What's New

As per the Environmental Impact Agreement and Cabinet Approval, 805 trees were stamped for removal in Mugu

RAP3 MHLR has signed a contract with Action Works Nepal (AWON) to provide training on the sanitary pad making process enabling easy access of reusable pads for Road Building Groups (RBG) members. As RAP3 MHLR employs over 2000 people from the local community to build rural roads, 50% of RBGs are women and menstrual hygiene is an essential issue that needs to be addressed. RAP3 MHLR in coordination with AWON conducted a three day training workshop at Bama from 5^th to 7^th September 2019.  50 women from 25 groups attended the training. The service provider along with the pad making workshop has also provided training on menstrual hygiene to the RBG members.  During the training, we asked individual woman in confidence whether they use pad/ cloth during mensuration and we found that 39 women out of 50 have never used pad/cloth in their life. After this training, we hope that these women will be able to make their own reusable pads that could enable them to maintain menstrual hygiene and ensure more income is generated through their regular attendance at work.

Now, the team will conduct the same 3 day training session in Luma (Mugu), and Bohorabada.(Humla).

A one-day municipal level engagement workshop has been successfully completed on 10^th September in Dolpa district. This workshop was the 6^th workshop of Maintenance and Resilience Pilot Component (MRPC) scheduled by RAP3 MHLR. The main objective of the workshop was to introduce the Maintenance and Resilience Pilot Component and its activities to relevant stakeholders at the local level.  It was also an opportunity to collect information related to understanding, initiation and preparation of Municipal Transport Master Plans (MTMP) by the Rural/Municipalities to help identify key development issues/problems relating to municipal road networks.  Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, Vice-Chairpersons, Ward Chairpersons and Chief Administrative Officers from Rural/Municipalities of Dolpa attended the workshop. Participants raised various queries related to budget allocation, preparation of MTMP, RAP3 MHLR support to local levels and the road maintenance activities using Road Maintenance Group (RMGs) were discussed.

Participants were also informed about the range of support through the MRPC on MTMP preparation and routine/recurrent road maintenance activities. In the workshop, Vice-Mayor of Tripurasundari Municipality focused on the importance of MTMP preparation, prioritisation of roads based on clear criteria and construction of roads with well engineering design and procedures rather than relying solely on the influence of political leaders. Likewise, Chairperson of Jagdulla Rural Municipality emphasised the importance of road maintenance and the necessity for RAP3 MHLR to support the preparation of MTMPs. He added that all Palikas have to allocate budgets for road maintenance to ensure their sustainability.  Mahesh Chandra Neupane, Programme Coordinator RAP3 MHLR (DoLI), emphasised awareness raising for all Palikas on the importance of MTMPs, budget allocation and road maintenance activities. Issues and concerns raised by the participants were clarified by Mahesh Chandra Neupane, Gopi Chandra Upreti, MRPC Province Support Manager and Laxman Bhakta Dahi Shrestha, Central Stakeholder Coordinator on behalf of RAP3 MHLR.

A one-day Engagement Workshop has been successfully completed on 21^st and 22^nd August in Surkhet and 25^th August in Rukum West and Jumla.  The main objective of the workshop was to introduce the Maintenance and Resilience Pilot and its start-up activities to relevant stakeholders at the local level.  It was also and opportunity to collect information related to understanding, initiation and preparation of Municipal Transport Master Plan (MTMP) by the municipalities. Participants including Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, Vice-Chairpersons, and Chief Administrative Officers from Rural/Municipalities of Surkhet, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Rukum West, Kalikot, Jumla and Mugu attended the workshop. Various queries related to the preparation of MTMP and the road maintenance activities through RMG were thoroughly discussed in an open session.

Participants were also informed about the ranges of support through the MRPC office on MTMP preparation and routine/recurrent road maintenance as well as SMG works and their execution through direct funding mechanisms of MRP. In the workshop, DCC Chief from Rukum West emphasised the importance of coordination with local levels during the implementation of any programme. Likewise, Principal Secretary of the Karnali Province highlighted the importance of road maintenance, optimum utilization of budget and the avoidance of work duplications.  Issues and concerns raised by the participants were clarified by Mr. Arjun Poudel, MRP Manager, Mr. Dili Prakash Sitaula, MRP Senior Co-ordinator and Gopi Chandra Upreti, MRP Province Support Manager on behalf of RAP3 MHLR.

Bio-engineering work has been completed from Rugha upto Darke Khola in an area of 13,120 square metres where full widening along the Mugu Humla Link Road section was completed. Bio-engineering techniques like brush layering using branches of local plant species, covering 1433 running metre has been adopted. Similarly, 80kg of Ryegrass seed was sown at cut-and-fill slope area. Also, in order to stabilize fresh soil cut-and-fill slopes, 8 kg of millet was broadcast. The purpose of bio engineering work is to improve slope stability and prevent erosion of cut and fill slopes along the MHLR alignment.

As almost 50% of RBGs working on RAP3 MHLR are women, menstrual hygiene is an issue that needs to be addressed.  RAP3 MHLR in coordination with PHASE Nepal conducted an orientation programme on menstrual hygiene for four Road Building Groups- Kureli, Balmandir, Ratapani, and Chandanath on 2^nd August 2019 at Darkey khola, Mugu. 31 women participated in the orientation programme. Unsafe practices regarding menstruation still continue in various parts of Mugu area and the aim of this orientation programme is to ensure that women of the RBGs have all the right information on menstruation hygiene.

A nationally recognised wilderness first aid training that trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote areas like Mugu where access to medical care and communication is unreliable, was conducted in Gamgadhi Mugu from 5^th to 9^th August 2019. The first aid training was given to all the field staff. RAP3 MHLR is committed to the health and safety of all our employees and we have health and safety policies and procedures to guide employees to work safely and prevent injury, to themselves and others. There is a risk of accidents in construction sites which is aggravated by limited access to medical care in Mugu and Humla. Therefore, the aim of providing this training to our staff is to ensure that their first aid skills could be helpful for saving victim/s life until medical service is available.

The training was divided into three different sessions: 21 members engaged in a 3-day full first aid training, 27 members engaged in a one-day basic first aid awareness training, and 13 members who had previously attended 20 hours wilderness first aid training were given a one-day  first aid refresher training. All the staff involved in the training passed their practical and written test and received certificate and ID card from Himalayan Medics.