What's New

The RAP3 MHLR team is pleased to announce that the construction and handover of full length of MHLR is now complete. The remaining 30 km long road section of the UK aid funded Mugu Humla Link Road (MHLR) was officially handed over to the Infrastructure Development Office (IDO), Humla under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development (MoPIUD), Karnali Province on 2^nd April 2022. Representing MoPIUD, Mr. Devi Aidi, IDO Chief, Humla accepted the road handover of MHLR 30km section. The handover of the first 26 KM long section was done on 25^th December 2020 from Gamgadhi to Darke Khola, 11.350 km long section from Darke to Chankheli on 30^th September 2021 and the third section of 30km from Chankheli to Deuli was done on 2^nd April 2022,

The handover programme was attended by representatives from MoPIUD, RAP3 MHLR, CDO Mugu, stakeholders, government officials and locals of Mugu and Humla. During the event, IDO Chief, Humla made the commitment to take necessary actions to maintain the quality of MHLR and requested MoPIUD, Karnali Province to allocate budget for road maintenance work. At the handover event, RAP3 MHLR Team Leader also expressed her sincere gratitude to all the government officials of federal, province and local level, project staff, beneficiaries and all those who have worked on or supported in any way in achieving the project’s objectives and successes.

The operation of vehicles has already resulted in benefits for the local population of Mugu and Humla. There is evidence of local people gaining access to improved transportation, medical services, selling fruits, grains and herbs produced in their villages and are happy with the reduction of cost in rice and other items. Shopkeepers in Humla are also equally excited to unload goods in front of their shop after the mobilization of vehicles in the MHLR road.

Now that locals have started experiencing positive changes brought by road access and transport services in their villages, they are more aware of the need for road maintenance and are hopeful that the concerned authorities will maintain MHLR and allow full service of roads in all seasons.

On 4^th March 2022, for an Inclusion event, Institutional support field team prepared a documentary showcasing the tourism potential in Karnali province. Along with various places to visit around Karnali, the video also explained about the brief history linking to the place. Kupinde Lake, Baraha Temple, Khairabang Temple and Kacchuwa Daha are some places that one can visit when travelling to Salyan. The video explained how the debate among brothers during the period of Jaida Bam led to the division of a kingdom into Rukumkot, Musikot, Banphikot, Gotamkot and Jaharikot. Sisne Himal of Rukum West which is also known as “Murkhutta”, as depicted in many Nepali literatures. And if Syarpu lake of Rukum West makes it to your list, you can indulge in many recreational activities such as boating, fish farming and camping. Also make sure you plan your trip to Rukum West so that you don’t miss the Mayur Dance. One of the main attractions of Jajarkot is Jajarkot Durbar whose height was reduced from 7 storey to 4 storey in an earthquake of 1934. Rara Lake is the precious gift of Mugu and if you wish to immerse into serenity and recharge your energy, Rara is definitely the place to go. While Shey Phoksundo Lake is a very famous tourist destination. Other places that one can visit in Dolpa are Bala Tripursasundari Bhagwati Temple, Shey Monastry, Kanjirowa Mountain and Dho-Tarap Valley. In Dailekh, one can visit Kot Gadhi built during the Malla period which has 1,038 years old Saupal Adhai Shakya built first inscription. Another place of interest from a religious point of view is Sristhan Area which has the biggest natural fire flame in Nepal. When you finally arrive in Surkhet, be ready with a long list of places to visit such as Kakre Bihar, Deuti Bajai Temple, Clock tower park, Patal Durbar, Baraha Temple and Gothikada.

While the potential for exploiting tourism sector of Karnali is very much viable, the lack of infrastructure and initiatives to conserve these places are the biggest hindrance. 

RAP3 MHLR celebrated the 112^th International Women’s Day (IWD) throughout its field offices with various interesting activities. RAP3 MHLR Central Office held an informal discussion session among staff to talk about the different gender bias prevalent and things we have done to challenge those biases both as individuals and as an organisation.

