gender-related legislations and policy mechanisms.
The women working in media do not have wage parity, nor are they adequately represented at decision-making levels in management. With few exceptions, women in media face a gender insensitive environment at the workplace, including discrimination, security threats and violence. There is sharp gender inequality in media coverage about women, with high focus on sexual crimes and harassment in the news media content relating to women. Most often, women are stereotyped, belittled and sexually objectified in the news, entertainment and commercial space across all the nine countries, as reflected in the individual Country Research Reports. The patriarchal mind-set prevalent in traditional societies, including across South Asia, is reflected in the media discourse and coverage about women in these countries.
The portrayal of women in advertising and entertainment media was found across all nine countries to be retrograde, projecting women in a stereotypical manner, either in ‘essentialist’ roles, as passive, subordinate to men, low in intellect and social hierarchy, or as objects of desire. Women across brand categories are stereotyped in advertising. In life style brand categories, they are usually sexually objectified. Despite censorship in some countries, and laws and codes of professional ethics in other countries, the menace continues unabated. Advertising per se has failed to recognize the social shift and the changing role of women in society. Some brands attempt to present modern women who are empowered, but deep analysis reflects reinforcement of old stereotypes and building of new ones.
The course curricula in journalism and mass communication faculties/ institutes in most countries in the region, with the exception of Bangladesh, are not inclusive and gender-sensitive. In India, more than 300 universities teach mass communication, but less than 10% of these had any module or course on gender. In Bangladesh, almost 75% such mass communication courses had gender as an important component, an example others in the region need to emulate. Across South Asia, a growing number of women join mass communication faculties to pursue a career in journalism and media. However, within a few years, they are forced to quit their jobs, for reasons that include the gender insensitive environment within the media industry, and familial responsibilities, despite their desire of fulfilling their professional ambitions and contributing to the family income.
India is probably the only country in the region that has a number of laws concerning women, including a law on ensuring maternity leave for working women, a law against the sexual harassment of women at the work place, and on setting up complaints committees within each organization. Other countries also have policies and regulations in place, but the implementation per se in all the countries in the region is lax. Serious efforts are necessary to overcome poor implementation and the lack of effective legal frameworks and policies that optimally addresses issues related to gender and women within the South Asian media.
Policy Recommendations The country-based research findings on legal and policy frameworks for women in media highlight the urgent need for meaningful and effective mechanisms that can ensure a gender sensitive media with equal, non-discriminatory rights, protection against sexual harassment and gender based violence at the workplace, and respect for women in portrayal, both in media content and advertising. The mechanisms can include formal legislation, guidelines, codes of conduct and ethics, regulatory bodies and self-regulatory mechanisms. Each of the nine countries is keenly debating these issues, and a few have good mechanisms in place, but there is inadequate focus on implementation. India (ISID, New Delhi) has proposed a Multimedia Tool Kit for the gender sensitivity test.
Stronger initiatives by the Governments are vital, in partnership with all stakeholders, public and private, to agree on the most effective mix of mechanisms, to rigorously implement existing legal frameworks or update outdated policies. Editors and owners must come on board to accept the seriousness of ensuring a gender-sensitive media, and to pledge their cooperation in working towards agreed goals in this regard, whether on halting discriminatory and gender-biased practices by media organizations, or on ending gender based violence. Women media professionals must be assured a healthy, non-discriminatory work environment with equal opportunity. For ensuring portrayal of women based on reality and addressing objectification of women, the governments and industry self-regulatory bodies need to engage with the corporate and creative teams on brand advertising. Scriptwriters, producers and directors from the entertainment media should agree on gender sensitive indicators.
The South Asia Women’s Network (SWAN) thanks all those who have contributed to the success of our efforts in preparing this Report : the nine Country Research Teams and Country Advisory Boards, the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi, and Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID) for their participation, and for the immense contribution made by the Regional Coordinators; to the Editors of the Report. SWAN’s special appreciation extends to Tata Trusts for their support in bringing out this publication.
Nepal is no stranger to the threats of nature. The impacts of the devastating earthquake in 2015 still ripple through the country today, as the 900,0000-some people who lost their homes continue to rebuild their lives. With the average global temperatures on an upward trajectory, other threats come sharply into focus. The Himalayas is home to a plethora of glaciers and frozen lakes, which are steadily melting due to climate change. It is estimated that a glacial lake outburst from Imja Lakealone could affect up to half a million people.
The government of Nepal has prioritized adaptation planning to better preparation for such events, as well as life on a warmer planet through the formulation of its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) with support from UN Environment and on the agriculture with the support of UNDP and FAO. During the Gobeshona conference in Bangladesh, we met with Ajay Mathema – from the School of Environmental Science and Management at the Pokhara University in Nepal. Mr. Mathema has been following the NAP process since 2015, particularly for generation of knowledge and research. We spoke with Mr. Mathema to discuss how Nepal’s NAP experience is progressing and the role universities are playing in its development.
How is Nepal’s National Adaptation planning progressing?
The NAPs process started in Nepal in 2015 and established two working groups; one team to produce reports and a second team to review and incorporate the findings into their policies. Both teams are coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, along with 11 other ministries. In 2017, the teams produced a number of outputs such as a vulnerability assessment framework, climate scenario studies, indicators and technical reports. Currently Nepal is trying to coordinate around all line ministries, which have currently been slowed down. The restructuring still needs to settle before there is a clear path for integration.
