How to get an MRP in Nepal

Getting a Machine Readable Passport (MRP) is not as easy as expected, though the process includes a general verification of original documents with the MRP form but still it’s not an easy process.  Its funny thing that for just verification it generally takes more than 2 hrs that too if you are lucky and if not can proceed to another day.

If you are planning to apply for the MRP in Nepal than it’s useless to waste your time downloading the form and filling it at your home. As if you do so, while verification process there are chances that your form might get rejected due to the indentation or some other errors. So better you come to the District Administration Office (DAO) and fill the form paying NRS 50. In case you do not have a photo also no need to worry, you can click a MRP sized photo instantly at NRS 150 at the near stall. It seems unusual but there seems to be a very good coordination in between so called mechanism. What I mean to say is the DAO is there to serve the public and these so called managing agents (typist+ photographers) are there to earn. The amazing thing is they even provide you with bills. It seems that there is a very good coordination in between the officers and the so called form typist and filler where everything works in close integration and management.

Though it looks very nominal amount of money but every citizen paying an extra NRS 200 for filling a form can be a hefty sources of income for both the fillers and the officer.

After filling your form through the small corner shop, you would be asked to take the form to the officer at room no 105 for validation this is needed to be done only for hand written citizenship. After getting it verified you are asked to take it to room no 107 for attesting. If you are lucky it can be done in second the officer available might ask you questions to verify your documents. After this you are asked to visit room no 106 for second verification process. After the second verification process they ask you to pay the money to the Bank and after getting the voucher you can submit the form and voucher to room no 107 which ends the process.       

After completing the process you are asked to check the official site of DAO for name publishing of people whose MRP are completed and you can come collect the document. They generally say it takes about 45 days for completing the process and getting your passport you have to get into lines to get the stamp and signature.

Documents required
-Citizenship photocopy -2
-Passport photocopy-1 (In case of previous issue)
-Photo (MRP size)
-MRP Form
-Old passport (for verification)

(Note: Just be careful not to sign in between the lines. If you sign touching the box the form is rejected.
Please reconfirm all your information as once it’s done it cannot be changed and you have to apply again in case of any mistake.)    

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Gadhi Mai controversial sacrifice opposed by the western world

Photo courtesy: Gabriel Diamond 

It makes me wanna think and find logic behind understanding the complexity of crossing ideologies behind cultural and traditional values. When I see people blinded by the western ideologies in identifying cultural values over  controversies, it is literally amusing. How can you put cultural values in same view of modernism or going vegan where the whole ecosystem is based on the logic of survival of the fittest.

Moreover, the condition of understanding the so called pro-movement of the native people in opposing the animal sacrifice is something of being too western and running for the big donation effort. As I believe the western world cannot  understand these practices  which cannot be rationalized as its related with people's beliefs and tradition.  Stopping it or confronting it is a question of just controversies and anger but it can be adapted  in a more systematic and manged way of practicing a more human approach. But opposing it in view of  focusing western ideology confronting the eastern belief is a way of lack of understating the core values of traditions and culture.

Every year millions of people not just from Nepal but from the bordering towns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in India add fury to this so called "Bloody Fest"

People come in hundreds of animal stocks specially with their wishes and sentiments.  Gadhi mai is considered as one of the worlds largest animal sacrifice event all over the world that brings huge attention and crowd in every 5 years.  

The most amusing aspect of the tradition is even vegan people bring in sacrifices and there is a tradition of so called manhood among the locals for attending the butchery and claiming the strongest.

Good or bad the sacrifices has been part of the culture from past few decades  where the tradition lives up to the mark of  its reputation. The tradition of Pancha bali, meaning the scared sacrifice of Five different species( rat, a pig, a rooster, a goat and a water buffalo) is a well practiced in various forms of culture in Hindu Tantric practice while devoting Shakti.

The Gadhi Mai animal sacrifice has been catching attention of the westerner who have been attending the festival in view of showcasing the amazing cruelity.

One thing that really amazes me is why not all these activism and controversies are raised when hundreds and thousand of turkeys were  sacrificed and killed in the name of thanks giving and how come the "Bakri ide" escaped the eyes of animal activists.

According to my sources this year the event was attended by more than 50 western photographers and video makers trying to find logic and creating story in view of portraying the strange.

