Pun´s idea which was piloted in his own village Nagi in Myagdi, currently connects 150 villages of 13 districts in the country wirelessly including Baglung, Parvat, Mustang, Gulmi, Ramechhap, Nuwakot, Syangja, Tanahu, Nawalparasi and Makwanpur districts. [break]
Along with Internet access, the wireless connection also provides facilities such as e-education, e-communication, e-medicine, e-commerce, e-tourism and credit card facilities for the villager. Pun initiated the project partnering with the local communities and the support he received nationally and internationally. “There was slight delay in the implementation of the plans because the Nepali government did not support us,” said Pun.
Nepalis living in remote hilly and mountainous regions now have access to cheap, fast and reliable national and international news and can also seek treatment from doctors through tele-medicine. The wireless system has benefited schools and has had a positive impact on the educational standard of the students, according to Devendra Khatri, principal of Galkot Higher Secondary School, Baglung. “Students from remote villages have the chance to interact with the world though the provision of email and internet now,” he said.
The wireless connectivity has also helped in tourism promotion. Khopra Lek, a popular tourist destination in Myagdi, has seen an increase in the flow of international tourists. “The wireless system has had a huge impact on tourism and helped foreigners as well,” says Dhan Bir Serapuja, a hotelier.
Pun´s effort and the impact it had in the livelihood of the villagers was recognized in 2007 with a Magsaysay Award, considered by some to be the Nobel Prize of Asia. However, he is sad that the government of his own country did not support him. “I asked for help and support from high officials and leaders time and again but they did not help me, so I started working on my own,” he said.
Due to the lack of funds he has initiated a program called One Dollar a Month, among his international friends in which each donates a dollar a month for his project. The proceeds go toward providing wireless facility to schools.
Till date Pun has collected more than $ 30,000 from countries such as Japan, America, Honk Kong and the United Kingdom. It is not just the personal donations that Pun has managed to collect, his project is being supported by the World Bank and the International Telecommunications Union as well. Apart from his wireless project, Pun is currently involved in developing tourism.
He is starting a new trekking route in Parvat and Myagdi districts and is busy working on building community lodges to promote tourism.
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