Its 14 members are Anup Chalise, Ankush Mala Chalise, Manisha Chalise, Babita Chalise, Subekshya Pundit, Dipendra Malla, Kulraj Chalise, Shilu Chalise, Dipa Bastola, Ashmita Shrestha, Avash Pradhan, Bishal Pahadi, Raj Bajimaye, and Ashmita Sharma.[break]
They are all students who undertake all the activities in their free time. They started off with help from their friends and family members. MECT has also been enjoying the support of Bandobasta Byabasthapan Sewa Pvt Ltd for the past three years.
The year 2010 saw its first campaign come to life. Its “Peepal Plantation Campaign” was supported by Machhapuchhre FM and Bandobasta Byabasthapan Sewa Pvt Ltd in Pokhara.
Considered a holy practice, 108 peepal saplings were planted on the banks of Bhurjung Khola during the event which lasted for a week. In the Peepal Plantation Campaign 2011, around 1,400 saplings were planted. MECT in 2012 are now looking to help in better ways by trying to eliminate poverty and empower the youth.
In the district of Syangja, the village of Khoriyaghat is home to hundreds of indigenous communities like the Majhis, Botes, Kumals and other groups. They earned their livelihood by means of fishing and transporting people to and from the river.
One of the most important rivers in the country, Krishna Gandaki is a part of the seven tributaries beginning from the Himalaya. As it flows down near the Khoriyaghat village, the river gradually becomes dirtier. The construction of the bridge over the Krishna Gandaki River has also considerably affected their means of earning their daily income.
Peepal Plantation Campaign 2012
It was launched on World Environment Day this year, and will continue till October of 2012. This year, the theme of “Green Economy: Does it include you?” was taken on. MECT, with the support of Bandobasta Byabasthapan Sewa Pvt Ltd, is working with the Krishna Mandir Promotion Children Committee (KPCC). With help from the adults of KPCC, it is mostly providing a helping hand to the campaign.
KPCC was also organized by MECT with the intention of encouraging young village children to help uplift their society. Children as young as 12 years old and younger comprise KPCC.
Apart from the main group in Khoriyaghat which boasts members above the count of 20, four more groups have been formed in other nearby villages like Darpu, Keladi, Hungi, and Tamachour. Each sub-committee has around 20 members each.
The main purpose behind this year’s campaign is to develop the spiritual goodness, conserve the natural environment of Khoriyaghat and to develop mainstream tourism in the area.
Activities of MECT
The Peepal Plantation Campaign 2012: On World Environment Day, 108 saplings were planted on the banks of Krishna Gandaki. More than 70 people out of 108 have registered to commit in building a chautari (resting place) within two years. A sum of Rs 500 each was collected which was used to buy the saplings.
The rest of the amount will be given to children who will take care of the saplings and see them as they grow. KPCC hosted the program and MECT supported it through fundraising, collecting saplings for plantation and bringing together supporters and participants.
Demonstration of the benefits of water purification: The inhabitants of Khoriyaghat have long been drinking water straight from the tap without giving any thought to purification.
In order to spread awareness of the health benefits of drinking purified water, MECT contributed Rs 5,000 to buy some of the necessary equipments like a Waterguard filter and a few drums.
Community farming: KPCC got together with a local group, Nari Utthan Aama Samuha, and worked on community farming. A community land near the Kali Mandir compound was used to sow 40 banana plants.
Gandaki Dasahara Puja: This festival was not celebrated in Khoriyaghat before KPCC introduced it in the village. Lasting for 10 days, the festival starts in mid May and is believed to wash away the sins committed on a daily basis.
Training children: Keeping in mind that learning through fun activities yields better results, MECT initiated a program where children could learn about painting on peepal leaves, shaligram stones and also about religious music. Leaf paintings and the saligram stones found on the banks of the Krishna Gandaki River can fetch money through their art values.
An exhibition took place in the village where the art was showcased, and Tek Bahadur Kunwar Thapa, an artist, was also shown appreciation for his work in art conservation.
Anup Chalise, 25, Project Coordinator of Peepal Plantation Campaign 2012, says, “We’re an informal youth group whose members are less than 25 years of age. MECT isn’t yet registered, though we’re in the process. For the 2012 campaign, we’ve spread it over five months because we learnt that we need ample time to spread awareness about environmental concerns. We also take this time to prepare ourselves and do better works.”
He further says that at Khoriyaghat, the volunteers have planted the saplings on a temporary stone platform after learning that these saplings have better chances of survival this way.
Though the Seti floods last May destroyed most of the plants from the 2010 campaign, some still survive and MECT has formed a few informal youth groups to look after the surviving saplings.
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