In the Institutional Support Component, the Project Support Team (PST) organised different events to highlight the significance of women empowerment and gender equality. The event included sharing achievements and success stories of our female workers, discussing challenges they are facing in the community due to remoteness and inequality and playing fun games along with gifts for winner. The event was graced with participation of RMGs, local stakeholders and other local people from the community.

MHLR Construction, organised a programme to mark IWD in Bama, Mugu which was attended by women from Bama and Panidhara LRUC including local people. The event initiated with a rally where participants carried placards displaying slogans of women empowerment. Social Mobiliser, Tara Baniya also showcased her motorcycle riding skills, which she recently learned, as a way to demonstrate how women can also successfully learn skills. Participants enjoyed many fun games and took part in Deuda competition. A similar event was organised in Bohorabada, Humla. While the women of Rugha, Mugu marked IWD event independently which is something different and definitely a positive change in the community. We hope that these women will continue to celebrate IWD event and their accomplishments in the community even after the completion of the RAP3 MHLR project.

As part of promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, the latest round of Inclusion Events series has now officially started. For the inclusion events, staff are encouraged to bring up their favorite discussion topics of their choice and lead interactive sessions with the audience. The first inclusion event for this round was held on 22^nd February 2022 by Team 1 (Kathmandu Staff) on ‘Waste Management’. Prior to the event, the team circulated a questionnaire among the staff to get an overview of their general understanding of waste management as well as their behaviour and attitude. The team also gave a presentation titled, “It is More Than Just Waste”. The inclusion event was very informative, with the recapitulation of data from the Waste Management Baseline Survey of Nepal 2020 conducted by Central Bureau of Statistics. The team urged the audience to make wise decisions to reduce waste production and promote recycling/reusing of things. The event also focused on business firms like Khalisisi.com, Doko Recyclers, Blue2Waste where we can connect at both the individual and organizational levels to smartly manage waste produced.

Public audits in three LRUCs (Panidhara, Bama Gairagaun and Rughamasta) were organised on 26^th and 27^th January 2022. Similarly, public audit in Dudedaha LRUC was completed on 30^th January 2022. The purpose of the LRUC level audits on MHLR was to discuss between beneficiaries, stakeholders and the project team on the design, delivery, quality of service, verification of payments received by RBGs/SRBGs and expenditures made by LRUCs. The participants were given sufficient time to raise issues, concerns and queries they had and the project field team facilitated to clear all the issues and queries.

Due to the current COVID 19 restrictions, participants were limited to 25 in each event. The working group facilitators (Sahajkarta), representatives from various political parties, ward chairperson, stakeholders, PHASE Nepal team and project field team participated in the meeting. This time, PHASE Nepal team also took the opportunity to conduct their public audit in the same event.

The RAP3 MHLR Project field office, Surkhet organised a day long training on first-aid for the Province Support Team (PST) of five districts of Karnali Province: Dailekh, Jajarkot, Rukum-West, Salyan and Surkhet. The training was facilitated by Nepal Red Cross Society District Office, Surkhet. The training was conducted on 8^th January 2022 to aware the project field staff about the medicines and equipment in a first aid kit and the method to use them properly. Certified trainers trained the project field staff on a list of first aid items and their proper use. The instructors provided both theoretical and practical knowledge on first-aid treatment based on the types of injuries. The training session also focused on treating patients and responding to emergencies, using bandages on wounds, transporting patients with fractures safely, assessing patient’s condition and also discussed about the overall incident management. After covering the theoretical parts of the training, a demonstration session was conducted to help staff understand how to handle situations during critical times. Furthermore, group exercises were done to provide participants with practical knowledge for enhancing the techniques required for dealing with first-aid emergency treatment on various types of injuries.

This training will help our PSTs transfer life-saving techniques when access to medical care and supplies is unavailable, as well as knowledge of first-aid items and their proper use to project’s Road Maintenance Groups and Specific Maintenance Groups in the worksite.