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From Aug 1-Aug 7, the globe is uniting to make the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2023 a success by bringing to light a multitude of barriers nursing parents face at the workplace. Determined by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), this year’s theme, “Enabling breastfeeding: Making a difference for working parents,” serves as a clarion call for enhancing support systems for breastfeeding in professional settings.

Situation in Nepal 

The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022 shows that breastfeeding practices in Nepal reflect an encouraging trend with nearly all children under the age of two having been breastfed at some point. The early initiation of breastfeeding is evident as approximately 60 percent of children are exclusively breastfed during the first two days following birth, and over half (55 percent) are breastfed within the first hour of life. This is an essential practice for establishing a strong maternal-child bond and providing vital early nutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. In Nepal, adherence to this guideline is not strong, with 56 percent of children under six months, who live with their mother being exclusively breastfed. Moreover, it's worth noting that about one percent of children under six months are not breastfed at all, indicating a need for continued public health efforts to promote and support breastfeeding for all infants.

Significance of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, a natural but crucial part of early childhood development, brings enormous health advantages to both the mother and the baby. Breast milk, packed with essential nutrients, bolsters the child’s immune system, thereby reducing the risk of numerous health complications. Simultaneously, breastfeeding aids maternal recovery post-delivery and forms a unique bond between mother and the child.

However, breastfeeding is under siege from various factors, the most prevalent of which is the challenges at the workplace. It is the primary reason why many women either do not initiate breastfeeding or terminate it prematurely, undermining the recommended minimum of six months of exclusive breastfeeding.

Role of maternity leave

The duration of maternity leave is pivotal to the breastfeeding narrative. It offers mothers the necessary time to recover post-delivery, establish a breastfeeding routine, and nurture a bonding experience with their newborns. It is disconcerting that parents with less than three months of maternity leave reported truncated breastfeeding durations compared to those availing three or more months of leave. These findings shed light on the urgent need to revisit maternity leave policies worldwide. The government should provide at least 6 months of maternity leave to foster breastfeeding. 

Global support

Across the globe, a disturbingly meager number of countries mandate workplace breastfeeding facilities—only 42. A breastfeeding-friendly workplace necessitates facilities such as clean and private spaces for expressing milk, appropriate storage facilities, and flexible break times. Without these provisions, the mission to extend breastfeeding duration faces a steep uphill struggle. In Nepal, we still struggle to find a proper breastfeeding space in the workplaces, and also in public spaces such as restaurants, airports, parks and movie halls. An urgency to establish breastfeeding corners is crucial to create a conducive environment for mothers to breastfeed their children. 

Sustainable development

Breastfeeding serves as a potent tool for battling inequality and driving sustainable development. The global recognition of this fact is evidenced in the alignment of WBW themes with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2016. Addressing the disparities that hinder breastfeeding contributes to an array of SDGs, such as reducing poverty, promoting good health, and achieving gender equality.

Making a difference

This year’s WBW theme underscores the urgency to enhance supportive environments for breastfeeding in workplaces. The achievement of such an environment is not a solitary task; it requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders—employers, policy-makers, health professionals, and the society as a whole.

Employers play a critical role in shaping breastfeeding-friendly workplaces by offering extended parental leave, creating private lactation rooms, and introducing flexible working hours. These measures not only boost employee satisfaction and retention but also contribute to the overall societal well-being by supporting child health and development.

Policy-makers, on their part, need to enforce comprehensive laws mandating adequate maternity leave and breastfeeding facilities at the workplace. Health professionals can foster a supportive environment by educating new parents about the importance of breastfeeding and assisting them in overcoming any challenges they may face.

Society’s role is equally vital. Breaking down the societal stigma surrounding breastfeeding, especially in public spaces, is essential. Understanding and supporting the needs of breastfeeding parents is a shared responsibility that helps to build a more inclusive community.

Legacy of WBW

The annual observance of WBW, initiated in 1992, commemorates the historic 1990 Innocenti Declaration. Through diverse themes—healthcare systems, women and work, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, community support, ecology, economy, science, education, and human rights—it fosters awareness and champions policies to encourage breastfeeding.

In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed WBW as a pivotal strategy for breastfeeding promotion, further cementing the global consensus on the importance of breastfeeding and the pressing need to bolster support for nursing parents, particularly within the workplace.

