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 “Do you regularly visit the doctor?”, “Are there any complications?”, “Do you take iron pills regularly?” asks a team of local representa­tives led by Mayor Upendra Bahadur Thapa to Sarita Nam­jali, an eight-month pregnant woman. Sarita is a resident of Panchapuri municipality in Surkhet, a hilly district in Karnali Province.

Sarita could not open up easily in the beginning. But after the ward chair Hom Bahadur Ramjali requested her, she said, “I get regular check-ups. I haven’t really had problems so far.”

After talking to Sarita, the team asked her mother-in-law Kaushila Namjali, to take good care of Sarita and to serve her nutritious meals. They even got the family to sign a pledge to do so.

The local representatives of Panchapuri municipality are visiting individual house­holds to observe the condi­tion of pregnant women and advise their families to care for them. They started doing so after they found that preg­nant women in the area were not getting regular check-ups and eating nutritious food, which has contributed to higher maternal mortality and a greater number of malnour­ished children in the region. According to one study, 55 percent of Karnali’s children suffer from malnutrition.

“It is important to make sure that pregnant women eat well and receive proper care. They face higher risks if they do not get regular medical check-ups,” says Mayor Thapa. “The govern­ment has a responsibility to ensure that pregnant women are safe. It’s something that we’re sensitive about.”

Apart from the elected representatives, local health workers, women volunteers and members of mother groups also visit preg­nant women and give them health-related suggestions.

A campaign has also been launched to hoist a green flag in every household that has a pregnant woman so as to identify such houses easily. “We have been closely observ­ing the condition of pregnant women in our locale. When­ever we see a green flag, we visit the household for consul­tation and monitoring,” says ward chair Ramjali.

Besides the flags, posters and banners with instructions on good eating habits for pregnant women are posted at the front of these homes. Also, family members pledge to make sure that pregnant women get regular medical check-ups, give birth in a hos­pital and receive good post-na­tal care.

Nirmala Singh, a female community health volun­teer, affirms that this cam­paign has contributed to improve care for moth­ers and babies. She also expresses happiness that local representatives are them­selves actively involved in such an inspiring campaign.

Self-defense training in schools for teenage girls

 Surkhet : Female students in about a dozen schools in Surkhet have been receiv­ing self-defense training. The three-day-long classes, which are being run by Global Action Nepal, an NGO, teach girl students what to do in case someone tries to sexually harass or rape them.

Mina Bishwokarma, a social mobilizer at Global Action Nepal, claims that the train­ing is helpful in combating sexual harassment that girls face. Trainer Gita Koirala says, “These classes are important for girls. They constantly face the risk of sexual harassment. Those who take this training are able to fight back better.”

“We learnt ways to fight sexual assaults. We will teach these skills to others. I feel more secure than before,” says Nischal Koirala, a student who received the training.

Trishuli is among the favorite kayaking rivers in Nepal. Located centrally between Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara, it’s the perfect way to break a long bus journey to your next destination. Why sit on a bus for 8 hours when you can raft half of it! It’s one of the most popular day trips in Nepal. Also, Trishuli is good for kayaking all year round. No previous experience is required. One of the most accessible rivers in Nepal, it is a short three-hour drive from Kathmandu along the main highway to Pokhara.

One of the popular things to do in Pokhara is to see the early morning sunrise from Sarangkot. Surrounded by stunning natural sights, Pokhara is a beauty to behold from Sarangkot. You can see sun rays kiss the spectacular Annapurna range from the sunrise viewing spot. If you are staying by the lakeside in Pokhara, you can reserve a taxi to and back from Sarangkot at around Rs 1,500. Make sure to book the taxi a night before so that it is in front of your hotel in the morning. Or you can stay in a hotel in Sarangkot and wake up to the stunning sunrise

Holi is a Hindu spring festival celebrated with colored powder and water. It is observed in Kathmandu and hill regions of Nepal on one day, and in the Tarai on the next. This year, Holi will be celebrated in Kathmandu on March 20. People celebrate by smearing colored powder or throw­ing water balloons at each other. You can just go out on the streets to be a part of this festival or attend one of the many organized events happen­ing in hotels and restaurants around town.

Kathmandu Flea Market (Holi Edition)

12 pm, March 15-17

Chhaya Center

Thamel, Kathmandu

 Kathmandu Flea Market is a three-day festival which will feature flea stalls from local producers, food and drinks, live music, fun games and other activities.

Places Jazz Night

7 pm, Friday, March 15

Places Restaurant & Bar, Thamel, Kathmandu

 The veg and vegan Places is organizing yet another jazz night, promising joyful music and delicious meals.

Book Talk | Aditya Adhikari in conversation with Tom Bell

6:30 pm, Friday. March 15

HUB Thamel, Kathmandu

 Listen to Tom Bell, as he talks about his critically acclaimed book, Kathmandu, with Aditya Adhikari

11 am, March 15-April 10

Chhaya Center

Bhagwanbahal, Thamel

 Our Songs from the Forest is photographer Uma Bista’s tender forage into the hills of Achham, where we meet a chorus of young women who are coming of age in a fast-changing society.