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NEPAL JAPAN PROJECT: OPENING
OF ANOTHER WINDOW OF
DEVELOPMENT
Mr
Kenichi Tachibana of
Environment Veteran Firm (EVF)
was amazed to see the energy
of Nepalese students of
National College, Center for
Development Studies as he
found them “fast and
furious” in the study area
of Chitwan where Center for
Development Studies and
Tokyo City University
(Formerly Musashi Institute
of Technology) Japan,
jointly accomplished their
annual spring project from
February 27-March 8, 2009.
“National College students
are faster than Japanese
bullet train. The main
things were their curiosity,
energy and enthusiasm that
drove me to keep myself
working for whole day in
Chitwan. I remembered my
young age when Japan was
taking off to touch the sky
of development in 1960‘s. I
could fortunately experience
the same thing again.”
Tachibana expressed.
Mr
Kenichi Tachibana is retired
engineer from NISSAN Motors
Company, Japan, currently
working as senior officer in
one of the renowned firm in
Japan—Environment Veteran
Firm (EVF)—that carries out
several researches in the
sector of clean and
efficient energy technology.
Inspired from the Nepal
Japan project those were
being carried out between
National College Center for
Development Studies and
Tokyo City University in the
sectors of environment,
energy and waste management
for last four years, the EVF
central office in Tokyo also
showed it’s interest. Mr
Ryoichi Imaizumi, chairman,
of EVF put his interest to
Prof. Masayuki Goto (then
project in-charge of Nepal
Japan Project) about Nepal
project. Mr Imaizumi found
the ongoing project—its
objective and outcomes so
interesting and useful that
he called a meeting right
away in association with
Tokyo City University (TCU).
Mr Madhav P Neupane,
Principal, National College
and Mr Ujjwal Upadhyay,
Coordinator of the project
from Nepal were called for
the meeting in Shibuya,
Tokyo. After more than an
hour long meeting, finally
EVF became ready to carry
out the initial survey in
Nepal. Whereas, TCU were all
prepared to come to Nepal as
this institution along with
NC had become able to renew
their project for next five
years that would run under
technical support of
professors and financial
support of Japanese
Government, Ministry of
Education.
In the
course of starting the
renewed project, Bacchauli
VDC of Chitwan District in
Nepal was chosen. As it
provides wide area for
research in the sector of
natural resource management
and energy efficient
technology, it was also
expected that it would
provide lots of recreations
to Japanese nature lovers.
Exactly the same thing
happened, Prof Dr Okada
Akira whenever got time went
to the Rapti River side to
admire Nature. Dr Okada, a
transport engineer finally
became transport economist
from carbon trade
perspective, on his first
trip to Nepal as Coordinator
of Nepal Japan Project,
Japan team was also very
excited to see and
experience new things in
Nepal.
The
Japanese team arrived Nepal
on February 27. At the same
time Nepalese students
(numbering sixteen) went to
the Hotel Holy Himalaya in
Kathmandu for the first
meeting. Ms Manita Shretha
(representative Japanese
students) started the
session with the objective
of Japanese students to
choose Nepal as project
destination. Mr Ujjwal
Upadhyay also explained the
project activities to be
carried out in upcoming 8
days.
The day
after, National College
organized a lunch cum
orientation session, where
the experts from the
respective areas were
requested to present the
papers. Mr Ukesh Raj Bhuju
conducted a small session on
environment education and Mr
Prakash Lamichhane presented
slides about biogas.
All the
students were very much
prepared to go Chitwan to
the carry out research in
various sectors.
In this
course, they visited
Mrigajunja Community Forest
User’s Group, Chitwan, from
where they collected
information about resource
availability from the forest
and how locals are being
benefited from it.
Similarly, Biogas plants
were thoroughly observed and
also the technicalities
associated therewith. Mr
Tachibana and Prof. Goto
seemed more interested in
these issues. Mr Tachibana
also thought of replicating
the compact biogas concept
in Chitwan as it could work
even better when temperature
goes higher. The compact
biogas was demonstrated by
Shashank Poudel and
group—all are present and
ex-students of NC who
successfully won the contest
of renowned “Nepal
Development Marketplace (a
joint venture of World Bank
and Poverty Alleviation Fund
Nepal)” for successfully
demonstrating the blue flame
emitted by the use of
domestic and kitchen waste
disposing in the biogas
plant. The project thus has
been named as “Blue
Revolution”.
In
everyone’s view, the night
time discussion as day’s
evaluation used to be the
most interesting part of the
study. Students’ group
composed of both Nepalese
and Japanese used to sit
together and discuss on the
day’s outcome. Students’
presentation about the
issues, its assessment, and
analysis were the prime
attraction of the research.
Students used to break down
their research in to its
objectives, methodologies,
findings and
recommendations.
All
students performed their
tasks so well that it always
used to become hard for the
professors to give their
views and ideas as
supplement to student’s
thoughts. But after all,
professors like Dr Okada, Dr
Goto, Prof Brenda Bushell
and Prof Yagyu, who hardly
could keep themselves away
from new and innovative
ideas, always gave highly
valuable feedbacks to look
the study next to the
perfect. Their further
supplements to the research
findings and analysis made
the entire research idea
absolutely magnificent.
In the
final day of the research
when all had to speak their
mind about post-research and
post-field evaluation and
planning for the next trip,
all of the study team
unanimously put their views
on working again in the same
area but not by bothering
but by helping local
communities of Chitwan. The
team also expressed their
commitment to work for
Musahar (an indigenous
community) of Chitwan as
anyone could hardly stop
their tears after seeing
their sorry situation.
Mr
Tachibana, in context of
bring development projects
in Chitwan, also stated that
he liked the place and would
try his level best to work
in the sector of energy
efficient technology.
On the
last day of Chitwan visit,
The Hotel Wild Life Camp
rocked with music and dance
as the day was celebrated in
blast by all study team
members. The session was
especially allocated for
exchanging costumes, fun
games, cultural dance and
songs. All students
including professors joined
the session and enjoyed
equally.
It was
time to leave Chitwan and no
body wanted, Satomi and
Manami wept when they had to
leave Chitwan on day 6th.
But it was not over yet,
still one more event was
left and that was farewell
party organized in “Four
Seasons” in Thamel.
The
session was typically being
enjoyed by the deserving
students who worked really
hard in the field to get
lots of useful results.
Shortly after its start, the
party was joined by
Principal Madhav P Neupane
of National College. Mr
Neupane along with other
colleagues and with team of
TCU staffs, EVF staff did
have meeting regarding the
continuation of the program.
Prof Goto and Brenda Bushell
highly appreciated the way
the program was scheduled
and organized. Mr Tachibana
appreciated National College
students’ capability,
commitment and efforts to
help Japanese students
learning about the Nepal’s
issues. He also acknowledged
the people of Chitwan for
their wonderful support.
Mr M P
Neupane gave his vote of
thanks to all the
participants. Mr Neupane
appreciated the presence of
high profile academicians
from TCU Japan, it’s staffs,
Brenda Bushell, Goto Sensei,
Mr Tachibana and of course
to students. Mr Neupane
expressed heartfelt
gratitude to Ms Manita
Shrestha to work as a prime
actor for translation and
many other help.
National College
Center for Development
Studies
Baluwatar, Kathmandu
Tel:
4440410, 4420871
nche@wlink.com.np
www.nche.edu.np
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