Democracy Bus (DBC), Tansen and Harthok Deurali, Palpa (6th June 2008)

After the general introduction of the objectives of the workshop and the DBC, Sten Andreasen (MSN director) who was invited as the chief guest talked about the meaning of democracy and why it is important.

By Paramita Yonzon

16. June 2008

The last day of the DBC in Palpa!!

Role and responsibility of citizens is an important part of the democratic society and with this thought in mind, a workshop was organized in Tansen where government officials, political leaders, student representatives, press and MS partners participated. After the general introduction of the objectives of the workshop and the DBC, Sten Andreasen (MSN director) who was invited as the chief guest talked about the meaning of democracy and why it is important.

H.B Kunwar (resource person), professor in political science, Tansen, presented his paper on the topic of civic responsibility. He explained the need for civic duty towards one’s family, society and the country at large. His presentation did include important things such as moral duties, legal duties, human rights and more, but the presentation had some loop holes in it:

First of all, it could not describe the essence of the objectives of the workshop and the DBC. Mr. Kunwar tried to explain things through the definitions in the dictionary and through writers and thinkers which made his presentation less interesting. Once the floor was opened for the participants, a lot of comments and suggestions were given to the resource person on his paper. Among other things the participants did not lik the mentioning of the king declaring democracy for the people of Nepal in the past. To them, the resource person should have included the struggle and the sacrifices the people went through for the declaration to take place.

Most of the participants did not stick to the topic which diverted the workshop a little from its actual agenda. I felt the need for a stronger facilitation during the workshop to avoid such diversion. The organisers also need to clarify things to a resource person beforehand with regard to the objectives of the program to avoid confusion. The organisers felt the drawback and I hope we learn from this.

Some comments from the floor:

“How can we move ahead with the religious principles guiding us??? We need to be loyal and true towards our country but religion brings conflict….we need to develop a culture, where we end the culture of asking and being depended…USA has given Nepal classes on peace….how practical is that???? We Nepalese need to be aware…..yes we have ended monarchy but now the fight is going between the parties, on who gets the power….for all of this we citizens have to be aware…we have to make our voices heard…”

“How can we focus on just civic duty? What about the existence of the haves and have nots in the society??? There are people who have not received their basic right to education, health and water. How can we expect them to focus on duties when they have no food to eat?”

“Payment of tax has been mentioned as a duty but a person living in a remote area who has no access to any facilities then how can he pay taxes….provision of taxes should be based on proportional system”.

Civic Education Class, Forum Theatre and Documentary in Bhairav Sthan:

Besides the workshop the campaigners carried out informal civic class and documentary program in Shivbhairav Higher Secondary School of Bhairav Sthan where students from classes 7-10 had participated.

Civic class and forum theatre was performed in the community of Harthok Deurali during the afternoon. With lack of appropriate space activities had to be carried out in the middle of the highway which made it difficult for the performers and the audiences sometimes. Nevertheless, it is always good to see faces lighting up with excitement and anticipation.

“I did not know that there was the provision of pension for old people like us. Now I know from the play”said one participant.

I had a short conversation with the senior members of the Harthok community and we talked about the practice of caste discrimination.

Some believed that such age old practices could not be stopped while some believed that it would take 50 to 60 years for things to change. On my way back to the hotel, I thought about the conversation that I had and realised that we as development practitioners and change agents have more miles to cover and I hope that our journey will come to an end.