Social Studies and Population Education Book 8_2078 Revised and Updated Edition

Approved by the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Education Curriculum Development Centre (CDC), Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, Nepal. SOCIAL STUDIES AND POPULATION EDUCATION Revised and Updated 2077 8GRADE Authors Matrika Pd. Lamsal Ganesh Dhakal

Published by TU Road, Kuleshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal. Phone: 4672071, 5187211, 5187226 Fax: 00977-1-4672073 E-mail: [email protected] www.readmorenp.com © Copyright: Publisher 2075 BS First Edition : 2072 BS Revised Edition : 2073 BS Revised and Updated Edition : 2074, 2075, 2076 BS Revised and Updated Edition : 2077 BS No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. Any breach of this condition will entail legal action and prosecution. Language Editor Thanks to: Kiran Thapa Ishwar Mani Lamsal Krishna Pd. Parajuli Grishma Rajbhandari Sanjeev Rai Ramesh Chandra Adhikari Layout Readmore Desktop Printed in Nepal You can exchange this book from your nearest book shop if any binding errors are found. Read to help others read ! We are pleased to inform that a certain amount from each book is allocated to the Charity Fund. The fund is provided to deserving and needy students all over Nepal. The charity always welcomes co-operation and support from all well wishers and agencies.

About the book ’s Social Studies and Population Education is a graded series of text books intended for the school children of Nepal, and has been specially prepared for the English Medium Schools of Nepal. This series has been prepared in accordance to the curriculum prescribed by the CDC/GoN. This series gives students the basic knowledge about the different branches of the study of Social studies e.g. Sociology, Geography, History, Population, Economics etc. Salient features of the book: Objectives: The book starts with the objectives of the lesson giving the teacher as well as the students an idea about what they will be learning by the end of each unit. Note to teacher: The lesson also includes note to the teacher to help the teacher make the classes more interesting and informative. It gives an idea to the teacher as to what resources can be used and what other alternative methods also can be used to make the classes fun and interactive. Key Term: The language used in the lesson is simple to read and understand. A set of keywords have been included which provides the students with the meanings of the difficult words that they might come across in the lesson. Activities: There are a set of activities after each lesson. It instructs the students to gather information practically and makes the lessons relevant in their day to day life. These activities help the students to learn the lesson practically as well. Exercise: The exercises after each lesson cover the important aspect of the lesson so that the students are aware of the areas where they have to concentrate. Community work: It has been included for the students to get more exposure and an opportunity for them to interact with their community and be aware of their surroundings. Review Exercise: After each unit there is a section of review exercise where the students can revise what they have learnt in the previous lessons. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Readmore Publishers & Distributors for publishing this Social Studies Series. We are thankful to the editors and experts whose support and guidance has played an important role in the writing of this book. We would also like to extend our thanks to the schools and principals who have recommended Social Studies and Population Education book to their students and schools. We have written this book with utmost care and up to date data but we would like to apologize in case any errors are found. We highly appreciate the opinion and constructive suggestions from the teachers and intellectuals. - Authors

Table of Contents UNIT 1 WE, OUR COMMUNITY AND NATION 7 11 1. Development 15 2. Federal State 31 3. Our Provinces 36 4. Drinking Water 39 5. Energy 43 6. Human Resource 46 7. Development Projects of Nepal Review Exercise 48 52 UNIT 2 OUR SOCIAL NORMS AND VALUES 57 59 1. Social Traditions and Customs of Nepal 62 2. Religions of Nepal 65 3. Social Harmony 69 4. Nepal: A Beautiful Garden 5. National Heritage 71 6. International Personality 74 Review Exercise 78 82 UNIT 3 SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS 86 89 1. Social Problems 92 2. Corruption 96 3. Drug Abuse 4. Conflict and Its Management 98 5. Sustainable Development 101 6. Good Governance 104 7. International Organizations 108 Review Exercise 111 114 UNIT 4 CIVIC AWARENESS 117 120 1. Social Rules 124 2. Human Rights 128 3. Women’s Right 133 4. Inclusiveness 5. Provisions of Inclusiveness in Nepal 135 6. Characteristics of Our Constitution 138 7. Responsibilities of Citizens 141 8. Legislature 145 9. Executive 149 10. Judiciary 152 Review Exercise 155 158 UNIT 5 OUR EARTH 160 166 1. Change of Season 2. Weather and Climate 3. Factors Affecting Temperature 4. Climate Change 5. Impacts of Longitude and Latitude 6. Districts and Provinces of Nepal 7. Use of Distance on Maps 8. Map of Nepal 9. Disaster Management 10. Africa Continent

11. North America Continent 173 12. South America Continent 180 Review Exercise 187 UNIT 6 OUR PAST 189 192 1. Role of People in The Unification of Nepal 195 2. Unification of Nepal 198 3. The Continuation of Unification and Its End 201 4. Political Events After Sugauli Treaty 204 5. Political Activities During The Rana Regime 207 6. Economic and Social Activities During The Rana Regime 210 7. Major Political Events After 2007 BS and Achievements 214 8. Greek and Roman Civilization 217 9. Renaissance Review Exercise UNIT 7 OUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES 219 223 1. Tourism Industry 227 2. Foreign Trade 230 3. Currency 233 4. Bank 237 5. Price Determination of Goods and Price Hiking 240 6. Capital Formation and Co-operatives 243 7. The Condition of Employment in Nepal Review Exercise UNIT 8 OUR INTERNATIONAL RELATION AND CO-OPERATION 245 248 1. Our Friendly Nations 253 2. United Nations Organization and Its Organs 257 3. United Nations Organization and Nepal 260 4. Diplomatic Mission 263 5. The Contribution of Nepal in International Sector Review Exercise UNIT 9 AN INTRODUCTION OF POPULATION AND 265 DEMOGRAPHIC STATUS 268 272 1. Concept of Demography 277 2. Basic Demographic Measurement 279 3. Mortality and Migration 281 4. Determinants of Population Change 283 5. Population Composition of Nepal 285 6. Population Distribution in Nepal 288 7. Internal and External Migration in Nepal 8. World’s Population Size and Its Growth Review Exercise UNIT 10 POPULATION GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT 290 293 1. Population and Quality of Life 295 2. Measures for Population Management 298 3. The Problems of Population Management in Nepal 301 4. Roles of International Organizations in Population Management Review Exercise GRID 302-303 MODEL QUESTION 304

