तरकारी बेच्ने एउटी साधारण नेपाली युवती यतिबेला दक्षिण एसियामै रोचक तरिकाले चर्चाकी पात्र बनेकी छिन्।

इन्टरनेटको प्रयोगले कस्तो किसिमको प्रभाव तत्काल विस्तार हुनसक्छ भन्ने कुराको उदाहरण पनि यो घटना बन्न पुगेको छ।

गोरखा भुम्लीचोककी कुसुम श्रेष्ठले गोलभेँडाको भारी बोकेर बजारमा बेच्न लैजाँदै गर्दा पर्यटन व्यावसायी रुपचन्द्र महर्जनले उनलाई क्यामरामा कैद गरेका थिए। पृथ्वी राजमार्गको फिस्लिङस्थित झोलुंगेपुलमा देखेपछि ‘अनुमति लिएरै’ खिचिएको कुसुमको तस्बिरलाई रुपचन्द्रले गत शुक्रबार फेसबुकमा सेयर गरे। तर, यसरी खिचेर हालेको तस्बिरले इन्टरनेटमार्फत कति हलचल ल्याउनेछ भन्ने उनलाई थाहा थिएन।

अचानक भाइरल बन्न पुगेपछि आत्तिएका रुपचन्द्रले सुरुमा त्यो तस्बिर फेसबुकबाट हटाएका थिए। तर पनि त्यतिन्जेलसम्म यी तस्बिरका लाखौं कपीहरु फैलिसकेको थियो।

चितवनको माडीस्थित क्वेस्ट कलेजमा व्यवस्थापन स‌ंकायमा  कक्षा  ११ पढ्दै गरेकी र छुट्टीमा घर आएको बेला तरकारी बेचेर परिवारलाई सघाउन खोजेकी कुसुमका ती तस्बिर यतिबेला सामाजिक सञ्जालमात्र होइन, दक्षिण एसियाकै महत्वपूर्ण छापा, टेलिभिजन र डिजिटल अखवारहरुमा महत्वका साथ छापिन थालेको छ। साथीले म्यासेन्जरमार्फत् आफ्नो तस्बिर ब्यापक भएको जानकारी दिएपछि मात्र कुसुमले यो थाहा पाएकी थिइन्।

यस्तो हलचल मच्चिनुको कारण भने तरकारी बेच्ने सुन्दरी कुसुम आफूमात्र नभएर केही अघिमात्र यसैगरि हलचल मच्चाउने एक पाकिस्तानी चियापसले तन्नेरी हुन्।

लोभलाग्दो मुहारमा अटाएको निलो आँखा र कल्कलाउँदो बैंशका पाकिस्तानी १८ वर्षीय चियापसले अर्सद खान ठीक यसैगरी इन्टरनेट मार्फतै चर्चाको शिखरमा पुगेका थिए। 

ती युवक किन त्यसरी चर्चित भए त? भारत र पाकिस्तान बीचको तनावग्रस्त सम्बन्ध त हामीलाई थाहै छ। यस्तो बेलामा आकर्षक तन्नेरीको यो तस्बिरलाई पाकिस्तानमा सामाजिक सञ्जालमार्फत् ब्यापक बनाउनका निम्ति प्रयोगकर्ताहरुले त्यही भावनातर्फ मोडिदिए।

उनीहरुले ब्यापक रुपमा गरेका फेसबुक एवं ट्वीट प्रतिक्रियामा यो तस्बिरले भारतका महिलाहरुलाई आकर्षित गर्न आधुनिक परमाणु मिसाइलको काम गर्ने उल्लेख गरेका थिए। ‘रेकमेण्डेड फर युज इन सर्जिकल स्ट्राइक्स अगेन्स्ट इण्डियन वुमन’ भनेर ब्यापक रुपमा लेखिएका त्यो लाइनलाई भारतीय अखवार टाइम्स अफ इन्डियाले पनि उल्लेख गरेको थियो।

यसरी भारतीय र पाकिस्तानीहरुबीच कुनै तन्नेरी युवकको तस्बिरलाई लिएर दोहोरी चलिरहेको बेला अचानक नेपालबाट एउटा तरकारी बेच्ने युवतीको सुन्दर तस्बिर देखापरेपछि तिनै पाकिस्तानी युवकको जवाफका रुपमा यो तस्बिरलाई भारतीय सामाजिक सञ्जाल प्रयोगकर्ता तथा मिडियाले भाइरल बनाएका छन्। 