Conclusion

As we step into World Breastfeeding Week 2023, the challenge to support nursing parents at the workplaces is ever-present and ever-daunting. But it's a challenge we must face head-on. It’s time to normalize breastfeeding in every sphere of life, particularly in professional settings, and to make the dialogue about breastfeeding an integral part of our societal conversation. This week, let us renew our commitment to making workplaces truly supportive for all parents, nurturing a healthier and more equal world for future generations.

The author is a public health expert at Nepal Development Research Institute

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a US organization that specializes in providing development assistance to underdeveloped nations. The MCC Compact, which Nepal signed in 2017, was anticipated to serve as a catalyst for the nation's infrastructure and economic development. The implementation of the agreement, however, has faced challenges due to political unrest, controversies, and geopolitical tensions.

The $500m MCC Compact between Nepal and the United States has selected two major projects: a road maintenance project and an electricity transmission project. While the electricity project seeks to address the problem of power outages and inefficiency by enhancing Nepal’s power transmission infrastructure, the road project aims to increase road upkeep, advance transportation efficiency, and lower transportation costs, consequently boosting economic activity.

While the agreement has the potential to benefit Nepal significantly, it has also drawn criticism over concerns of sovereignty and potential entanglement in regional geopolitics.

This article analyzes the positive and negative aspects of the MCC agreement’s impact on Nepal and emphasizes the need for addressing challenges to harness its potential for the country’s development while preserving its sovereignty and regional relationships.

Despite its potential benefits, the implementation of the MCC agreement has faced several complex and multifaceted challenges, manifesting in various forms, including political unrest, controversies surrounding issues of sovereignty, and geopolitical tensions. One of the major points of contention arose when some stakeholders associated the project with the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), a geopolitical initiative aimed at countering China's influence, raising concerns that it could potentially undermine Nepal’s sovereignty.

Critics voiced apprehensions about the deal's potential alignment with American interests and policies, fearing that it might bind Nepal to external agendas. Geopolitical anxieties were further exacerbated by Nepal’s strategically advantageous location situated between two influential neighbors, India and China, sparking concerns about how accepting aid from the US under the MCC could impact the country’s regional relations.

The agreement, caught in the midst of these intricate challenges, has not been immune to criticism concerning the perceived erosion of Nepal’s sovereignty and the potential entanglement in regional conflicts. This uncertainty surrounding the deal's implications and potential consequences contributed to delays in the ratification process through Parliament.

Consequently, the local communities directly affected by the proposed projects have voiced concerns about potential evictions, apprehensions about environmental ramifications, and anxieties related to the right compensation for land acquisition. 

These uncertainties surrounding the MCC Compact have had a tangible and adverse impact on Nepal’s development trajectory, impeding the timely flow of critical infrastructure funding and exacerbating existing challenges with power transmission and road maintenance that hinder industrial expansion and economic growth. Therefore, it is necessary to address these challenges with a comprehensive approach to ensure the realization of the agreement’s potential benefits while safeguarding Nepal’s sovereignty and fostering harmonious regional relationships.

To harness the benefits of the MCC agreement, it is crucial for the Nepali government and stakeholders to address the controversies and ensure openness in negotiations. Diplomacy should be used to alleviate geopolitical tensions and reassure Nepal’s neighbors about the country’s intentions. Seen as a game-changer for Nepal, the MCC agreement presents both opportunities and challenges for Nepal’s development. 

While it holds the potential to improve infrastructure and foster economic growth, it must be implemented with care to address concerns about sovereignty and regional relations.  The Government of Nepal should strive for transparency and engage in diplomatic efforts to overcome the hurdles and ensure successful project implementation. By doing so, Nepal can reap the benefits of the MCC Compact while preserving its sovereignty and regional links.

Despite being the second most spoken language in Nepal and the first in Madhes Province, the discourse on Magahi, Hindi and Madhesi languages seems to have obscured the need for recognizing Maithili as the official language in the province. Although the Language Commission has clearly mentioned Maithili as the leading language of the province, calls for recognizing Hindi as the lingua franca and Magahi as the mother tongue have undermined the Maithili language. 

Since Maithili is not enlisted as an endangered language in the world-famous reference book, ‘The Middle East and South Asia’, we can rest assured that the language is not in peril for now. The speakers of Nepali and Bhojpuri can also heave a sigh of relief as the book has mentioned these languages for the same reason. However, a careful analysis indicates that Maithili may not have a rosy future. 