Its just another agenda for the animal activists to find logic behind creating controversies where the solution would have been finding a proper way of managing and raising awareness of safe and unpainful butchery rather than question people's belief.

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Narendra Modi's cancelled visit to Janakpur

As promised by Narendra Modi during his last visit, Mr Modi scheduled his visit to Janakpur and lumbini by road where he was also scheduled to address the crowd. After the announcement Nepal's political scenario rumored with various speculation. The political fraternity presumed Modi's visit to various issues and agendas where controversy raised. With such condition the visit was  cancelled

After the arrival of Sushma Swaraj, the first thing that did was  to clear about the cancellation of Narendra Modi's visit to Janakpur and Lumbini. She reasoned it due to technical problem but validating the answer was completely out of question. Apart from that since Modi has kept the door open for his revisit again then there was no question of further query.

Though the move came in a strategical voice but a lot of speculation came up with the explanation. More or less it would have helped Nepal to promote religious tourism in Nepal but the political leaders of Nepal with their weak mentality resulted in such an action. I completely blame the lack of vision and leadership of the Nepali political leaders who detested his visit. The speculation of his visit raised  various issues of motives and favors. In fact it was the  weak mentality of Nepali political leaders that flooded various tweets and articles that surfaced  as the primary reason for his cancellation.

Reality is Nepal's political leaders are literally scared  of Narendra Modi and his presences. They feel intimidated as even today if any leaders stand tall in public nobody cares and Narendra Modi being an outside has so much of recognition and reputation.

I bet  any political leaders of Nepal has done and said so much in public than Modi.
 



 

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SAARC face-lift of Kathmandu cost whopping USD 20 million



Hosting the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in the capital, Kathmandu  seemed very much busy with its new face-lift. It was completely an impossible work that was carried on by relentless  working of  more than 3 months to make Kathmandu look like a new metropolitan city just for the SAARC meeting.  

New roads are paved, the road from Tribhuvan International Airport to connecting valley hubs are all black topped with various plants and flowers  installed at the sides are really interesting. 
Understanding the need hundreds of  solar panels lights are installed around the valley road just to make sure they work  at times when the country is facing huge electricity crisis. 

With such huge investment the government of Nepal has already incurred expenses reportedly totaling $20 million  and completing the infrastructure work will likely exceed that figure.

No matter what the effort done is certainly credible and shows  workable attitude which needs to continue in further days to come. This attitude of the government and the hard work of the workers have certainly made the public believe everything is possible.

If only the Prime Minister of Nepal Mr Sushil Koirala could continue this work then his name would be written in the golden letters in history for at least doing something credible in his tenure.   

  

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Human Rights can be felt by behavior not by rules

From the right Shreedeep Rayamajhi, Govinda Sharma 'Bandi', Hina Jilani, Vrinda Gover, Mohamed Latheef  at Shangrila Hotel, Lazimpat.

Recently I got to meet Hina Halani and Vrinda Gover in a program named, "Combating Impunity in Nepal: Lesson from South Asia"  I was called to do interpretation work for these famous personalities and was asked to assist them at any point of their interest.

I was very surprised and fascinated hearing their perspectives and voices on impunity and human right. Both were associated to South Asians for Human Rights, they were tremendously energetic and full of knowledge but one thing that really moved me was their passion and determination for their work.

Hina Halani  during her speech said, "Human Rights cannot be felt by treaties, policies, and charters  it is felt by the people around you and with their behavior."

I think the practices of justice cannot be fulfill by just law books and court system, it needs to be respected, adapted and acted upon. Law cannot be discriminator but it treats everyone as equal  regardless of race, place, power and time.

Similarly, Vrinda Gover also highlighted various scenario of how the public sentiments can change the government's attitude and how Public Interest Letigation (PIL) can help bring in change in further strengthening the public sentiment. And she highlighted government official need to be responsible towards the public and the public need to be vigilant and aware of that.

If you look at Nepal's scenario then the human rights activists in Nepal are just limited within their organizations and  seminars of 5 star hotels. Practically speaking most of the Human Rights projects are limited within their funding and operation. They just needs reports and pictures, once its done they go back with good notion of their job completion.  

I am speaking rude but reality is what cannot be denied. Most of the Human Rights Activists are biased and limited within their connection. During the conflict situation their were millions of people who got displaced and affected by the conflict. There are many cases which were not heard and registered. If you look at the statistics then you will find more than 3 dozen national and international organization working in the field in Nepal but still you will find case of unheard human rights.