Unit 1 WE, OUR COMMUNITY AND NATION Learning Achievements Explain the concept of development and federal state, Define development and explain the infrastructure of development like drinking water, electricity, human resources, its importance and the condition of development, and Find out the development activities carried out in our country and also its present condition. 6 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Lesson DEVELOPMENT 1 The act or process of growing or progressing is known as development. Everything around us is growing or changing constantly. The world has developed in various sectors like technology, medicine, farming, communication etc. Similarly, the society where we are living is changing and developing too. We are no longer living in the primitive society. The journey of the society from primitive age to the modern age is an example of development. Development is the constant positive change occurring in the society. It is a continuous process which helps to lead a society forward and become more advanced. Depending on various factors, the development process can be fast or slow but it never stops. Hardworking, honest and active human resources can speed up the development of a society. The people of developed societies are educated, skilled, healthy and satisfied. They are the human resources of that nation. The development of a nation depends heavily on its human resources. A society needs to utilize its means and resources effectively and efficiently in order to facilitate the process of development. Supply of raw materials, manpower and finance which can be utilized effectively and help in the development process are called resources. These resources can be divided into three categories: SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 7

a) Natural resources b) Human resources c) Financial resources a) Natural resources: The resources which are gifted by nature are known as natural resources. Water, air, herbs, sunlight, geographical feature, hills, mountains, minerals, etc are the examples of natural resources. b) Human resources: Every nation strives to educate the people living in their country in order to produce skilled and educated human resource. Human resources refer to manpower, intellectual ability, labor, skill, etc. Human resource is a major factor affecting the development of a country. The lack of human resource has been seen as the main reason of slow development in many countries. c) Financial resources: Financial resources mean the capital, currency, financial system, etc. It is also one of the major factors affecting the development process. The country which has a good financial status is developed more quickly and efficiently compared to those countries whose financial status is weak. This is the factor which determines whether a country is developed, developing or under-developed. The ratio of financial activities increases with the rise in the income and expense level of the people. The financial activities set the pace of development in the society. If a nation is rich in resources then it can be developed. Stable government, honest politicians, visionary leaders and commitment are some of the other factors determining the smooth development of a country. Active participation of people is also required for the development of any country. They should be creative and hardworking. When all these factors come together and work harmoniously then only effective development is possible in any country. Note to the teacher: Development can be defined as progress. It is possible to make the concept of development clear by involving students in activities like games, observations and discussions. 8 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Key Terms Commitment : the state of being dedicated Constant : something that does not change through time Financial Status : financial position or condition Pace : the speed at which something happens Primitive : very simple and not developed Strive : to try very hard to do or get something Visionary : having vision or foresight Evaluation Exercises Activities 1. List down the changes that have come in the community where you live at present than that of past. 2. Read the following paragraph and prepare a dialogue putting forward your curiosity. Export of electricity can change the future of Nepal Nepal is rich in water resources. The capacity for the production of electricity is estimated to be 83 thousand megawatt but we haven’t been able to produce even 2,000 megawatt of electricity. If we could manage to produce up to 10,000 megawatt of electricity, then we could export it and become an economically strong nation. When will this dream of the nation come true? Very short answer questions 1. What is development? 2. What does a society need to speed up the development process? 3. Differentiate between human resources and natural resources in a sentence. 4. How does financial resource affect the development of a country? 5. What are the types of countries according to development status? 6. Define developed country. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 9

Short answer questions 1. How does development occur? 2. What should be done to make Nepal a developed country? 3. Write down the different types of resources and how they affect the development process. 4. ‘If a nation is rich in resources then it can be developed.’ Justify this statement. 5. What do you mean by the active participation of people? Why is it important in the development of a country? Present your views. Look at the given pictures of the Karnali Bridge then and now; and find out the differences and state how development has occurred in this place in these many years. Similarly make a list of changes seen in your society in last 10 years. 10 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Lesson FEDERAL STATE 2 Introduction Nepal had been practicing unitary system of government for a long decade. Under unitary system, efforts had been made for balanced and proportional development. But it failed to meet people’s expectation. Therefore, federalism was raised as a political agenda against unitary system after the success of People’s Movement-II, 2062/063. Federalism was endorsed by the second amendment of the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2063. The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly-I, which was held on 15th Jestha 2065 declared Nepal as “Federal Democratic Republican State”. Federal system is a political system in which a country is divided into different states or provinces with autonomous power. Every province has separate government along with its federal government at centre. Under federal system, there are three administrative units i.e. Central unit, Provincial unit and Local unit. The Central and Provincial unit has their own legislative, executive, and judicial bodies. Federalism is a principle which is similar throughout the world but its practice may differ according to the necessity of the country. The division of power between the federal and the state government is determined according to the clauses mentioned in the constitution. The Constitution of Nepal, has divided Nepal into 7 provinces and distributed the state power to central, provincial and local units. Some of them are presented below: Federal Powers Provincial Powers Powers of Local Level Protection of national State civil service Municipal police Cooperatives unity and territorial and other FM operation integrity government Local development services Relating to national projects and programs security SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 11

Central planning, State level Basic and secondary central bank, finance electricity, irrigation education policies, monetary and water supply and banking, services, navigation Basic health sanitation monetary policies, foreign grants, aid State universities, Distribution of land, and loans higher education, building ownership libraries, museums certificates Foreign and diplomatic affairs, Matters relating to Drinking water, small international relations the State Assembly, electricity projects, and United Nations State Council of alternative energy related matters Ministers Preservation and National Intra-State trade, development of transportation State highways, language, culture and policies, management Health services arts of railways and national highways Management of Local tax lands, land records In federal system, if the state government is found to be ineffective and unsuccessful or if national emergency is declared, the federal government controls and directs the concern states until other necessary arrangement is made. There are various political systems practiced in the world. They are not perfect in themselves. Every political system has its merits and challenging factors. Merits of federal system Maintains close relation between the state and its people, Optimum use of means and resources, Conflict may settle at local level, Wide public participation in government activities, Preservation of local arts, culture and heritages, Decentralization of power, Acceleration of development works, 12 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Maintain balanced population distribution, Less dependency on central government. Challenging factors of federal system Conflict between the states in regards of using natural resources of border areas, Expensive form of government, Misunderstanding may arise between central and state government regarding the sharing of power and authority, Difficult to address the needs and demands of every minority, Dangers of division or disintegration, Unequal distribution of wealth, Challenge to maintain equal recognition to all cultural groups. Key Terms Acceleration : speeding up, increase of speed Autonomous : having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs Clauses : a distinct provision in a document Decentralization : the distribution of power from a central authority to regional and local authorities Disintegration : fragmentation Merits : good quality, value or worth Note to the teacher: Explain to the students the concept of federalism practically rather than theoretically. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 13

