28Apr 2014 by annual

Ethnic Differentials in Risks of Childhood Anemia: Evidence from DHS 2006 and 2011

Abstract 2014

Yashas Vaidya Child undernutrition remains one of most of the most challenging aspects of the nutrition transition in the lower and middle-income countries of the developing world. Among U.N. and MDG regions, South Asia (classified as South Central Asia or Southern Asia) is one those severally affected by child undernutrition, and in the case of several indicators even more than Sub-Saharan Africa (United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, and The World Bank 2012). In the last couple of decades other regions, including Africa, have made progress in reducing undernutrition—measured by indicators such as stunting, underweight and wasting. However, Nepal, like other parts of South Asia, still demonstrates high rates of undernutrition. While several explanations have been proposed, there is no consensus on the specific reasons for the persistence of…

28Apr 2014 by annual

‘A University for the Nation’s Survival?’: A Story of the Failed Attempt to Establish a University in Nepal

Abstract 2014

Lokranjan Parajuli Nepal’s first university, Tribhuvan University, was established in 1959, which is pretty well known fact to those who are interested in Nepal’s education system. What however is not known to the most is the earlier effort(s) to establish a university in Nepal. Surprised many would perhaps be if one were to say that the first of such effort was made during the (late) Rana era—a period known for its effort to control education rather than propagating it among the masses. The last among the Rana rulers, Mohan Shamsher, in his sindooryatra (accession to throne) speech announced (in May 1948) that a university would be established in Nepal. The announcement becomes more surprising given the restrictions (re)imposed during his reign in accessing and propagating education for the masses as…

28Apr 2014 by annual

Dalit Social Movement in Nepal: A Gendered Perspective

Abstract 2014

Sambriddhi Kharel There are only a few studies of social movement from gender perspectives, probably because it is assumed that the movements take into consideration the interests of both men and women or that movements are gender neutral. However, social movements are often framed such that the specific interests and demands of women are ignored, sidelined or assumed to be the same as men's. The few studies that use gendered perspectives have shown that women’s resistance calls attention to the theoretical issue of women’s interests and identities and around which they mobilize. Maxine Molyneux (1986), for example, identifies three types of ‘women’s interests’ that is common in feminist literature: (1) women’s interests (a highly contentious one because of women’s different positions in society, depending on class, ethnicity and sexual affiliation),…

28Apr 2014 by annual

Analysis of Women’s Empowerment Discourse in Nepal

Abstract 2014

Anjam Singh Women’s empowerment as a concept had its roots in the Third world feminist movement that advocated for collective action against gender subordination and unequal power relations. During late 1980s, the empowerment discourse which till then was in the margins of development and limited to feminists’ realm entered the mainstream development thinking and practice. In the recent times, it is increasingly being used in mainstream development discourse and practice as a poverty reduction and gender equality strategy. This “development” focused women’s empowerment discourse also gained ground in Nepal post-1990 and remains widely cemented in the development practice. However, there has been very little conceptual scrutiny about the term within the development sector and at the same time there is a growing concern about the effectiveness of such approaches in…

28Apr 2014 by annual

Analysing the Construction of Gendered Work: A case of hotels, resorts and casinos in the Kathmandu Valley

Abstract 2014

Mona Shrestha Adhikari The paper attempts to analyse how gendered work gets constructed in the hotels, resorts and casinos drawing on a feminist research conducted in six establishments – two samples from each category of five star hotels, deluxe resorts and casinos. The research uses mixed methods of 21 questionnaires, 65 semi-structured interviews of male and female workers, managers, male family members and policy experts and observations made at some at the sample establishments. The study uses the concept of occupational segregation to unpack the gender division of labour by analysing vertical and horizontal segregation and shows how gendering occurs at the structural level of the establishments. The author argues that gendered work is constructed by three distinct but related dimensions, namely: a) the gender division of labour; b) the…

07Apr 2014 by annual

Panels/Sessions

Panels/Sessions 2014

2014 The conference consisted of various themed panels on various social science disciplines. For the conference, proposals were initially invited either as stand-alone papers or as panels. These papers/panels were then selected by an international committee representing the Social Science Baha, the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies (ANHS) and the Britain-Nepal Academic Council (BNAC). All panels and keynote sessions were held at Hotel Shanker, Lazimpat.