So where did we lacked and what were these organization doing ?

Reality bites  that still today its hard to even launch a FIR in the police office regarding any atrocities of Human Rights.  It takes sheer power and heart to stand up for  the pain and all these so called monetization of the development industry has made the human values less and worthless.

There are projects  and donors but at grassroots level there are no hands to protect you and your government being biased towards power, politics and manipulation simply watches upon having no clue of rights of public and tax payers. As the leaders and policy makers are corrupt big terms like Human Rights and policies are  only good for rules and regulation.

Even the international Developing agencies like United Nation(UN), USAID, UKAID support hiring people from abroad or from so called various  marginalized groups. so how can their be a equal opportunity. Everywhere there is politics and even in field like Human rights and development people who are really interested are  sidelined irrespective to their interest and talent. The only thing that works is favoritism and power which is a harsh reality of today.    
 







  

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Nepal a strategic location for the US to bargain the Tibet Refugee issue

From Past few years Nepal has been one of the base for the Tibetan refugee issue for US intervention. In different times and intervals Nepal has been a ground for the US to play its strategy in and against the Chinese counterpart in supporting the refugee issue.

Nepal Government in its diplomatic intervention has made it clear regarding the Tibetan refugees issue that Tibetans entering Nepal after 1989 do not have permission to stay as legal refugees within Nepal, nor does the law protect their human rights. However, the principle of non-refoulement, laid out in 1954 in the UN-Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, provides in Article 33(1) that:"No Contracting State shall expel or return ('refouler') a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion."

Time and again various fraud citizen cases have appeared of fake citizenship  and passports while trying to board US flights contradicting the US embassy in Nepal for issuing VISA to Tibetan refugees so easily on fraud passports.

The issue of Tibetan refugees is not just a question of diplomatic affairs but is a question of mutual understanding and collaboration with the strategic location of Nepal.

In the past many controversial comments have been made by US official regarding Nepal’s support to the Chinese government but reality is Nepal has to be firm in context of its diplomatic relation and cooperation with China.

With great concern a senior U.S. official, Sarah Sewall Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights and Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues, has arrived here in the Capital. She is schedule to meet the Tibetans in exile and is expected to raise the issues of Tibetan communities and refugees and Nepal's stern policy to deal with them during her meeting with the Nepali authorities, including Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.

During her visit Sewall is scheduled to visit the Tibetan refugee camps in the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara.

According to a Press release issued by U.S. Department of State, “Sewall will visit Dharmasala, where from the Tibetan Government in Exile runs, to discuss the Tibetan refugee issues. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has been living in exile in Dharmasala. She will announce a new award of $3.2 million for a Tibetan Health System Strengthening Project to universalise access to quality health services, and especially to end preventable child and maternal deaths and create tuberculosis free communities, for Tibetan refugee communities in India and Nepal."

No matter what Nepal is not a play ground where the US can play its policies, if it wants the Tibetan refugee issue to be solved then it should solve it directly with China. Playing games in the name of diplomatic relationship and cornering Nepal for sake of Human rights and policy is not a solution.

Nepal has its diplomatic relationship with China and it has to maintain it regardless of what the US thinks. US infiltrated Iraq in the name of terrorism, and its infiltrating Nepal in various issues of  refuges, development, and poverty  through its various channel.



     

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Nepal government weak in management and vision

It has been well proven that Nepal government lacks vision and management skills in its operation and long term planning. As currently when the SAARC preparations are going on in the Capital Kathmandu has been fixed  in an un-expected way. With bizarre changes happening within 3 months times. Things look very superficial I mean to say where was this energy and power 3 months back?

What is Nepal government trying to prove to the SAARC leaders ?

As the city which is a Metropolitan city and is a Capital was treated this way in the past with lack of basic resources and now just for the preparation things got fixed in super speed is a question of  integrity and responsibility.
 
Every aspect of the new change looks great. The streets which use were carelessly managed and ignorantly left for the sake have new lights. New roads are paved with black tops and streets are painted with sparkling colors, what is the intention. Well just to change the look and feel for the time is not a question of effort, its a question of responsibility and whether it would continue or not?

Apart form that the 4 days public transportation halt is yet another question of public suffering. what the hell are we support to do ?