Evaluation Exercises Activity Find the countries that have federal system of government from different sources and discuss their present situation. Very short answer questions 1. What is federal system? 2. What do you mean by decentralization? 3. When was Nepal declared as ‘Federal Democratic Republican State? 4. What are the different administrative units under federal system? 5. Into how many provinces has Nepal been divided? 6. When was Federalism implemented in Nepal? Short answer questions 1. Mention the importance of federalism. 2. Mention the structure of the federal system of government of Nepal. 3. Write down three powers each of federal, provincial and local units of governance have according to our constitutional provision. 4. List out the merits and challenging factors of federal system. 14 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Lesson OUR PROVINCES 3 Sudurpashchim Province Karnali Province N Butwal Provincial Map of Nepal Gandaki Province Pokhara JanakpurGodawariWESTBagmati Province KANCHANPUR Birendranagar EAST Province: 1 Province: 5 RUPANDEHI NAWAL NAWAELASPTARASI PARASI WEST Scale- 1:1,000,000 Hetauda Provincial Headquarters K - Kathmandu Province: 2 Biratnagar B - Bhaktapur L - Lalitpur Nepal is a Federal Democratic Republican State. The Constitution of Nepal has executed federalism in the country by making the provision of seven provinces. Chief Ministers of Seven Provinces Sher Dhan Rai Mohammad Lal Babu Raut Dormani Poudel Prithvi Subba Gurung Province No. 1 Province No. 2 Bagmati Province Gandaki Province Shankar Pokhrel Mahendra Bahadur Shahi Trilochan Bhatta Province No. 5 Karnali Province Sudurpashchim Province SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 15

16 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 Province No: 1 Location of Province No: 1 LEGEND Places Peak, Pass International Boundary Airport Provincial Boundary Temple District Boundary Gompa Protected Area Boundary Chorten Main Highway River Main Road Secondary Road Lake Main Trail District Headquarters Minor Trail Provincial Headquarters

Province No: 1 Area Province No: 1 Population It lies in the eastern part of Nepal and 17.6 % (25, 905 sq. km.) covers mountain, hill and Terai region. Mt. Sagarmatha, Mt. Kanchanjunga, Mt. 17.12 % (4,534,943 Makalu, etc lie in this province. Sagarmatha according to census National Park, Makalu Barun National 2068 BS) Park, Kanchanjungha Conservation Area also lie here. Rivers like Mechi, Tamor, No. of Districts 14 (Taplejung, Panchthar, Arun, etc have been supplying water in this Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, province for various purposes. Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Khotang, Sherpa, Chhetri, Brahmin, Meche, Koche, Solukhumbu, Rajbansi, Lepcha, Limbu, Rai, etc are the Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, main habitants. Barahakshetra, Pathibhara, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari) Halesi Mahadev, Chhintang Devi, etc are the major religious sites. No. of Local 137 (Rural Levels Municipalities: 88, Municipalities: 46, Sub- Headquarters Metropolitan Cities: 2 and Provincial Chief Metropolitan City:1) Chief Minister Biratnagar (Temporary) Somnath Adhikari ‘Pyasi’ Sher Dhan Rai Food crops like paddy, maize, Sagarmatha (8848 m) wheat, etc and cash crops like jute, tea, sugarcane, tobacco, etc are produced here. This province has more agricultural region. Biratnagar, Ilam, Dharan, Okhaldhunga, Gaighat, etc are the main trade centers. Similarly, tourism, agriculture, trade, service, etc are the major economic activities in this province. Mahendra highway, Mechi highway, etc run through this province. This province’s literacy rate is high due to the establishment of Purbanchal University and many other important educational institutions in its various region. Halesi Mahadev SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 17

18 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 Province No: 2 LEGEND Places Peak, Pass Location of Province No: 2 International Boundary Airport Provincial Boundary Temple District Boundary Gompa Protected Area Boundary Chorten Main Highway River Main Road Secondary Road Lake Main Trail District Headquarters Minor Trail Provincial Headquarters

Province No: 2 Province No: 2 It lies in the middle Terai region of the Area 6.56 % (9,661 sq. km.) country. It has more cultivable land compared to other provinces. To the north Population 20.4 % (5,404,145 of this province, there lies a dense forest according to census in Chure range. 2068 BS) The majority of population belongs to 8 (Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Madhesi community. Yadav, Tharu, No. of Districts Mahottari, Sarlahi, Dalit, Muslim, etc are the castes and ethnic groups living in this province. Rautahat, Bara, Parsa) The languages spoken here are Nepali, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Bajjika, etc. The No. of Local 136 (Rural Municipalities: religious sites such as Ram Janaki Levels 59, Municipalities: 73, Sub- temple, Chhinnamasta temple, Metropolitan Cities: 3 and Gadhimai temple, etc are located Metropolitan City: 1) here. Headquarters Janakpur (Temporary) Provincial Chief Tilak Pariyar Chief Minister Mohammad Lal Babu Raut Industrial products, fishery, agricultural products, etc are Ram Janaki Temple contributing a lot in the GDP of Nepal. Birgunj, a gateway of the country for foreign trade also lies in this province which collects the highest revenue in the country. Janakpur, Simara, Chandranigahapur, Lahan, Rajbiraj, etc are the important trade centers of this province. Parsa Wildlife Reserve and a part of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Reserve are also contributing in the conservation of wildlife and for tourism development. Agriculture, tourism, service, trade, manufacturing, etc are the major occupation of this province. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 19

20 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 Bagmati Province LEGEND Places Peak, Pass Location of Bagmati Province International Boundary Airport Provincial Boundary Temple District Boundary Gompa Protected Area Boundary Chorten Main Highway River Main Road Secondary Road Lake Main Trail District Headquarters Minor Trail Provincial Headquarters

Bagmati Province Bagmati Province Area 13.79 % (20,300 sq. km.) Most part of this province is hilly 20.87 % (5,529,452 according to and mountainous. Gaurishankar, Population census 2068 BS) Langtang, Jugal, Ganesh, etc are No. of Districts 13 (Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, the important mountains present Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, in this province. Rivers like No. of Local Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Trishuli, Bagmati, Bhotekoshi, Levels Chitwan, Makawanpur, Bhaktapur, etc are source of water for various Headquarters Lalitpur, Kathmandu) purposes. 119 (Rural Municipalities: 74, Municipalities: 41, Sub- Metropolitan Cities: 1 and Metropolitan City: 3) Hetauda Bhote and Sherpa are the main Provincial Chief Bishnu Prasad Prasain inhabitants of mountain region Chief Minister Dormani Poudel whereas Newars are the major inhabitants of the Kathmandu valley. Tharu, Magar, Tamang, Jirel, Brahmin, Chhetri, Dashnami, Dalit, etc are living in different parts of the province. Palanchowk Bhagawati, Dakshinkali, Dolakha Bhimeshwor, Langtang Mountain Bauddhanath Stupa, Budhanilakantha, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Gosainkunda, etc are the major religious sites located here. It has advanced in the educational sector, Swayambhunath excavation of mines, tourism industries, etc. Commercialized agriculture, Patan Durbar Square (Lalitpur) more opportunity for employment and SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 21 important trade centers have contributed a large portion in the GDP of the country. Industrial estates like Balaju, Hetauda and Patan are in this province. The major trade centers of this province are Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Banepa, Hetauda, Chitwan, Dhulikhel, etc. Agriculture, tourism, trade, manufacturing, service, etc are the major occupation of the people.