अर्सादको त्यो तस्बिर पाकिस्तानकै जाभेरिया अलीले खिचेकी हुन्। यतिबेला ती युवक आफैँ त्यति सुन्दर हुन् वा प्रविधिको दुरुपयोग गरेर त्यस्तो देखाइएको हो भन्ने विषयमा पनि सामाजिक सञ्जालभित्रै बहस र समाचार आउन सुरुभइसकेको छ। जाभेरियाका अनुसार उनले केही महिनाअघि फोटो खिँच्दै हिँड्दाका क्रममा यो तस्बिर पनि लिइएको र सुरुमा इन्स्टाग्राम(फोटोकै निम्ति प्रयोग हुने सामाजिक सञ्जाल)मा हालेकी थिइन्। 

‘पछि कसैले त्यो फोटोलाई त्यहाँबाट निकालेर अन्य सामाजिक सञ्जालमा पनि आफ्नै ब्याख्याका साथ प्रयोग गरिदिए,’ जाभेरिया भन्छिन्, ‘त्यसपछि यो भाइरल बन्न पुगेको हो।’
त्यो फोटो ‘चाइवाला’ ह्यासट्यागका साथ पाकिस्तानमा ट्वीटर प्रयोगकर्ताहरुका माझ ‘टप ट्रेण्ड’ (सर्वाधिक प्रचलित) बन्न पुगेको थियो।

यतिबेला आफ्नै पाराले अर्सद पाकिस्तानीहरुका बीच नायक बन्न पुगेका छन्। उनलाई मोडलका रुपमा प्रयोग गर्दै विभिन्न उत्पादनहरुले विज्ञापन समेत तयार पार्न थालिसकेका छन्।

यसैबीच उनको नायकत्व विकास भइरहेकै बेलामा पाकिस्तानको एउटा टेलिभिजनले अर्सदसँग अन्तवार्ता लिँदै उनलाई सबैभन्दा मनपर्ने नायक को हो? भनेर प्रश्न गर्दा उनले सोच्दा पनि नसोचेर ‘शाहरुख खान’ भनिदिएका थिए। त्यसपछि फेरि भारतीय सामाजिक सञ्जाल प्रयोगकर्ताहरुको हौसला माथि उठेको थियो।

यसरी पाकिस्तानबाट सुरुभएको ‘चाइवाला’ ह्यासट्यागका साथ देखिएको तस्बिरले सिँगो दक्षिण एसियामा चर्चा पाइरहेको बेला नेपालबाट आएको अर्को तस्बिरले ‘तरकारीवाली’ ह्यासट्यागका साथ उसैगरि ब्यापक चर्चा र प्रचारप्रसार पाइरहेको छ।

यसैबीच नेपालकी सुन्दरी ‘तरकारीवाली’ कुसुम श्रेष्ठले पनि मौका पाए आफुसमेत फिल्म खेल्न वा मोडलिङ गर्न तयार रहेको बताएकी छिन्। महिला खबर डट कमलाई दिइएको अन्तवार्तामा उनले यसो भनेकी हुन्। राफ्टिङ व्यावसायी रुपचन्द्रले कुसुमसँग अनुमति लिएरै उक्त तस्बिर खिचेको बताइरहेका बेला कुसुमले भने त्यो तस्बिर खिचिएको जानकारी नै आफुलाई नभएको तर यस्तरी चर्चित बनेकोमा भने खुशी लागेको बताएकी छिन्।

Via:Setopati

OUR DAUGHTERS, OUR PRIDE - All Women's Expedition Team Climbs Two Mountains in Two Days

The all women mountaineering expedition team and Korean Expedition team, surmounted the  Mt. Gorichen East (6222 mtr) and an unnamed virgin peak (6493M) respectively in Arunachal Himalayas.

On their return the expedition teams were received and felicitated by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rajesh Tacho, Secretary Sports Dani Sulu, Sports Authority of Arunachal Chairman Gora Makik, officers and officials both Sports and Youth Affairs Departments, principal of SLSA and AMASA president, among others.

Congratulating the team members, Tacho suggested them to promote such mountaineering activities within Arunachal Pradesh and identify new mountaineering and trekking routes.

He hoped their success would inspire other youths in the state towards mountaineering and other adventure sports.

The team was lead by  Anshu Jamsenpa, also had a climber from Sikkim, Ms. Shanti Rai.