I believed its a sad story that the government is trying to show its standard on terms of public suffering and holding traffic for 4 days is not a question of  management.

I think, the changes are  good for the time being  but for what is my question. Just because prestigious leaders  are coming for the time being then its a question of very sad mentality but if its for a new change attitude then I think it can work but the Nepal government needs to show dedication and alertness in the coming days beyond SAARC conference.      

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Around 38 and more people died due to the blizzard who is responsible?

More than 38 people including foreign nationals and native guides lost their lives. If you look at statistics then tourism is one of the most potent economic sector for Nepal, with such sector how come such a devastation occurred with such casualties. How come when the Climate change indicators has indicated the blizzard who ignore the message and fail to comply the protocol.  
If the government is not able to prioritize then there is no way we can expect more from Nepal government.

Most of the newspaper and news agency covered the news but none of the organization raised the right issue. Who was responsible and why did we fail to save the lives of those people ?

Are we suppose to held responsible the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) that has taken the responsibility of training guides and managing TIMS and  fail to disseminate the news of the climate change ?
 Or
Are we suppose to blame the government which every year faces the same challenges in disaster management and fails to build a strong mechanism to fight against any natural calamity happening here.

Every year we face various casualties and at the end of the day various reports are prepared which then are stocked and pilled in cupboards with no conclusive results. 

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Nepal government has requested not to use lights in depawali

It is literally a joke what the Nepal government is doing. It seems insane that the Nepal government has requested the public not to use electrical lights during the festival of Deepawali. Deepawali the festival of lights is completely insignificant without the lights and on such times how can the government be so insensitive about such a cultural issue. It is the government's responsibility to arrange or  manage electricity and on contrary to that they have issued the public a notice about not using electricity. It clearly shows the ignorance of leaders towards the public that anyone can do anything in this country.

On one hand it may seem logical from the government's point of view of requesting the public as currently there is very less production of electricity but you cannot impose it. First thing the public is paying money for the electricity and the second thing is its something related to culture and tradition.

If the people in leadership are not able to manage and work out then they should give up their position.

Despite the fact that government issued a notice regarding this people will be doing it as its their right and they have been doing this since ages.

One thing that really amazed me was  when the government knew that the notice would be ignored then  why did they issue one?

May be in public interest but it suited only the notice for the sake.
    

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CK Raut is not an Activist but he is an Extremist

CK Raut is not an Activist, he is an Extremist 

CK Raut the Madhesi activist has been recently arrested under a sedition case filed by the Nepal government where different Human Rights Organization are lobbying for his freedom. He has been arrested under Section 3 (1) of Crime against State and Punishment Act, 1989.

The Section 3(1) clearly states that If someone causes or attempts to cause any disorder with an intention to jeopardise sovereignty, integrity or national unity of Nepal, he/she shall be liable to life imprisonment. 

Raut since 2011 after his return to Nepal has been writing provoking  books and articles  voicing  independent Madhes and sought separation of the region from Koshi to Mahakali as separate Madhes. In ply of his objective he has organized various rally and gathering for disseminating his ideology. Raut had been subverting the Nepali youth against the country making efforts to convince them saying ‘Madhes cannot fit into Nepal it must be a separate independent nation.’

He had recently held an open discussion programme at the Ramjanaki Temple in Biratnagar under the subject ‘Independent Madhes Nation’. In the programme Raut appealed to the youths to launch an uprising for creating a Madhes nation and for independent rule.

His supporters have been defending his act in the name of  freedom of expression but expressing something is different than convincing and provoking  other towards negative sentiments and hatred.

Mr Raut is  responsible for his action  and looking back to his career it  doesn't suit him. He is awarded with Young Engineer Award, Mahendra Vidya Bhooshan, Kulratna Gold Medal and Prof. F. N. Trofimenkoff Academic Achievement Award among others. For a man of such caliber trying to create hatred among the different group of people disrespecting the sovereignty of the country  is certainly  questions his achievement.

Yes, he has every right to fight for his culture and people but not at the stake of provoking others. His actions are well responsible for his ideology that lobbies the variation hatred and bad sentiment against various group of people and region which is wrong.

To be precise an activist is a person who fights for the right things where as an extremist is a person or individual who provokes other in spreading hatred and discrimination in motivating people towards violence. Mr. Raut has certainly proved to a Extremist than an activist where his actions defies his achievements.    

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