22 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 Gandaki Province Location of Gandaki Province LEGEND Places Peak, Pass International Boundary Airport Provincial Boundary Temple District Boundary Gompa Protected Area Boundary Chorten Main Highway River Main Road Secondary Road Lake Main Trail District Headquarters Minor Trail Provincial Headquarters

Gandaki Province Gandaki Province Most of this province is hilly Area 14.61 % (21,504 sq. km.) and mountainous. The mountain Population valleys like Manang and Mustang 9.07 % (2,403,757 according to also lie in this province. Lumle, No. of Districts census 2068 BS) 11 (Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Kaski, Manang, Mustang, Parbat, Syangja, a place receiving highest rainfall Myagdi, Baglung, Nawalparasi East) in the country and Dana gorge, the world’s deepest gorge are also No. of Local 85 (Rural Municipalities: 58, located in this province. The rivers Levels Municipalities: 26, Sub- Metropolitan like Kaligandaki, Marsyandi, Seti Cities: 0 and Metropolitan City: 1) Headquarters Pokhara Provincial Chief Amik Sherchan and their tributaries flow through Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung this province. Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Hiunchuli, Annapurna, Machhapuchchhre, etc are the major mountain peaks of this province. Lakes like Tilicho, Phewa, Rupa, Begnas, etc have added natural beauty to this province. Magar, Gurung, Brahmin, Thakali, Chhetri, Machhapuchchhre Mountain Dura, etc are the main inhabitants of this province. Pokhara University and various educational institutions have been providing educational opportunity here and have increased literacy rate. Galeshwar, Baglung Kalika, Mutkinath, Rishikesh Temple, Bindyawasini, Manakamana, Talbarahi, Dhorbarahi, etc are the major religious sites of this province. There is a great possibility of tourism Pokhara Valley development in this province. Pokhara, Bandipur, Gorkha, Manakamana, Manakamana Temple Muktinath, etc are the tourist centers in this SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 23 province. Kaligandaki and Marsyandi river hydroelectricity projects are producing and supplying electricity in good amount. Foreign employment, tourism, agriculture, service, etc are the major occupation of people. Production of apple in the mountain region and coffee in the hilly region has made this province popular.

24 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 Province No: 5 Location of Province No. 5 LEGEND Places Peak, Pass International Boundary Airport Provincial Boundary Temple District Boundary Gompa Protected Area Boundary Chorten Main Highway River Main Road Secondary Road Lake Main Trail District Headquarters Minor Trail Provincial Headquarters

Province No: 5 Province No: 5 There is no mountain range in Area 15.14 % (22,288 sq. km.) this province. Most part of this is in Terai region and rest in hilly Population 16.98 % (4,499,272 according to region. It consists of plenty of census 2068 BS) cultivable land. River Tinau, River Rapti, River Badhigad, etc are No. of Districts 12 (Nawalparasi West, Rupandehi, the major rivers in this province. Kapilbastu, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Satyawati lake, Barakune lake and Gulmi, Rukun East, Rolpa, Pyuthan, Jagdishpur lake lie here. Likewise, Daang, Banke, Bardiya) No. of Local 109 (Rural Municipalities: 73, Levels Municipalities: 32, Sub- Metropolitan Cities: 4 and Metropolitan City: 0) Headquarters Butwal (Temporary) Provincial Chief Dharmanath Yadav Chief Minister Shankar Pokhrel Dang, Deukhuri, Rampur, Madi valleys are also located in this province. Magar, Tharu, Brahmin, Chhetri, etc are River Tinau the main inhabitants in this province. There is a dense settlement of Madhesi Community in its southern part. Bageswari, Thakurdwara, Swargadwari, Bhairabsthan, Resunga, Ridi, Lumbini, etc are the major religious sites located in this province. There is higher possibility of agricultural Lumbini development. Some important irrigation projects are ongoing in this province. Swargadwari Temple Irrigation projects like Sikta, Babai, SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 25 Badganga, Tinau, etc have been assisting in the increase of agricultural productions. Butwal, Bhairahawa, Krishnanagar, Tansen, Lamahi, Nepalgunj, Kohalpur, etc are the important trade centers located in this province. Nepal Sanskrit University, Lumbini Bauddha University have been established here.

26 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 Karnali Province Location of Karnali Province LEGEND Places Peak, Pass International Boundary Airport Provincial Boundary Temple District Boundary Gompa Protected Area Boundary Chorten Main Highway River Main Road Secondary Road Lake Main Trail District Headquarters Minor Trail Provincial Headquarters

Karnali Province Karnali Province This province is located in the Area 19.01 % (27,984 sq. km.) mountain and hilly region of mid- Population 5.92 % (1,570,418 according to census 2068 BS) western part of the country. Here, 10 (Rukum West, Salyan, Dolpa, the climate is dry and cold. Rivers No. of Districts Jumla, Mugu, Humla, Kalikot, like Tila, Bheri, Sani Bheri, Humla Karnali, etc are providing water Jajarkot, Dailekh, Surkhet) for irrigation and other purposes. Similarly, mountains like No. of Local 79 (Rural Municipalities: 54, Kanjirowa, Patarasi, etc and the Levels Municipalities: 25, Sub- Metropolitan Cities: 0 and Metropolitan City: 0) Headquarters Birendranagar Provincial Chief Govinda Prasad Kalauni Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi lakes like Rara, Phoksundo lie here. It consists of a large forest area, wide grasslands suitable for cattle rearing and medicinal herbs. People belonging to Thakuri, Chhetri, Brahmin, Phoksundo Lake Dalit caste and ethnic groups live here. Kankre Bihar, Shey-gumba, Chandannath, Deuti Bajai, etc are the important religious sites located here. This province has a higher possibility of hydroelectricity production. The wide grasslands are suitable for cattle rearing and production of medicinal herbs. Collection of Yarsagumba and other medicinal herbs, production of apple, walnut, etc are the Deuti Bajai Temple major occupation of the people living in mountain region. Ratna highway, Karnali highway, Chhinchu Jajarkot road, etc have made great change in the transportation sector of this province. Jumla, Salli Bazar, Dailekh, Chhinchu, Birendranagar, etc are the major trade centers located here. Rara Lake, Rara National Park Phoksundo Lake, Shey-Phoksundo National Park, Rara National Park, etc are the attractive tourist destinations here. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 27