[In pic: Ms. Shanti Rai, Via : TheDC]

More Camera Traps for Buxa Tiger Reserve

Foresters of Buxa Tiger Reserve have brought 25 additional pairs of trap cameras to cover more areas of the forest in the fourth phase of tiger estimation.

The reserve already has 60 pairs of cameras.

Ujjal Ghosh, the chief conservator of forest who is also the field director of Buxa Tiger Reserve, said: "We have 60 pairs of trap cameras in the tiger reserve that have been installed already. We brought another 25 pairs today and those will be set up soon as the fourth phase of tiger estimation will start in the next few days. The phase would continue for 45 days. The pictures would be sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority."

The first phase of the survey to ascertain the number of tigers in BTR began in January this year and this would be the final round.

A forest official said this time the NTCA would only accept direct evidence - pictures taken by the trap cameras.

The core area of Buxa Tiger Reserve is spread over more than 360sqkm and officials said at least 100 pairs of trap cameras were needed to cover it.

According to the All India Estimation published by the NTCA in 2014, there are three tigers in north Bengal.

[Via: Telegraph]

LPG Tanker Accident Causes Panic in Mainaguri

An LPG tanker parked along NH31 fell into a roadside ditch after a speeding truck hit it from the rear at Mainaguri in Jalpaiguri district on Wednesday around 3.30am.

Police and the fire brigade disconnected power supply in the area and told local people not to light stoves fearing gas leak from the tanker.

The tanker was pulled out of the ditch with the help of cranes around 11.15am yesterday

[Via: Telegraph].

WE SALUTE OUR BRAVE-HEART - Martyr Bimal Tamang

TheTD team extends our heartfelt condolences to the family of Saheed Bimal Tamang, who attained martyrdom while defending our nation against Pakistani.

General Officer Commanding, 25 Infantry Division laid a wreath on behalf of Lieutenant General DS Hooda, Army Commander Northern Command and Lieutenant General AK Sharma, General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps. Rifleman Tamang, (20), belonged to Dharan, Nepal and is survived by his mother, Nirmaya Tamang.

He was a dedicated, brave, sincere soldier and a thorough professional, he loved his job to the core, he said. “The nation will remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty. He will continue to motivate the future generations,” the spokesman said.

Hill hotels find room for pay deal - Competition forces Morcha-backed outfits to agree on 'minimum' wages

Writes: Vivek Chhetri

Consensual "minimum wages" have checked into hotels in Darjeeling town for the first time, an undeclared fallout of competitive politics.

The biggest hotel employees' union in Darjeeling and the sole hotel owners' association today set the threshold, which is still far lower than the government-prescribed minimum wages but offers hikes ranging from Rs 1,600 to Rs 3,700 a month.

The employees' union and the hotel owners' association have a common link: both are affiliated to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the once-unchallenged force that is now facing competition from the Trinamul Congress.

Although the state government has fixed minimum wages for the unorganised sector - most hotels in the hills fall in this category since they have fewer than 20 employees - the rates were hardly implemented in Darjeeling.

With Trinamul snapping at its heels, the Morcha appears to have decided to make an attempt to keep the workers on its side although the union linked the move to the festival season.

The new minimum wages - categorised under the heads unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled - would be enforced with immediate effect. (See chart)

But even the minimum wage in the highest bracket (skilled) will continue to be below the rate prescribed by the labour department for the lowest (unskilled) segment in Darjeeling.

If the Morcha-backed minimum wage for a skilled employee is Rs 6,200, the floor set by the government for an unskilled worker is Rs 6,634 a month. (In Calcutta, the minimum wage prescribed for an unskilled worker is Rs 7,345 and a skilled worker Rs 8,888 a month.)

A representative of the Darjeeling Janmukti Hotel Owners' Association said there would be no increase in tariff because of the rise in labour costs.

Of the 350-odd hotels in Darjeeling town, 320 are registered with the Darjeeling Janmukti Hotel Owners' Association

The Janmukti Unorganised Sector Labour Union said the minimum wage decision was a festival season gesture. Saran Thami, the president of the union's hotel arm, said: "For the first time in the hospitality sector of Darjeeling, we have managed to ink an agreement with the owners for a minimum salary for different categories. It is a festive gesture."

A hill veteran said the smooth manner in which the negotiations proceeded "suggests that is a pre-emptive measure by the Morcha leadership to plug gaps that might let Trinamul into this sector".