In its glory days, Maithili spread well beyond the Mithila region, including in the Kathmandu Valley and Palpa. It has a rich literature and its own script, and historical accounts show that the kings of the Sen dynasty used Maithili as the official language. 

Researchers have confirmed that the Malla kings of the valley used Maithili in plays, poetry, song compositions and artworks because it was a rich and well-developed language capable of showcasing the dignity of ancient Nepal. Scholars have described Maithili as the mother tongue of ancient Mithila. According to stanza 18 of Sundarkanda of Balmiki Ramayan, when Rawan made Sita captive and kept her at Ashoka Batika, Hanuman visited the garden to know about Goddess Sita’s plight, doing the bidding of Lord Ram. It states that Hanuman conversed with Sita in Maithili. 

According to the book titled ‘History of Maithili Literature’, penned by Dr Durga Nanda Jha, Mithila has been in existence since the Vedic era. The environment, vegetation and wildlife described in the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishad and Mimamsha are found in the region that was a huge Mithila state during the reign of the Janaka dynasty, with Janakpurdham as its capital. 

Historians have mentioned that the dynasty ruled the state, the birthplace of Sita situated in the middle of Koshi, Kamala, Bagmati, Gandaki and Ganga rivers, from 3000 BC till 600 BC. The Siddha scriptures written in the eighth century are in Maithili and so are the works of literary figures, including couplets and songs of sage poets like Dak, Bhas and Bhusuppa. They all have stood the test of time. Jyotishwor’s ‘Dhurat Samagam’, the oldest ancient scripture, mentions Maithili as one of the languages of the Indo-European language family. 

According to linguist Dr Ramawatar Yadav, of 150 manuscripts of plays written between 900 AD and 18th century (preserved in the National Archives of Nepal), 115 are in Maithili, 26 in Newari and five in Bengali. Out of 28 Indo-European languages, Maithili is the ‘second oldest language’ after Marathi. 

The report of a survey conducted in the 19th century under George Abraham Grierson states that Maithili enjoyed an independent literary tradition in Nepal’s Tarai and most parts of Bihar (India).

Findings of historian Tulasiram Vaidhya’s research conducted in Simraungadh state that Maithili had received state patronage during the reign of the Karnat dynasty. During the reign of the Karnat kings (from the 14th century), the language is said to have spread in several places, including Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Banepa.

According to historian Baburam Acharya, the Sen kings had used Maithili as their official language. Born around 1340 AD, Mahakabi (the great poet) of Maithili, Vidyapati, is said to have composed more than a dozen poems and prose in Maithili. There is evidence to suggest that Vidyapati had translated the Bhagawat Gita in Maithili, and wrote half a dozen books during his stay in Banauli near Janakpurdham. Even Rabindranath Tagore regarded Vidyapati as the ‘poetry guru’. 

Per historical accounts, Maithili was used as an official language in the Kathmandu Valley before King Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley. Malla kings would speak in Maithili, and write literature in the language. 

However, after the conquest of the valley, the state’s policies aimed at promoting Nepali as the official language and King Mahendra’s slogan of ‘one nation, one language and one dress’ took a toll on the Mithila way of life. 

In the face of emerging threats to Maithili, which have also put the related culture, civilization, self esteem and identity of a people at increased risks, there’s a need to launch a linguistic campaign for the language by drawing strength from a rich history backed by scientific evidence. Having weathered attacks from Shah rulers desperate to hold onto power, Maithili is seeking a revival, a departure from long periods of state neglect. 

Although Maithili has not provided the language speaking people with the ethnic personality and identity, it has enriched the literary, civilizational and cultural heritage of Nepal. Words referring to places, names, vegetation, food, lifestyle and popular local things used in daily life in the Maithili language are found in the Nepali language, showing that Maithili has enriched Nepali language as well. 

According to the latest National Census report, of the 124 mother tongues spoken in Nepal, Nepali accounts for 44.86 percent, Maithili 11.05, Bhojpuri 6.24, Tharu 5.88, Tamang 4.88, Bajjika 3.89, Abadhi 2.66, Newari 2.96, Magar Dhut 2.78 and Doteli 1.7. A comparative study of relevant census data shows that the number of Maithili speakers is dwindling. The tendency of abandoning the mother tongue to embrace other dominant languages and unfavorable state policies are to blame, among other factors.