28 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 Sudurpashchim Province Api Himal Saipal Chuli Location of Sudurpashchim Province LEGEND Places Peak, Pass International Boundary Airport Provincial Boundary Temple District Boundary Gompa Protected Area Boundary Chorten Main Highway River Main Road Secondary Road Lake Main Trail District Headquarters Minor Trail Provincial Headquarters

Sudurpashchim Province Sudurpashchim Province This province is located in the Area 13.27 % (19,539 sq. km.) far-western part of the country. Population Southern part of it is affected by 9.63 % (2,552,517 according to the hot wind called ‘Loo’ during No. of Districts census 2068 BS) 9 (Bajura, Bajhang, Doti, Achham, Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, summer. There is enough rainfall No. of Local Kanchanpur, Kailali) during winter caused by the winter Levels 88 (Rural Municipalities: 54, monsoon. Sub-tropical evergreen Municipalities: 33, Sub- Metropolitan forest in the south, deciduous forest Headquarters Cities: 1 and Metropolitan City: 0) in the middle and alpine forest in the Provincial Chief Godawari Sharmeela Kumari Pant north are found here. This province Chief Minister Trilochan Bhatta consists of three geographical regions: mountain region, hilly region and Terai region. Api and Saipal are the popular mountains of this province. People belonging to Brahmin, Thakuri, Chhetri, Tharu, Dalit etc caste and ethnic groups are the Api Mountain main inhabitants of this province. Badhimalika, Shaileshwari, Urgatara, etc are the important religious sites located here. This province is rich in culture. Gaura Parva and Deuda dance are the typical culture of this province but are popular throughout the country. There is sufficient production of food crops in Shuklaphanta National Park this province. Paddy, wheat, millet, barley, maize, oilseed, etc are produced in large volume. Tanakpur barrage and Pancheshwar multipurpose project are the ongoing project, and West Seti, a project of national pride is also going to be implemented here soon. Shuklaphanta and Khaptad National Parks are added attraction for the tourists. Dadeldhura, Sanphebagar, Tikapur, Attariya, Silgadhi, Dhangadhi, Bhimdutta Nagar, etc are the major trade centers located in this province.Agriculture, service, trade, tourism, etc are the main economic activities of the people but still many people from here go to India for employment. Key Terms Destination : the place to which someone or something is going or being sent Excavation : act of making hollow by removing the inner part Fishery : the occupation or industry of catching or rearing fish Plenty : sufficient Note to the teacher: Make the students share information regarding geological condition of the provinces where they come from. And also give them the knowledge regarding the other provinces. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 29

Evaluation Exercises Activities 1. Read the list given below and draw a pie chart showing the area of seven provinces: Province No. 1 25,905 sq. km. Province No. 2 9,661 sq. km. Bagmati Province 20,300 sq. km. Gandaki Province 21,504 sq. km. Province No. 5 22,288 sq. km. Karnali Province 27,984 sq. km. Sudurpashchim Province 19,539 sq. km. 2. Mark the seven provinces in the map of Nepal and indicate each province with a different colour. Very short answer questions 1. When was Nepal divided into seven Provinces? 2. Name any two pilgrimage sites of Province No. 1. 3. List the cash crops grown in Province No. 2. 4. Name two religious places of Bagmati Province. 5. Which two dry valleys lie in Gandaki Province? 6. Which national parks are located in Karnali Province? 7. Mention any two major trade centres of Province No. 5. 8. Name two mountains of Sudurpashchim Province. 9. Why does rainfall take place in winter in Sudurpashchim Province? Short answer questions 1. What are the major attractions of Province No. 1? 2. What are the religious sites and major tourist attractions of Bagmati Province? 3. Province No. 2 consists of more cultivable land compared to other provinces. How should it be utilized to get more benefits? Present your views. 4. ‘Gandaki Province has great prospect of tourism.’ Justify the statement. 5. Why is density of population low in Karnali Province? Give reasons. 30 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Lesson DRINKING WATER 4 Sanjeev Singh lives in Banke. Hand pump Hand Pump is the main source of water in his home. So there is no scarcity of water. But the water smells bad sometimes. Sanjeev has heard about harmful chemical called arsenic which is present in the water obtained from hand pump and can cause skin disease. But he has no other option and his family is compelled to drink that water. Khagendra lives in Kathmandu. There is a water tap in his home but water flow is not regular in this water tap. Sometimes he has to wake up as early at 1 am in the morning to collect water. In the dry seasons, he has to buy drinking water from tanker or jar. Tashi lives in Namche Bazar. He uses a pond near his home as source of water. He does not need to go far to bring drinking water but the animals go there time and often, some people throw garbage over there and pollute the water. When people drink such polluted water, they suffer from various water-borne diseases like cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, typhoid, jaundice and other contagious diseases. Shanti Maya lives in a village of Panchthar district. There are no sources of water near her home. Every day she has to wake up early in the morning to fetch water from the river. It takes about three hours to fetch drinking water from the river. These are some examples of how people of Nepal are facing the drinking water problems. Water is one of the most important basic needs for all the living being. About 70% of the human body is made up of water. Human beings can live without food for some time but not without water. Water is used for various purposes, such as for cooking food, washing clothes, taking bath, growing crops, construction work and for generating hydro-electricity. Water plays a vital role in the development of a country. Clean drinking water is necessary for good health. If the citizens are healthy, development of a country will be rapid. Thus, government should make all the efforts to supply pure drinking water to its citizens. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 31