07Apr 2014 by annual

Day 3: 25 July

Panels/Sessions 2014

2014 23-25 July, 2014, Hotel Shanker, Lazimpat (organised by Social Science Baha, The Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies & Britain-Nepal Academic Council) Day 3: 25 July (Friday)[sta_anchor id="Harsha Man Maharjan"] 10 am – 12 pm Panel 7 [sta_anchor id="Susan Boser"] [sta_anchor id="Pitambar Bhandari"] Durbar Hall Chair: Mahendra Lawoti, Professor, Department of Political Science, Western Michigan University, USA Harsha Man Maharjan Researcher, Media Research Unit, Martin Chautari, Nepal Holding Stake or Power: Stakeholder Participation in Nepal and Making of Media Policy Drafts (2012-2013) Susan Boser Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA Local Government Officers' Perspectives on Their Role during the Transition to Democracy in Nepal Pitambar Bhandari Lecturer, Department of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Civil Society Approach to Rise of Unionism in Nepal Discussant:…

07Apr 2014 by annual

Day 2: 24 July

Panels/Sessions 2014

2014 23-25 July, 2014, Hotel Shanker, Lazimpat (organised by Social Science Baha, The Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies & Britain-Nepal Academic Council) Day2: 24 July (Thursday) [sta_anchor id="Ang Sanu Lama"] [sta_anchor id="Rekha Khatri"] 9 – 11 am Panel 4A Durbar Hall [sta_anchor id="Austin Lord"] [sta_anchor id="Sudeepa Khanal"] Panel 4B One-Eyed Hall Chair: Dipak Gyawali, Chairman, Interdisciplinary Analysts, Nepal Chair: Rajendra Pradhan, Dean, Nepā School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Nepal Ang Sanu Lama Research Associate, Social Science Baha, Nepal Secondary Level Organization and Exclusion in Community Forestry: A Case Study of Federation of Community Forestry Users, Nepal (FECOFUN) Rekha Khatri Senior Qualitative Research Officer I, Health Research and Social Development Forum (HERD), Nepal Ian Harper Senior Lecturer & Head of Anthropology, Social Anthropology, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK The ‘Computer Janch’ for…

07Apr 2014 by annual

Day 1: 23 July

Panels/Sessions 2014

2014 23-25 July, 2014, Hotel Shanker, Lazimpat (organised by Social Science Baha, The Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies & Britain-Nepal Academic Council) Day 1: 23 July (Wednesday) 9 – 11 am Panel 1A Durbar Hall [sta_anchor id="Binayak Sundas"] Panel 1B One-Eyed Hall [sta_anchor id="Liana Chase"] Opening remarks: Nirmal Man Tuladhar, Chair, Social Science Baha Opening remarks: Mahendra Lawoti, Former President, The Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies Chair: Pratyoush Onta, Martin Chautari, Nepal Chair: Janak Rai, Lecturer, Tribhuvan University, Nepal [sta_anchor id="Nawaraj Upadhaya"] Binayak Sundas PhD Candidate, Centre for Historical Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India [sta_anchor id="Rachel Amtzis"] Understanding the Success of the Gorkha Expansion in the 18th Century: Going Beyond Prithvi Narayan Shah [sta_anchor id="Mahendra Lawoti"] [sta_anchor id="Shankar Ghimire"] Liana Chase MSc Candidate, Division of Social and Cultural…

07Apr 2014 by annual

The Annual Kathmandu Conference on Nepal and the Himalaya 2014

General

2014 Social Science Baha organised the Third Annual Kathmandu Conference on Nepal and the Himalaya in partnership with the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies and the Britain-Nepal Academic Council. The conference was held in Kathmandu from 23 to 25 July, 2014. The 2014 conference consisted of various themed panels on various social science disciplines. For the conference, proposals were initially invited either as stand-alone papers or as panels. These papers/panels were then selected by an international committee representing the three organisations. Attendance to this part of the conference was by registration only. All panels and keynote sessions were held at Hotel Shanker, Lazimpat.