Ramesh Shrestha | Wageningen University (original) (raw)

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Papers by Ramesh Shrestha

Journal of Development Innovations, Dec 31, 2020

The global economy has created an unprecedented amount of wealth. The top 10% of wealth holders o... more The global economy has created an unprecedented amount of wealth. The top 10% of wealth holders own 82% of global wealth, while the bottom-half account for less than 1%. Such wealth disparity may be attributed to the dominant economic model’s focus on accumulating profit over providing equitable and secure lives for all. This lack of basic income security and extreme poverty is a violation of economic rights of citizens in many countries. The global spree of technical automation further exacerbated this situation through job loss. The provision of universal basic income could possibly serve as a moral and sustainable solution to ensure that no one is denied the basic income requirement for food, shelter and medical care. It is the right political choice for governments and those in authority to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to live in dignity and economic freedom through progressive realization of basic income security.
JEL classification: I31, J08, J38
Keywords: economic insecurity, human rights, economic freedom, universal basic income, safety nets, basic income security, leaving no one behind

The issue dealing with the high arsenic (As) concentrations in ground water used as drinking wate... more The issue dealing with the high arsenic (As) concentrations in ground water used as drinking water in Nepal was neglected for a long time. Whereas Bangladesh received much international attention and appropriate filters to remove As were installed, the distribution of the so-called Kanchan filters in Nepal only began in the early nineties. Arsenic itself can be readily released into ground water depending on pH, redox conditions, temperature, and solution composition. However, there is an obvious de-coupling of As and Fe concentrations in ground water. In this regard, the partial low removal efficiency of the installed Kanchan filters can tentatively be explained by the ratio of main and trace elements (particularly Fe and As), pH, flow rates, contact time with the nails, and filter maintenance. This review paper summarizes the identified geological background, origin of the As, the established mitigation option and future improvements of the filters. In that regard, the approach of building the filters with locally available material is still imperative for a country like Nepal where industrial jobs are relatively in scarce.

Both the sustainability of infrastructure and positive sanitation behaviour are necessary to main... more Both the sustainability of infrastructure and positive sanitation behaviour are necessary to maintain the benefits of safe sanitation. Identifying and monitoring the factors underpinning sustainable sanitation are particularly challenging in dynamic peri-urban settings. To determine which factors disproportionately influence progress towards sustainability, a combined assessment of sanitation infrastructure, behaviour, and socio-spatial context was undertaken in Kathmandu, Nepal using a framework called the Peri-urban Sustainable Sanitation Monitoring Tool. Data were collected in four communities using household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Out of the three decentralized systems analyzed (pour-flush toilets with a septic tank, urine-diverting dry toilets, and dry toilets), the pour-flush toilets with a septic tank may compromise the benefits of safe sanitation in these communities with improper excreta management and maintenance expenses. It is valuable to understand the sustainable sanitation challenges of peri-urban areas to improve the effectiveness of local sanitation management and to help reach sanitation targets set at a national or global level.

The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 1989

Immunization of children has become a programme of great priority in all developing countries of ... more Immunization of children has become a programme of great priority in all developing countries of the world. If administered properly this programme could save millions of infants and children from unnecessary ill health and untimely death. Advocacy by UNICEF has resulted in an ...

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Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 1989

Immunization of children has become a programme of great priority in all developing countries of ... more Immunization of children has become a programme of great priority in all developing countries of the world. If administered properly this programme could save millions of infants and children from unnecessary ill health and untimely death. Advocacy by UNICEF has resulted in an ...

Journal of Development Innovations, Dec 31, 2020

The global economy has created an unprecedented amount of wealth. The top 10% of wealth holders o... more The global economy has created an unprecedented amount of wealth. The top 10% of wealth holders own 82% of global wealth, while the bottom-half account for less than 1%. Such wealth disparity may be attributed to the dominant economic model’s focus on accumulating profit over providing equitable and secure lives for all. This lack of basic income security and extreme poverty is a violation of economic rights of citizens in many countries. The global spree of technical automation further exacerbated this situation through job loss. The provision of universal basic income could possibly serve as a moral and sustainable solution to ensure that no one is denied the basic income requirement for food, shelter and medical care. It is the right political choice for governments and those in authority to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to live in dignity and economic freedom through progressive realization of basic income security.
JEL classification: I31, J08, J38
Keywords: economic insecurity, human rights, economic freedom, universal basic income, safety nets, basic income security, leaving no one behind

The issue dealing with the high arsenic (As) concentrations in ground water used as drinking wate... more The issue dealing with the high arsenic (As) concentrations in ground water used as drinking water in Nepal was neglected for a long time. Whereas Bangladesh received much international attention and appropriate filters to remove As were installed, the distribution of the so-called Kanchan filters in Nepal only began in the early nineties. Arsenic itself can be readily released into ground water depending on pH, redox conditions, temperature, and solution composition. However, there is an obvious de-coupling of As and Fe concentrations in ground water. In this regard, the partial low removal efficiency of the installed Kanchan filters can tentatively be explained by the ratio of main and trace elements (particularly Fe and As), pH, flow rates, contact time with the nails, and filter maintenance. This review paper summarizes the identified geological background, origin of the As, the established mitigation option and future improvements of the filters. In that regard, the approach of building the filters with locally available material is still imperative for a country like Nepal where industrial jobs are relatively in scarce.

Both the sustainability of infrastructure and positive sanitation behaviour are necessary to main... more Both the sustainability of infrastructure and positive sanitation behaviour are necessary to maintain the benefits of safe sanitation. Identifying and monitoring the factors underpinning sustainable sanitation are particularly challenging in dynamic peri-urban settings. To determine which factors disproportionately influence progress towards sustainability, a combined assessment of sanitation infrastructure, behaviour, and socio-spatial context was undertaken in Kathmandu, Nepal using a framework called the Peri-urban Sustainable Sanitation Monitoring Tool. Data were collected in four communities using household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Out of the three decentralized systems analyzed (pour-flush toilets with a septic tank, urine-diverting dry toilets, and dry toilets), the pour-flush toilets with a septic tank may compromise the benefits of safe sanitation in these communities with improper excreta management and maintenance expenses. It is valuable to understand the sustainable sanitation challenges of peri-urban areas to improve the effectiveness of local sanitation management and to help reach sanitation targets set at a national or global level.

The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 1989

Immunization of children has become a programme of great priority in all developing countries of ... more Immunization of children has become a programme of great priority in all developing countries of the world. If administered properly this programme could save millions of infants and children from unnecessary ill health and untimely death. Advocacy by UNICEF has resulted in an ...

An academic directory and search engine.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 1989

Immunization of children has become a programme of great priority in all developing countries of ... more Immunization of children has become a programme of great priority in all developing countries of the world. If administered properly this programme could save millions of infants and children from unnecessary ill health and untimely death. Advocacy by UNICEF has resulted in an ...