Supply of Drinking Water in Nepal S.N. Sources of Drinking water No. of family/household Percentage using water 1. Tap or piped water 2,591,379 53.36 2. Covered well/Kuwa 132,870 2.74 3. Hand pump 1,904,965 39.23 4. River/Stream 60,580 1.25 5. Water from other sources 132,551 2.73 6. Not stated 33,900 0.69 4,856,245 100 Total Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, 2068 BS Problems of drinking water in Nepal Half of the total population is deprived of pure and safe drinking water. In some areas of hilly region, the source of water is very far and limited. Presence of arsenic in the tube-well water in Terai region. Pollution due to lack of awareness among the people. Lack of sources of water in urban areas. Difficult topography to run drinking water project. Above mentioned problems have been creating hurdles to supply pure and safe drinking water in our country. The government has to carry out effective plans to rectify the drinking water related problems. Solutions The water resources should be conserved and kept clean. Use drinking water after purity test only. Make arrangement of drinking water with the coordination of government sector and local community. Use boiled and filtered water for drinking. Reservoirs of drinking water should be cleaned time to time. Make provisions to fulfill the demands of drinking water in urban areas. Launch awareness among the people regarding the proper use of water without wasting it. 32 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

There are many places in Nepal where people have to walk for miles to get drinking water. The government should try to supply water to every home. A lot of time and hard work is wasted on trying to get drinking water. If this facility can be more accessible, then people will have more time and energy to use in more beneficial work. The problem is more complex in the cities. There aren’t enough public taps for the people and even if there are, then there is no water supply in those taps. People stay for hours on queue to get one bucket of water. The supply of water always falls short and people go home disappointed. This situation needs to be changed. In Terai region people have started relying on underground source of water. But this water contains harmful chemical called arsenic. We should not drink water containing this chemical as it is hazardous to our health. The tube-wells and the taps are marked with red signs which indicate that the water contains arsenic. The Constitution of Nepal has also made a provision in fundamental rights as “Each citizen shall have the right to access to clean water and hygiene”. Ongoing Melamchi Water Supply Project has also been giving finishing touch to the project in Kathmandu valley. This project aims at providing safe and quality drinking water to the people of the Kathmandu valley. Key Terms Compelled : forced to do something Contagious : capable of transmitting disease Deprived : lacking a specified benefit that is considered important Fetch : go for and then bring back Scarcity : shortage or short supply Vital : important Note to the teacher: Make the students participate in role plays and make them visit places to raise awareness and get involved in programs regarding the sources and sensible use of water. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 33

Evaluation Exercises Activities 1. Draw any source of water and present its usefullness in class. 2. Read the notice given by the Drinking Water Supply Cooperation below and discuss how water can be used in a proper manner and present in class. Request from Drinking Water Supply Cooperation You can save a person’s life by just saving a glass of water. Hence, please give your attention towards the following points: Make the habit of closing the tap after use. Don’t leave the tap open while being busy in other works. Put the nozzle on the tap. Don’t use drinking water for irrigation. Use rain water to wash clothes and for cleaning purpose. Don’t drink water directly from the source. Filter it, add medicine, perform SODIS or boil it before drinking. It’s not enough for the water to be decontaminated. We have to make sure that the vessels that we use to store water, the area where we fill water from and our hands are clean too. If we don’t pay attention to this then the water might get contaminated and we may fall sick. We should make sure that the source of water is clean. Make sure that the water tap is accessible to disabled people as well as the children. Very short answer questions 1. What is arsenic? 2. For what purposes is water used? 3. How do sources of water get polluted? 4. List out two water borne diseases. 5. What are the sources of water? 6. Why is the demand of water growing in Nepal? 34 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Short answer questions 1. List the importance of water in human life. 2. What is the current situation of water supply in Nepal? Explain. 3. Write a letter to the drinking water cooperation requesting them to check the water supply line since there is no water supply in the taps. 4. What are the problems of drinking water in Nepal? Suggest the possible measures to solve it. 5. Draw a pie-chart on the basis of the following data. Supply of Drinking Water in Nepal S.N. Sources of Drinking water No. of family/household using water 1. Tap or piped water 2,591,379 2. Hand pump 1,904,965 3. Others 359,901 Total 4,856,245 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 35

Lesson ENERGY 5 Electricity is one of the most important Solar Panel sources of energy. Industrial development is not possible without development of electricity. Electricity plays vital role in the modern world, we use electricity for various purposes. Refrigerator, fax, oven, heater, rice cooker, etc can be run by electricity. Industries require machinery and other heavy tools to produce many manufactured goods. Electricity is a must to run these machinery and heavy tools. We get these energies from different Hydro Power Dam sources like generator, hydropower, solar power, bio-gas, woods, oil, coal, natural gas, windmill, batteries, water mill, etc. We also get the energy from nuclear plant, petroleum, biological and farm waste material, etc. Energy plays an important role in our daily life. It is also needed for household work, to operate an office, to run medical equipment in hospitals, to run industries etc. For this reason energy has become one of the essential parts of human life. Developed Windmill countries consume more energy. That’s why energy development is related to human peace and prosperity and economic development. 36 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Hydro-power was generated for the first time in Nepal in 1968 BS during the time of Chandra Shumsher in Pharping, south of Kathmandu. Pherping Hydro- power station’s capacity was 500 KW. The second hydro-power station was established in 1991 BS during the time of Juddha Shumsher at Sundarijal in the north of Kathmandu, having the capacity of 640 KW. There is tremendous potentiality in Nepal for electricity production. There are plenty of rivers which flow continuously throughout the year in Nepal. It has the potential of producing 83,000 mega watts hydropower. From the economic and technical point of view around 43,000 mega watt hydropower can be produced. But till date only 1,000 mega watt hydropower has been produced. Majority of the power produced in Nepal has been utilized only in cities. There is still a shortage of power in the remote areas. The lack of sufficient amount of electricity has directly affected industries, trade, agriculture sector, etc. After the completion of some micro hydroelectricity projects, and control over leakage and widespread corruption in this field, the problem of power-cut has been gradually decreasing as well. We can minimize the problem of power shortage in the following ways: Reduce the unnecessary use of electric power at home. Make the public aware about proper use of electricity at home. Use less electricity consuming appliances. Turn off the switches of the used appliances after the use is over. Use alternative sources of energy like solar power, bio-gas, wind power, etc. Use bright colours or paints at home. Key Terms Bio-gas : any gas fuel derived from the decay of organic matter Generator : a dynamo or similar machine for converting mechanical energy into electricity Hydropower : electricity produced from machines that are run by moving water Solar power : power obtained by harnessing the energy of the sun’s ray Note to the teacher: Organize an educational tour in the places/community where renewable energy technology and micro hydro projects are being operated. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 37

