A SYSTEM APPROACH TO REDUCING INDOOR AIR POLLUTION: A DEMONSTRATED CASE OF INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY AMONG NEPALESE WOMEN LIVING IN THE VILLAGE OF DAHACHOWK OF KATHMANDU VALLEY

摘要

Dahachowk village situated just 10 Km south-west of Kathmandu valley is an example for the developers to note how the development process does not percolate to even the areas which are adjacent to the developed city. Awareness programs mostly targeted to the remote villages have very little success rates and are proved to be very expensive. For the same reasons, the villages in the peripherals of cities are ignored so as to result in decrease of the peoples' output effecting economy. This has become of the people of Dahachowk village in Kathmandu valley, especially of the women as regard to their exposure to the indoor air pollution since they are the ones that spend most of their time in the ill managed kitchen feeding their family. The major source of energy for cooking purpose for the women of Dahachowk village is the firewood that is gathered from the nearby forests. The village having approximately 300 households with about 1800 people living in, use 24 tones of firewood each day. The posters presented show the before and after situation that has prevailed among the women of Dahachowk village who are the part of the system now. The presentation reflects on sustainability of the actions where, all household women are involved in the cycle that persuades continual improvement of the indoor air quality situation in their kitchen. The women follow the Deming's cycle of Plan, Do, Check and Act (PDCA) for reviewing and improving their indoor quality.