KATHMANDU: Ganesh Man Singh Memorial Academy has come up with a noble idea to improve the society and the lives of people in Kathmandu Constituency-8. Twelve volunteer women in the Academy are determined to change the society by stepping up to the households to raise awareness for local development.

Kathmandu is deteriorating in terms of sanitation and security, said the volunteers. “We are dedicated to involve the community for the betterment of their society,” they shared.

Volunteer Jyotshna Sindurakar, a local of KMC Ward No 25, said they had visited the people of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Wards 15, 19, 23, 24, 25 and Sitapaila VDC in the constituency. “Two wards are yet to be visited,” she said.

They reach out to the people and collect their problems and suggestions on garbage , drinking water, security, electricity and roads. People are living amidst growing insecurity, failing public utility services, increasing pollution and worsening traffic, they said. “Eighty per cent of the people are excited about the campaign.”

‘Wake Up Kathmandu’, an initiative under the GMSA aims at improving the lifestyle of capital denizens

and their access to public services. “We inspire the people to begin any works by themselves,” said Sindurakar. “We want them to form committees at the community level to make the drive successful.”

Constituent Assembly member Nabindra Raj Joshi, leader of the GMSA, said their approach involved public-private and civil society partnership, centralised on safety and security, livelihood and public services, health and hygiene, environment and aesthetics, and culture and tradition.

The pilot project will be launched on the day of Ghatasthapana,

September 19, which will eventually be extended citywide within five

years with the involvement of

key stakeholders and other enthusiastic people.

“We believe the sorry state of the city can be corrected if we stand together and start doing something from today,” said Joshi. “We are only the facilitators and provide the community activists training and technical support.” He said that of the Rs 1 million allocated for the purpose, Ace Development Bank gave Rs 200,000.