Evaluation Exercises Activities 1. What would happen if there is no electricity? 2. What will happen if petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene and cooking gas are all used up by us? Very short answer questions 1. Write any four sources of energy. 2. Why is energy an essential part of human life? 3. Which is the first hydro-power project of Nepal? When was it established? 4. During whose reign Sundarijal Hydro-power Station established? Write its production capacity. 5. Mention any two effects of load-shedding. Short answer questions 1. Define energy and write its various sources. 2. What is the importance of energy? Make a list. 3. Write five solutions for the energy crisis of Nepal. 4. As Nepal is rich in water resources, we can produce plenty of hydro- electricity and export it to different countries for our economy benefits. What do you think need to be done to achieve this? 5. List the uses of electricity. 6. How can we minimize the problem of power shortage? Suggest the possible ways of solutions. Community Work Collect the list of different kinds of energy that has been used in your home, school or community. Also find out the uses of such energies. 38 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Lesson HUMAN RESOURCE 6 The positive changes that occur in an individual, family, community or a country as a whole is known as development. This is a constant and never ending process which had been going on in the past and will continue to go on in the future. There is a vast difference in the lifestyle and the living standard of our ancestors compared to our modern day lifestyle. This is the result of development. If there was no development, there would be no difference between the life we lead now and the life that our ancestors led years ago. Human resources play an important role in the social and economic development of a country. Human resources are those people who are educated, knowledgeable, skilled and experienced, physically healthy, mentally aware and are rational thinkers. Human resources are also known as manpower, labors or human capital. It can be divided into three groups: Unskilled - The group of people who lack the skill and training are known as unskilled human resource. Semi-skilled - The group of people who have certain skills but still not qualified for a particular job is known as semi-skilled human resource. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 39

Skilled - The group of people who are well qualified and trained in a particular field is known as skilled. All these three categories are equally important for the development process. Human resources alone are not enough for the development process. The natural resources, financial resources and human resources have to come together and be utilized in a correct manner for development. A country can be considered developed only when all of its part becomes developed. For the development of the health sector various professionals like woman health caretaker, rural health workers, health assistance and maternity health worker are required. Similarly, other required professionals are nurses, doctors, lab assistants, pharmacologists, administrative workers, etc. For the development of the agricultural sector, the required human resources are farmers, JTA, JT and laborers. In order to achieve development in this area, the farmers have to be given enough knowledge and training to be able to understand the requirements of their field. If farmers are trained well, there is a good scope of agriculture in Nepal. The other types of activities can be fruit farming, vegetable farming, animal rearing, floral business, etc. It’s not only the agricultural sector or health sector but there is equal potential for the growth of other sectors like education, tourism, construction, transportation, media, etc. We need people having good knowledge and skills in their required fields for the proper development of these sectors. In the economical context, our country has produced professionals in agriculture, trade and civil services but we are still lacking in professions like medicine, engineering, media, etc. Due to this lack, the speed of the development process has been hindered. The most important factor that we need to understand is that no profession is inferior or superior. Each and every profession has equal importance and contributes to the development of the country. We need to understand that and respect every profession without categorizing them into any levels. It’s the responsibility of the citizens to share their creativity, skill and knowledge honestly to help in the process of development. The government needs to give opportunity to the people to learn 40 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

new skills and educate them in various areas to be able to make the country developed as a whole. Knowledge and education makes a person creative, responsible, helpful, independent and rational. But Nepal is suffering from scarcity of human power needed for development. There are several problems of human resources in Nepal. Some of the problems are: Lack of systematic production of manpower, Lack of vocational and technical institutions, Inequality between unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled human resources, Lack of information about scopes, opportunities, possibilities, etc, Lack of far sighted planning and policies, Lack of skillful training and practical education system. It is necessary to develop in the area of science and technology for the economic development of the country. For this, our country is in need of professionals in this area. Ample training and opportunities should be provided to the people to develop in this area. The country should always depend on its own people to formulate and execute development plans. Key Terms Ample : plenty Floral : of flowers Hinder : obstruct Pharmacologist : a specialist in the science of medications Potential : showing the capacity to develop Rational : logical thinking Note to the teacher: Make the students discuss about the unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled human resource by showing them related charts and pictures. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 41

Evaluation Exercises Activity What types of human resources are present in your community? Make a list. Very short answer questions 1. What is development? 2. Define human resources. 3. List out the types of human resources. 4. What do you understand by skilled human resources? 5. Differentiate between unskilled and semi-skilled human resources. Short answer questions 1. What is the role of the people in the process of development? 2. What efforts have been made in Nepal to produce skilled human resource for the economic and social development of the country? 3. What kind of human resource do you want to be in future? Give reasons. 4. What are the ways to produce skilled human resource? Make a list. 5. Why is human resource important? Write in a paragraph. 42 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Lesson DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS OF NEPAL 7 There are many projects being implemented for the development of areas like road, drinking water, communication, electricity, sanitation, education and health in Nepal. Some of the projects have been completed while others are still in the process of completion. Some of the examples are given below: School Sector Development Plan 2016 - 2023: Government of Nepal This project has been started with the vision to Ministry of Education contribute to the development of self-sustainable, October 2016 competitive, innovative and value oriented citizens for the socioeconomic transformation of the nation. It has taken the mission to produce the needed human resources to elevate Nepal’s status from a Least Developed Country by 2022 and to reach the status of a middle-income country by 2030. The total estimated cost of the seven-year SSDP is US$ 10,577 million, of which $6,461 million is estimated for the first five years (2016/17-2021/22). Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project: This 456 megawatt project is funded by Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Telecom, Citizen Investment Trust, Rastriya Bima Sansthan, Employees Provident Fund, civil servants and general public. As this project is entirely financed by domestic funds, the electricity produced by it will be comparatively cheaper. The hydroelectricity will be generated from River Tamakoshi at northern part of Dolakha district. The organization named, “Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectricity Limited” has been established in 2063 BS to run the project. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 43

