Saturday, March 24, 2007

Survey: Nepalis In New York City

I called a whole bunch of Nepali community leaders in the city today. I have been trying to sell the concept of an umbrella organization for the tri state area as the only way to empower the Nepalis locally.

The support is lukewarm or nonexistent. The strongest support came from Mohan Gyawali. Curiously Gyawali leads one of the largest Nepali organizations in the city. And because most members of his organization live in a few large buildings next to each other, members of his organization perhaps interact with each other more than that of most others.

The lack of enthusiasm I attribute to the lack of political consciousness in the community. People are passionate about what happens in Nepal, and that is good. There are major conversations about democracy and human rights, Madhesi and Janajati rights. But that Nepal fixation also means Nepalis do not much focus on the here and now.

This is a First World, Third World thing. This is a West, Global South thing. This is a civil rights issue.

I just got off the phone with Ashok Gurung. He said people are not opposed to the idea, that is not his impression. It is just that when the Nepal Ghar concept came about, the thing got announced, and then you were asked to join it. The process was faulty.

Well, I am relatively new in town.

The default is what we already have. We have a Coordination Committee. It meets once every six months. The leadership rotates. Tara Niraula was Convenor of the November 2006 meeting. He has been the Coordinator for the following six month period. I am the Convenor for the May 2007 meeting. I guess that means I get to hold the Coordinator title for the six months after that. Someone else is Convenor for the November 2007 meeting. And so on. That we already have. A very loose federation, rotating leadership.

But my point is that is not very empowering.

What I am proposing is very simple: one person one vote democracy, transparency, mass organization. One person one vote democracy is a very powerful concept.

I really hope we can grow on from the Coordination Committee, to the ANONYM. The May meeting will be a great time to do it. And we can have our first convention the following May.

ANONYM: Association Of Nepali Organizations In New York Metro

ANONYM Audio 2 03/24/07
ANONYM Audio 03/21/07

Please take a moment to take an online survey. Just click here and enter survey number 49593 in the Take A Survey box on the bottom right!

Selected Survey: Nepalis In New York City Survey Published
Survey Question/Answers Count Percent Graph
1. Do you think those with green cards should be allowed to vote in the New York City elections?
Yes 3 60.00%
No 0 0.00%
Maybe 2 40.00%
Don't know 0 0.00%
Don't care 0 0.00%
2. How many Nepalis do you think there are in America?
More than 120,000 4 80.00%
120,000 1 20.00%
100,000 0 0.00%
80,000 0 0.00%
Less than 80,000 0 0.00%
3. How many Nepalis do you think there are in New York City?
More than 40,000 4 80.00%
40,000 1 20.00%
30,000 0 0.00%
25,000 0 0.00%
Less than 25,000 0 0.00%
4. How much does an average Nepali in New York City make per year you think?
More than $50,000 0 0.00%
$50,0000 1 20.00%
$30,000 0 0.00%
$20,000 2 40.00%
$10,000 or less 2 40.00%
5. How much do you make per year?
More than $50,000 1 20.00%
$50,0000 1 20.00%
$30,000 0 0.00%
$20,000 0 0.00%
$10,000 or less 3 60.00%
6. What is your education level?
Doctorate 1 20.00%
Postgraduate 0 0.00%
College Graduate 3 60.00%
High School Graduate 0 0.00%
High School Dropout 1 20.00%
7. Where in the city do you live?
Queens 1 20.00%
Manhattan 0 0.00%
Brooklyn 2 40.00%
Bronx 1 20.00%
Staten Island 1 20.00%
8. Do you support the concept of an umbrella organization in the city? ANONYC, Association of Nepali Organizations in New York City?
Yes 0 0.00%
No 1 20.00%
Maybe 1 20.00%
Strongly Opposed 2 40.00%
Strongly Support 1 20.00%
9. Do you feel the need for a Nepali Community Center in the city, perhaps somewhere in Queens, perhaps near Jackson Heights? And would you be willing to contribute $5 per month towards it?
Yes 1 20.00%
No 0 0.00%
Maybe 3 60.00%
Strongly Opposed 0 0.00%
Strongly Support 1 20.00%
10. How do you like New York City?
I love it 3 60.00%
I hate it 0 0.00%
It is not all I thought it would be 1 20.00%
Papee Pet Ka Sawal Hai 0 0.00%
Don't ask, don't tell 1 20.00%

Total Survey Participants Answering At Least One Question ?: 5



1 comment:

haisanlu said...

To: Paramendra

Gaur - Even the Buddha's in Despair

The Buddha he is angry
That is very rare
Maybe once in a Millennia
His heart goes there

The children from Gaur
For that is what that were
Mere youngsters
holding red flags
to him did appear

They told him their story
And a tear fell down the Buddha's cheek
My brothers and sisters you no longer need to be meek
For the human race they really are a disgrace and so debased !

This is for Condeleeza Rice and Moriarty as well
On that day the children died you had a meetng
Congratulating yourselves on your de-stabilisation plans which were well in hand

Moriarty laughed and Rice she had a tight smile
You thought no one knew
But Buddha had a view

Now the Buddha's very angry
And I cannot say what he holds in store
I hope he calms down

Which is why I say a prayer
But this time its not enough
For even the Buddha's in despair.


Haisanlu