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Thursday, January 20, 2011

My Perception: Volunteering in Local Body



It was really new experience in my life. As always we experience in new place and new way but still the same us ourselves and the same feeling and attitude towards the new things. Its more than 9 months, I took a new path to reach my desired destiny. I followed my heart to leave my existing easily handled and joined as volunteer in LGCDP in hunger of knowledge of Local Governance.

Many things were raised within my tranquility, when I first stepped in District Development Committee, Rautahat. The response was mixed too. I was completely ignorant about the government system and procedures. I took a glance around. I could listen people shouting for their works done. I entered to meet my concerned focal person about myself and my assignment to support for LGCDP. But I didn't get any response from him rather his silence which made me surprised. I felt that gesture might have dealt with the new employees especially from outside of DDC or any projects. I waited for few days but couldn’t trace the activities of LGCDP and my presence in the DDC found futile. I found no attention at all towards me and my attention.

I was almost frustrated over the behavior shown with the DDC. I recalled an incident of a boy. "The boy was travelling in a local train. At first he entered, it was so packed and mess that he didn’t get any seat. He anyhow managed to stand up and keep his bag aside. He could see people being irritated due to crowd and heat. Some were talking how people get in without seeing such inconvenience. In fact his presence was annoying to the people. After some time a man called him to sit in very little space. They started talking and shared their stuffs. Soon he was comfortable with all the people in compartment. Some hours later his bag was nearly thieved. A man in same compartment saw his bag being pulled by someone else and shouted. The thief ran away and the boy’s bag was saved. Within very few time a beautiful relationship was established among these peoples". This incident really has given to me a meaningful inspiration. I also thought about our lives in a same way. I compare me with the boy, other colleagues in DDC as people in the compartment and the same type of relation. I thought that it is definitely tough to handle it now but there is possibility of good human relation. Nobody will be such inhuman to discard me always. I felt the goodness inside. I then tried to find my place and soon succeed to trace. I then started to perform my duty from very small task I found in front. Slowly and gradually I made my place.

Change in my perception gave very good result. My continuous effort and dedication made significant relation in DDC. I committed to do my best as far as I can. If anything goes on wrong. I just control myself, explore the alternative options the way of working and delete the mess by good coordination with colleagues. And finally I get success over such small daily problems. The problem arises however we do or wherever we go. As an old proverb says “everyone have their own burden, the difference is how they carry it.” Some concentrate in problems only and some move ahead in a search of solutions too. Along the way I took the responsibility of District Facilitator though I was assigned for assistant. My works has been widely appreciated in DDC and LGCDP cluster unit and even in NDVS/UNV. It gives me high level of satisfaction in volunteering work. So I took my volunteering works in DDC as easily as I can and tried to help to others. As a result I also have been helped with by others. I realized that there is not anything wrong; the wrong is either our perception or theirs. Now, I feel that let's do something better. I would like to thank to everyone who has given me such opportunity of volunteering.

Anuradha Ghimire, ADF, Rautahat

Thank you !

Ms. Anuradha Ghimire volunteers with District Development Committee Rautahat as Assistant Facilitator as under NDVS/UNV.

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1 comment:

स्वागतम Welcome ! said...

Thanks so much Anuradha jee for your feeling posting..

January 20, 2011 at 10:17 PM

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The Most Frightening Moment in My Life

Incident at Charaundi:
Letter to the Editor in Kantipur, 22 February 2005

Imagine a speeding bus on the highway. Now imagine someone opening fire on it. You only see it in the movies. And when it happens in real life, right in front of your eyes many are too shocked to react. In case the conflict is resolved, future generations will look back at incidents like these. But if it doesn't there will surely be many more incidents like what happened to us on 20 February at Charaundi. Around 45 to 50 of us were in the Machhapuchhre Yatayat bus bound for Pokhara from Kathmandu. The bus was in a long line of vehicles and along the way it felt like we were traversing a war zone. Army patrols everywhere, vehicles on fire by the roadside.

The journey was depressing and we were filled with fear and foreboding. We used to feel safe in the towns but when we reached Charaundi Bajar a gunman in combat fatigues opened fire at the driver of the bus. I can't describe in words the feeling that ran through me. Four days earlier I had travelled this same road and my bus had met with an accident between Dumre and Damauli. I had been physically and psychologically scarred by the accident and was desperate to get home to Pokhara and be reunited with my parents, wife and children. But here I was in a bus whose driver had been shot and was speeding along the highway at 50 kmph. There were people along the side of the road and ahead of us was a stream, river and a bridge. We all got down under our seats and prayed, convinced this was the last day of our lives. However agnostic you may be, when death stares at you, you remember God. But the bus did not collide with anything, it sped on along the highway. Slowly, we peeked at the driver's seat and saw someone driving the bus. There was someone listening to our prayers after all, God had sent a messenger to rescue us. He was Shyam Thapa of Pokhara's Ratna Chok returning home after a holiday in Kathmandu. He replaced the wounded driver, took control and drove us safely to Pokhara. In return, we could offer him little more than thanks for having given us a new life. Two other elderly passengers in the bus had also suffered bullet wounds and their blood filled the bus till we reached Mugling. From there, the army took the three to Kathmandu in a helicopter. We joined six other buses to be escorted into Pokhara which we reached by 8PM. On behalf of all the passengers, let me thank Shyam Thapa for saving our lives. If we do not respect the fundamental right to life of every Nepali citizen, there is no doubt this conflict will turn into a bloodbath. We wish to ask all sides to stop these irrational, inhuman acts and resolve the conflict peacefully through negotiations.
Indra Bahadur Bhujel, Lamjung

Kantipur, 23 February

Thanks to Indra Bhujel for sharing his harrowing tale of survival and bravery with the readers. In today's Nepal, facts are more dramatic than fiction and this is but one example. Reading the heartfelt letter, I was overcome with emotion and felt like I had experienced it myself. I have nothing but admiration for Shyam Thapa who took over the runaway bus from the wounded driver and saved the lives of everyone on board.
Kiran Khanal, Kathmandu

Indra Bahadur Bhujel's letter describes an event that is the country's conflict in a microcosm. Those who were responsible for opening fire on the bus should read the letter and think about what they have done by targeting unarmed innocent bus passengers. The true hero is Shyam Thapa who saved the lives of dozens of frightened passengers. A hero is someone who gives the gift of life to others, who shows uncommon valour in times of crisis and demands nothing in return. Shyam Thapa is one such hero. Thanks also to Bhujel for writing to tell us what happened since details of the event didn't make it to the news. Let's hope the perpetrators realise that this conflict can only be won by discretion and rationality. Just like Shyam Thapa saved everyone with his bravery, the warring sides must also give up violence and strive for morality, ethics and idealism to win the hearts and minds of the people.
Binita Aryal, Lajimpat