Which partners are critical partners in the Nepal’s NAP process?
Nepal’s NAP process has a unique feature that emphasizes inclusiveness, to ensure no one sector is left behind. A critical partner that is often overseen is the academia sector. Universities in Nepal have been working on climate change for over 25 years and while governments sometimes hire university faculties as consultants, going further and engaging the whole university has massive benefits for capacity development. In 1999, the Pokhara University in Nepal had been building capacity of the ministries. During this period, we had conducted trainings and projects in the field. One of the challenges identified by government in their report on NAPs is they want to transfer the NAP process from the national level to the sub-national level and universities can play a leading role in this; ensuring capacity is sustained and maintained in the long-term.
How can universities shape national policies on climate change?
Much of NAPs process is built around policy work that started in 2015. In order to convert policy into action, it needs to be deployed at the local level. Providing municipalities with support, sensitization of politically elected people and building capacity at all levels is a role that universities can play.
What role do you think students and researchers can play in locally led climate action?
The Pokhara University is part of the Least Developed Countries Universities Consortium on Climate Change (LUCCC) and formulated a student club that organized an international programme and panel discussion at COP25. This inspired students to promote climate-friendly products in their own lives, such as supporting the use of electric motorbikes. Universities are also essential to filling roles within government ministries. Since 2002, the Pokhara University has produced around 50 environment graduates a year, 50 percent of whom go on to work for the government.
Climate action needs to start at the grassroots level, but there is a bottleneck: researchers and policy makers don’t speak the same language as grassroots organizations. We like to present our data in graphs and tables, with fancy academic language, which often isn’t necessarily the best way to explain concepts to local stakeholders. We need to get better at communicating with our local bodies and project beneficiaries; a role the universities take the lead on.
What are the entry points for leveraging finance for locally led climate action?
When it comes to finance, local bodies and municipalities are actually quite powerful in Nepal as they have autonomy over deriving revenues from their own resources (mines, etc.). The local governments can submit funding proposals for provincial and national level for funding as well. Of course, foreign aid through grants or loans is provided at the federal level. For better-coordinated projects, the provincial level can start building the case to work with development partners and use locally sourced human resources to achieve locally led climate action.
At the Gobeshona conference, the Global Commission for Adaptation launched the Locally Led Action Track which UNDP is a key supporter of. Hearing about the concrete steps Nepal is taking to ensure adaptation planning is locally led can act as an inspiration to other countries and through close collaboration between governments and universities, the flow of information between policymakers and project beneficiaries can stay fluid and grass roots climate action can be empowered. The NAP Global Support Programme is a joint programme by UN Environment and the UN Development Programme, funded by the Global Environment Facility.
London—A mental health expert has advised young people to pay attention to their mental health and seek help if they are facing any problems.
Photo: Merging NepSocs
Addressing a Mental Health Workshop organised by Merging NepSocs—an association of Nepali students studying in various UK Universities, Dr Nikki Shakya, Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist at the National Health Service (NHS), said university students are prone to stress due to exams, financial reasons and also due to upheavals in their relationships.
“You should not feel shy. Talk to your friends, partner or teachers. Don’t hesitate to contact doctors or counsellors because there is a very good provision of mental health services in the UK,” she added.
Dr Shakya said foreign students in the UK were facing cultural challenges because they are expected to follow rules and guidance set out by their parents and at the same time are influenced by the culture of host country through their peers, education system and media.
“Environmental stress, physical stress, biological vulnerability, psychological vulnerability, emotional stress, life events and chronic long terms influence our mental health, said Dr Shakya adding, “The key is behaviour that seems ‘uncharacteristic.’
She said typical symptoms of depression include depressed mood, loss of interest or enjoyment and increased fatigability. She advised young people to support and advise their friends to seek help if they show such symptoms. “Timely intervention and support can save lives, “she emphasised.
Dr Shakya said that pillars of resilience include physical health, psychological health, relationships and support. She also advised university students to contact their local GP, organisations like Minds (www.mind.org.uk), Samaritans (www.samaritans.org), NHS Live Well, Young Minds (https://youngminds.org.uk) and Royal College of Psychiatrists if they need any advice or support.
She also responded to queries from the students.
Addressing the interaction, former BBC journalist and Consulting Editor of www.southasiatime.com, Bhagirath Yogi, urged students to set aside at least 15 to 20 minutes every day for physical activity, breathing exercises (Pranayama), Yoga and Meditation. “Please engage in activities that you love, be it running, jogging, spending time with friends or volunteering. Sharing is caring, so we should try to help each other.” He also urged students to help prospective Nepali students by imparting right information back home.
President of Merging NepSocs, Pawan Kandel, said the Merging NepSocs was established in 2018 with a view to unite all Nepali students and help each other. “We provide networking platform to students, an opportunity for mentoring and has also been encouraging its members to join International Citizen Service and implement Social Action Projects,” said Kandel. He also thanked Tina Tamang, Ojesh Singh and all members for bringing out the first issue of NepSocs Today magazine.
The maiden issue of the magazine was also launched on the occasion. Ojesh Singh is the Project Lead of the magazine publishing team while Tina Tamang is editor-in-chief. Manita Ale and Bibek Khatri Chhetri are Coordinators while Priyanka Acharya is Finance Coordinator.