Trinamul is not sitting idle. A Trinamul Darjeeling district leader said: "We are definitely trying to spread our wings beyond tea gardens and forest workers. On November 3, we will hold a meeting to explore the possibility of forming unions for unorganised sector workers such as carpenters and masons, hotel workers and drivers."

Trinamul does not have any formal presence in the hospitality industry in the hills now. The CPM-backed Citu has unions in a few hotels. "We have taken Citu into confidence," Thami said.

He said the union and owners did not set a maximum salary for skilled workers in establishments employing 16 people or more as "we believe these individuals can bargain better with their salaries and experience".

The workers' union said salaries of the hotel staff in small establishments were as low as Rs 2,000. "There was a dire need to streamline salaries," Thami said.

Even though the minimum wage fixed by the government is higher than that agreed upon today, the union said it had to be realistic in its demand. "Most of the small hotels will not be able to sustain themselves (if they pay the government-prescribed rate). We have tried to strike a balance so that our workers who got peanuts till now will get a better pay," Thami said.

"The agreement is valid till August 31, 2018, after which there is a provision to increase the basic salary by 15 per cent," said Samir Singhal, the treasurer of the Darjeeling Janmukti Hotel Owners' Association.

[Via: Telegraph]

Dropout pill: Aadhaar tabs on all students

BASANT KUMAR MOHANTY, TT, New Delhi, Oct. 31: The Centre plans to track every student enrolled in every private or government school in the country by their Aadhaar numbers to keep tabs on dropout rates.
Those among the 26 crore students who do not have Aadhaar cards will be given a unique 18-digit number by which they will be tracked till they get their Aadhaar numbers.
The idea behind the ID-based tracking system is to log the individual data of every student enrolled in Classes I-XII in the 15 lakh schools in the country so that policy makers would be able to pinpoint a specific student dropping out of a specific school, officials said.
Accordingly, the HRD ministry has asked all states to direct all schools to submit individual data of each student: name, parents' name, caste, Aadhaar number, religion, bank account details and date of birth.
The data will be maintained by the National University for Education Planning and Administration (NUEPA), a government think tank, under the scheme called the Unified District Information System of Education (U-DISE).
At present, the think tank maintains only the annual class-wise and overall count of students enrolled in a particular school as well as its infrastructure details. Dropout rates are calculated based on similar data collected the following year. If a child drops out of one school and joins another, that would be reflected in the data provided by the new school.
"The unique ID number (Aadhaar) will be tracked every year. If any student has transferred to some other school, his ID number would indicate that. If he has dropped out, the ID number should be shown in the dropout box of that school," said Arun C. Mehta, the head of the Educational Management System at NUEPA.
Some states have started gathering student details since the exercise kicked off on September 30. The Union territory of Chandigarh has uploaded data for 2.5 lakh children. All states are expected to hand in their student data before the academic session starts in 2017.
After the data for the 2018 academic session is submitted, it would be possible to specifically check which student has dropped out of which school.
Under the system prevailing now, if a school says it has 200 students, the NUEPA accepts it without verification. The new format will help check any exaggeration or otherwise by any school, Mehta said.
As of now, dropout details are very general. According to the U-DISE data collected in 2014-15, about 18 per cent of students enrolled in Class I dropped out before completing Class X. The same data suggests there are 26 crore children studying in 15 lakh schools in the country.
According to the All India Survey of Higher Education, dropout rates increase sharply at the under-graduate level. Only 25 per cent students between 18 and 23 years are enrolled in higher educational institutions, the survey said.
"At present, we get overall dropout data. We do not know who dropped out and why. Once the students are tracked, the implementing agencies can reach out to these students and their parents and bring them back to school," Mehta said.
Civil society groups, however, appeared skeptical about the success of the exercise.
Ambarish Rai, an activist associated with the Right To Education Forum, said the 2010 RTE act had a provision to find out-of-school students and bring them back to school within three years.
"The RTE act provision was never implemented on the ground. This tracking system is a good idea. But getting dropout data of an individual child and bringing him back to school are two different things," Rai said.
He said district and block-level education officials were under-staffed and burdened with routine work like release of funds and inspection of schools. They hardly approach any parent and are unlikely to do so, he said.
Besides, many schools have few teachers and inadequate infrastructure. Nearly eight per cent of the 13 lakh government schools are managed by one teacher. Five lakh teacher posts are vacant in government schools.
"Technology will only work once you strengthen the resources of implementing agencies and schools," Rai said.
HRD ministry officials said the student data could also be used to track overall performance of schools if a proposal to gather exam details is implemented.