Pokhara Regional International Airport: From this project, it has been expected that Pokhara Airport will be upgraded as Pokhara Regional International Airport which will ultimately contribute for sustainable tourism development. The construction was formally started at Chhinedanda, Pokhara by placing the foundation stone on 1st Baishakh 2073 BS and now it is under construction by Chinese Company. This project’s completion will help to develop Pokhara as one of the attractive tourist destinations of the world. After the completion of this project, large aeroplanes up to 200 seats can take off and land on Pokhara Airport. Above mentioned projects are the representative projects of Nepal. There are several other projects of national glory. Some of the important projects are: Budhi Gandaki Hydro Power Project: It has the production capacity of 1,200 MW (megawatt). It lies in between Gorkha and Dhading district. Puspalal Lokmarga (Madhya Pahadi Lokmarga): It connects east Chiyobhanjyang of Panchthar district to Jhulaghat of Baitadi district. It is 1,776 km long. East-West Railway: It is also important project of national glory. It’s length is 950 km. It connects eastern most part to western most part of Nepal. Kathmandu Terai Madhes Fast Track: It is 76 km long fast track that connects Kathmandu with the Terai region. Key Terms Approximately : estimated Implemented : put a plan into effect Innovative : advanced Sanitation : conditions relating to public health, especially the provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal Ultimately : finally Note to the teacher: Make the students collect articles that are published in various magazines regarding developmental programs going on in Nepal and discuss in class. 44 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Evaluation Exercises Activity Discuss with your group the advantages of developmental programs and come to a conclusion. Very short answer questions 1. What is project? 2. Write the main aims of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project. 3. What is the mission of School Sector Development Plan? 4. Who are funding in the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project? 5. What is the main aim of Pokhara Regional International Airport Project? Short answer questions 1. Write down the main functions of western Nepal rural drinking water and sanitation project. 2. Mention the vision of the School Sector Development Plan. 3. How does School Sector Development Plan help to develop education sector? 4. Make news article related to the developmental project in Nepal and its benefits. 5. What types of developmental activities are required in your community? Community Work Divide yourselves into groups and visit the places where developmental works are being conducted. Prepare a report based on your findings. If you are unable to visit the place then fix an appointment with an INGO or local social worker who is involved in such developmental works. Discuss the activities of the Rural Municipality or INGO and the benefits the people are getting from such organizations. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 45

Review Exercise 1. Study the given table about the present situation and goal of fifteenth five year plan about the supply of drinking water and answer the given questions. S.N. Particular Present Goal situation (2080/81 BS) (2074/75 BS) Total population benefited 88 99 1. from basic level drinking water facilities (in %). Total population benefited from 20 40 2. middle/high quality drinking water facilities (in %). a) What programs have to be launched to increase the basic drinking water facilities to all the citizens? b) Is it possible to achieve the objective of high quality drinking water facilities? Discuss in class. 2. Complete the following table with the help of text, atlas and other reference materials. Province Trade Tourism Popular Minerals Agriculture Centre Place Things Productions 3. Write short notes on: a) Importance of alternative energy b) ‘Clean drinking water, healthy life’ c) Importance of skilled human resources 46 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Unit 2 OUR SOCIAL NORMS AND VALUES Learning Achievements Find out about Nepal’s social and religious practices and customs, and participate in their preservation, Recognize Nepal as a country of ‘unity in diversity’ and maintain its social harmony and tolerance, Identify the National Heritages of Nepal and help in conserving them, and Identify various International Personalities and get inspirations from their good works. SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 47

Lesson SOCIAL TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF NEPAL 1 A class is going on about the social tradition and customs of Nepal. In the presence of teacher, some students are presenting their understandings about the topic. Teacher: Today we are going to discuss about traditions and customs of Nepal. As we know Nepal is a multi-religious, multi- lingual, multi-cultural and multi- ethnic country, our customs and traditions differ from one part of Nepal to another. Each community has its own tradition and custom. Like wedding, birth and death rituals, etc in Nepal vary according to ethnic groups and castes. Now you tell about your own traditions and customs that you know. Srijana Shrestha : I am going to talk about ‘Guthi’ which is prevalent in the Newar community. It is a social organization which maintains the socio-economic order of Newar society. It is one of the most powerful social organizations of Newars. It has been practiced from Lichchhavi period. Guthi plays an important role in preserving the culture, building and renovating the religious places, cremation of the dead, conducting funerals, etc. The members of the Guthi are known as the Guthiyaar and the eldest member of the Guthi is known as Thakali. The responsibilities of the Guthi are distributed among the Guthiyaars. The popular Guthis in the newar community are Dewali Guthi, Sana Guthi, Si Guthi, etc. Prem Darlami : In the Magar community, the organization which functions to gain the social objectives is known as 48 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8

Bheja. It helps in performing religious festivals, rites and rituals, celebrations, traditional practices and agricultural works, etc. It also helps in conducting economic activities and resource mobilization as well as keeps the community united. The leadership lies in the hands of the eldest member of the group and is known as Mukhiya. It is responsible to preserve the religious and traditional practices and it also appoints the pujari. Chaaya Chaudhary : The Badghar tradition has been prevalent in the Tharu community from the ancient time. The term Badghar refers to the position of a village leader who leads his own village. Badghar’s role is like a chairman, judge and administrator in the village. The Badghar is responsible for maintaining the unity in the community, organizing the rituals relating to deaths and births, and controlling and conducting the social rules. Every year on the month of Magh the community appoints the Badghar. Anu Gurung : Rodighar is a tradition of the Gurung community. The young boys and girls of this community get together at the Rodighar to dance and sing in the evening. It is an ideal institution for entertainment under the supervision of head of the family. All the members of the Rodhi usually work together in the field or go together to fetch woods from the forest. The Rodighar helps in making the relationship amongst the people of the community strong and harmonious. They also discuss and plan about the things that they will do the next day. Ishan Lamsal : I am going to talk about ‘Parma’ and ‘Paincho’. These two traditions are not specific to any caste. It is common in all parts of Nepal. At first, I will tell you about ‘Parma’. It is a practice of giving and taking help especially in agricultural activities. When the farmers need help to work in the field, they call their neighbours to work SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8 49

for certain hours of the day in their field. In return, do the same for their neighbours. The practice of ‘Parma’ is thus a system of supporting each other in work turn by turn collectively. It is also called Aalopalo Pratha in Nepalese society. Similarly, ‘Paincho’ is the system of giving and taking of something. It is related to goods. In this practice, people take the goods which they are in need from others and return it without any addition of interest or amount in due time. Such system is generally found in rural areas but nowadays, due to development of local shops and markets, it has been declining. Dipak Singh : Dear friends, today I am going to tell you about ‘Dhikuti’. In common sense, Dhikuti means store room where various food grains are kept. But now it has been adopted in monetary matters. In this system, money is raised from the Dhikuti members to collect a fund for specific purpose periodically. The collected fund is used by its members turn by turn. After using the fund the members have to pay minimum interest rate. At present, this system is declared illegal by the government as there are more possibility of cheating and fraud. Teacher : Thank you all for sharing your ideas and knowledge with your classmates. Key Terms Cremation : funeral Mobilization : to put into active service Prevalent : widespread Renovate : repair, restore Note to the teacher: As mentioned in the lesson, there might be certain social practices in the local community which has been contributing in the social, economical and cultural upliftment of that community. Find out about them and make the class discuss about its importance and conservation. 50 SOCIAL STUDIES - GRADE 8