Summing up, it’s time Maithili speakers showed their deepest respect for their mother tongue by using it in school curriculums and other fora. Government authorities should come up with a comprehensive language plan, conduct a sociological survey of the Maithili speaking regions and take measures to preserve Maithili language, culture, customs and traditions. Such measures will not only be in the interest of the Mithila region but of the whole country. 

The author is a journalist and researcher of Maithili language and literature

Recent calls from some lawmakers for downsizing the Nepali Army and using the money thus saved for development works have courted controversies.  

On July 11, a National Assembly member and former minister for foreign affairs, Bimala Rai Paudyal, stood in the parliament in favor of downsizing the national army while taking part in a discussion on cost-cutting measures. Paudyal reasoned that Nepal did not need a big army in times of peace and that it would be impossible for the army to defend the country against either of the two neighbors even if the need arose, while also pointing out the army had not been able to protect the borders. 

Swarnim Wagle, an economist and lawmaker from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, has also been advocating for downsizing the national army as a means to reduce pressure on the economy. Citing Sri Lanka’s example, which reduced the size of its army by a third to combat the recent recession, Wagle argued during a meeting of the House of Representatives on June 20 that Nepal should consider similar measures.

These calls from the two parliamentarians, who are also PhD scholars, have sparked a series of discussions at the national level. While these are not the first such calls, it is the first time a debate has taken place in the parliament on the matter. Discussions about the national army are not unwarranted, but they should be contextual and based on facts. A state’s policies and plans determine the size and the structure of its army, so it will be far-fetched to take the army leadership as the sole factor in this. 

Development and expansion of any institute, including the national army, takes a long time, hard work, and investment, with the concerned state’s plans and policies playing a vital role in the whole process. Therefore, demands for reduction, structural changes, or removal of responsibilities should be based on careful consideration rather than momentary impulses, even if they are coming from scholars. Instead of arguing irresponsibly (without presenting solid proof to back their arguments) and eroding the morale of the army, policymakers should focus more on enhancing the army’s capabilities.

History and the way forward

The history of the Nepali Army is closely linked with the unification of modern Nepal. Founded by King Prithvi Narayan Shah to support the unification campaign, the army has evolved into its current form. It has a rich history of engaging in various wars and is considered the most experienced army in South Asia in terms of war experience. The army has played an important role in the Nepal-Tibet War, Nepal-China War, the war with East India Company (Anglo-Nepal War), quelling the unrest in Hyderabad at the request of India, ending the Indian Sepoy Mutiny as well as ending the Khampa conflict within the country and in controlling the 10-year Maoist insurgency. Apart from maintaining peace, the army is adept at military diplomacy. Helping the country overcome critical situations like the blockade along with the import of vaccines and health materials from neighboring and friendly countries during the pandemic are vivid examples of military diplomacy. Its important role in life and death situations like natural disasters and epidemics has not gone unnoticed. 

Internal or external crises are not something that can be predicted. That is why, the army must stand ready to deal with potential emergencies even during peacetime. Commendable work of the army during earthquakes, tornadoes, pandemics, floods, landslides, and fires demonstrates its significance in crisis situations. 

As underlined above, the army has different roles to play in different parts of Nepal and beyond. NA soldiers serve in the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions, provide security to infrastructure, guard national parks, conduct search and rescue missions during natural disasters and play different roles in development projects as per government directives. Therefore, before debating the number of soldiers required in Nepal, it is essential to understand the organizational structure of the army. On the other hand, while the situation of unemployment and youth migration is dire, young people are getting jobs and serving the country. Contrary to the expert MPs’ argument, the state’s investment in the army has not gone waste.

Of course, debates about the army are necessary. But such debates should not lower the morale of the army or weaken its structure. Rather, the debates should focus on making the army more and more capable by developing world-class military technologies and competing in the fields of information and technology. Policy-level discussions should explore the possibility of creating more jobs within the military structure so as to reduce the outmigration of young people. 

Summing up, those responsible for running the state should effectively mobilize available resources and explore sustainable resources for the future rather than advocating for the destruction of existing state structures in the pretext of an economic crisis.