02.27.10

Wireless Networking in Myagdi District

Posted in Travel & Places at 19:48 by www.PHALANO.com

By Roshan Joshi

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it the only thing it ever has”. -Margaret Mead 

Myagdi, a part of Dhaulagiri zone, is one of the seventy-five district of Nepal. Beni is the districts headquarter of Myagdi. It consists of world’s deepest gorge which divides Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massifs. Likewise, the Kaligandaki valley is an important trekking route to Annupurna area and across the Annupurna circuit. Myagdi district covers an area of 2297 sq. km and total population of 114447(2001) Five months before our completion of engineering, we were looking through to do something unique that might help us to learn something quite different than the usual stuffs which might help others directly or indirectly. Then we came to read about a man who has been earnestly working in Myagdi district since many years in the field of Wireless Networking (Wi-Fi). He was non other than Mr. Mahabir Poon, the master mind of Nepal Wireless Networking Project. I managed to find his email address, mailed him, luckily he replied. After a long correspondence through mail we were invited to visit different networked village of Myagdi district. The main objective was to study how it works practically. This is a short narrative of our exiting experience of our trip to Myagdi district which portraits the socio-economic impact of network in Myagdi district. 

Networked village of Myagdi (Source:www.nepalwireless.net) 

Five peoples seven days. The trail was worst than the expected. 

Route map (Highlighted) 

The first destination was Paudwar village. We began our trek at Beni. After seven hour walk along Beni-Jomsom highway we reached Gharkhola at 6pm. A quick decision to leave towards Paudwar was the only choice beside the confusion of getting lost in the woods or getting hurt in the gloomy evening. We got lost in the wood many times, we were slowed by the leeches and landslides but somehow we managed to reach Paudwar by 9pm. Thank god! We were very much scared as it was the first encounter of all of us with those bloods sucking Jugas. When we reached a local hotel at Paudwar the Jugas were all over our leg. We managed to get rid of it by using the salt. 

Maldhunga(Way to Baglung) 

Kali-Gandaki River 

Crew members of our trip on Beni-Jomsom highway 

Paudwar village, situated as an altitude of 2180m with a population density of 2250 is a Magar village(Tilija, Piaja, Poon, Garbuja…). The main agriculture products are Makai, Kodo, Phaopar and Aalu. 

Paudwar village 

As janai purnima was two days later everyone was preparing for the carnival. The school was already closed for five days and a group of priests and villagers had already left for Khopra for pooja. The next morning we were supposed to meet Gam sir, the main Technician and teacher of Paudwar Hign School. Unfortunately he had already left for Khopra so we met Bhim sir. But we were disappointed when we came to know that he was not the one with whom we were expecting to learn practical design consideration of wireless networking. But we were surprised after seeing the computer lab well equipped with Laptops, LCD screened computers and projector accessed with medium speed internet. “We have well equipped lab donated by the foreigners, but we don’t have a well trained computer teacher who can teach our students by fully utilizing the lab”, says Bhim sir. 

The school is maintained by income from cheese factory and from yak blood which are grown in Khopra(3800). The interesting thing is that the yak eats Yarsagumba, so its blood is believed to be good to treat gastric and Gano patient. 

 

Paudwar High School 

View from Paudwar village 

During the stay at Paudwar we came to know that the male population between (18-30) was found to be minimum. Most of the people go to abroad (mostly gulf country) for employment. Two nights stay at Paudwar we left for Sikha village. The trail was even worst than before with leeches spread all over. 

Crew members (on the way to Sikha) 

Sikha village, situated at an altitude of 2145m with population density of 1200 is located in the trail between the way from Ghorepani to Tatopan-Jomsom. The main agricultural products that can be produced are potato, corn and Kodo. The majority of people living here are Magars and Dalits. 

Sikha village 

The well equipped hotels and lodge divulged an impression of tourist destination. The only one school at Sikha is Sikha High School. The computer lab is equipped with eight computers. We were supposed to meet Mr. Baag Bir Paija, the Adhayakchaya and the active member of village handling the school. “The literacy percentage is low as the people are less aware about education especially after SLC”, says Mr. Baagbir. He continues-“Mostly after SLC most of the youngsters search for dalals to go to gulf country for work”. So Mr. Baagbir is planning to upgrade to plus two to minimize the outflow. A three room building was found to be under construction for +2 educations. 

Mr. Baagbir on VoIP phone with the crew member along with Mr. Sete Tilija standing 

Local students using internet. 

Sikha is a beautiful place to visit, if weather is clear majestic view of Dhaulagiri range can be observed. 

Rare view of Dhaulagiri on monsoon 

 

Kanchi Barahi Temple 

 

Sunset from Sikha village 

After two night stay at Sikha we left for Tikot. The trail was even much worst as it was raining also the trail was even more confusing, we got lost many times. 

On the way to Histan-Tikot we passed through Khiban, Gharmadi and finally reached Tikot by 1 pm. On the way one of our friends got injured so it took us five hour to reach Histan-Tikot. 

Gharamdi Village 

Situated at an altitude of 2250m, with population density of 840, Tikot is a small village with Magar people living. We were being expected by Mr. Tek Bahadur Poon, a teacher of primary level at Tikot High School. We were told that in SLC examination 2064 out of 12 students two of them secured first division and one was failed: “that was a good performance”, says Mr. Tek Bahadur Poon. 

The computer lab consists of 15 modern computer connected to Linux server. The computer class was only up to 8 class. “We are not able to expand computer course up to 10 class due to problem in teaching Q-Basic”-says Mr. Tek Bahadur Poon. The school administration is planning to rebuild a new building due to small space in present location.

Tikot village from Tikot High School

Tikot High School (Present)

The next morning we left for Beni, as one of our friend was badly injured and our plan to visit Nangi was incomplete.

Today schools in seven villages of Myagdi including the one in famous Ghorepani of the Annapurna trekking route are connected to rest of the world via computers that communicate with each other though wireless network powered by the dish antennas hanged on the trees. The wireless networking has helped in Education, Healthcare, Communication, E-Business sectors on those seven villages.

Beni Bazaar

Our curiosity to know about the wireless networking and the platform we were granted made our mission successful. The trip was too informative for us. Even in the remote villages of an underdeveloped country like Nepal, dreams of the people have been made true, due to people like Mahabir Poon. There are several other villages like in Myagdi in our country which needs development. We…..The YOUTH….can be the helping hands, the only thing that is needed is self-commitment, dedication and desire. Our small effort could bring smile to face of thousands of villagers of rural Nepal.

So…

CAN WE BE THE ONE…???

(For more information please visit www.nepalwireless.net

iverosan(at)hotmail.com

(Photographs by:       Diwash Bhandari, Roshan Joshi, Bibek Shakya

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