Chandra Gurung Conservation Foundation

Estd. 2007

Ghyachchok VDC Gorkha District, Nepal

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Ghyachchok is one of about 70 VDCs in Gorkha and

located directly across from Barpak, the epicenter of the
April 25 earthquake of magnitude 7.8. It is situated around
60 km north of Gorkha Bazaar (the headquarters of the
district) and about 180 km west of Kathmandu Valley.
Although the 2011 Census reports a population of 1997
with 54.4% females, the local contact, Dhwoj Gurung
(portfolio below) reported a population of 2800, in 461
households, of whom 18 individuals were killed in the
earthquake.

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Ghyachchok VDC is comprised of nine villages named

Mathar, Milim, Thumgaun, Baspot, Ghyachchok,
Duwalshowra, Turdi, Dhansira, Chisang. Of these nine
villages, Banspot, Thumgaun and Milim will have to be
permanently relocated due to risk of landslides. Most
houses in the VDC were destroyed and the remaining few
are inhabitable. (See attached pictures below)
Census (2011) data on demography for Ghyachchok VDC
(total population indicated to be 1997 in 2011, conflicts
with local contacts data of 2800 in 2015 however, the
proportions should be applicable)

Caste/ethnicity
All castes
Tamang
Kami
Gurung
Damai/Dholi
Gharti/Bhujel
Ghale

Total (Number/percentage)
1997 (100%)
205 (10%)
137 (7%)
1392 (70%)
28 (1%)
44 (2%)
181 (9%)

email: info@cgcf.org.np

Male
910
89
70
618
14
22
91

Female
1087
116
67
774
14
22
90

Chandra Gurung Conservation Foundation

Estd. 2007

Others

10 (less than 1%)

Prior to the earthquake, Ghyachchok VDC had comparatively high living standards (Nepal
Living Standards Survey 2011)

Owned their houses

! Foundations and walls of houses built from mud bonded
bricks/stone
Main source of drinking water was a tap/piped water
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Use of wood/firewood for cooking
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Use of electricity for lighting
Flush toilets in houses
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Literacy rate

94%
97% - 98%
99%
99%
65%
98%
66.23%

%
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Ghyachchok village before the earthquake (above)

email: info@cgcf.org.np

Chandra Gurung Conservation Foundation

Estd. 2007

Ghyachchok village after the earthquake (below)

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Schools and Other Infrastructure

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Prior to the earthquake, four schools taught the children of the VDC, a secondary school located
in Ghyachchok village itself, as well as a lower secondary and two primary schools. Two of
2345#6!7808),9:;<<;=>;?@A<AABC45#6,808),D,E%+&F$#EG!BH+'8%&!I01+'1!!
these schools, including the Dhansira secondary school (Ghyachchok) and Milim Primary School
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(Milim) need to be relocated. The infrastructure of all of the schools is completely damanged.
512 students were enrolled across the four schools. All the schools are run by the local
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community a few teachers are paid by the government but the rest have been supported by the
local communities. Temporary learning centers for all four have been set up by the local
2780%)'!R&8S!74O%$4$4#Q!
communities with some external support. Government assessors apparently deemed these
!
learning centers to be the best in Gorkha district.
!
!

email: info@cgcf.org.np

Chandra Gurung Conservation Foundation

Estd. 2007

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A primary school in Ghyachchok VDC post-earthquake

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A temporary learning center for the same primary school (above)

Two mini community hydropower stations of 25 MW and 5 MW capacity were destroyed due to
landslides near the station destroying different sections including the powerhouse. The SubHealth Post in Ghyachchok located near the school is also damaged. It has been declared
email: info@cgcf.org.np

Chandra Gurung Conservation Foundation

Estd. 2007

geologically unsafe by a geologist from Tribhuvan University as well as! stamped Asurakchit
by the government assessor and will also be relocated.
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(View of the crown part of the landslide below Banspot

village)

External Support
The government-allocated NPR 15,000 has been delivered to each household by World Vision
International (stated by local contact). NEWAH (Nepal Water for Health) has taken over from
OXFAM for WASH services and have planned programs regarding school sanitation, water
supply rehabilitation as well as latrine building in Ghyachchok but have not started their work.
OXFAM had wanted to work on temporary shelters but were prevented from such work by the
DDRC. There appear to be no provisions from any organizations on temporary or permanent
school construction thusfar.

email: info@cgcf.org.np

Chandra Gurung Conservation Foundation

Estd. 2007

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Milim village post-earthquake,

one of the three that will have to be relocated

Why Ghyachchok?
Although located across from Barpak, which was the epicenter, most relief and rebuilding has
been focused on the epicenter. Most importantly however, the local communities appear to be
active participants and owners of their development. The secondary school has been run by Mr.
Til Bahadur Gurung for the last 15 years, a resident of Ghyachchok, the Aama Samuha has also
been very active post-earthquake, building toilets for the community (with materials donated
externally), and Dhwoj Gurung, an artist with international shows, based in Kathmandu, whose
family was originally from Ghyachchok, has been mobilizing extensive support. Based on
conversations with INGOs responsible for this VDC, external support appears to be limited to
WASH programs. Even prior to the earthquake, the community had been raising money through
individual households to pay the teachers since only a few were supported by the government.
From secondary sources, it appears that the community is cohesive, united and would be active
owners of any rebuilding efforts.

email: info@cgcf.org.np

Chandra Gurung Conservation Foundation

Estd. 2007

Dhwoj Gurung is a passionate, visual artist based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Born in 1987 in
Ghyachchok ,Gorkha, Nepal. Gurung works with watercolor, acrylics, and oils as well as with
mixed media.
A very 1st solo showing of his Plein Air Paintings was aired summer before last in the main floor
gallery of Ramsey Library at the University of North Carolina, located in Asheville, North
Carolina in the Eastern region of the United States. Paintings were also hung at Well Bred
Bakery, in West Asheville, North Carolina, and successfully auctioned at several fundraisers for
TPRF (The Prem Rawat Foundation) an organization which has created several kitchens in
starving areas of the world to FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE where needed.
Gurungs 2nd solo show of paintings Journeying for Art was visible at Park Gallery in his
homeland of Nepal, where he has formerly participated in many group shows and workshops in
and around the country. Recently he received an award for his excellent work, executed during
the Return To Nature Program (Plein Air Festival) organized by Park Art Gallery in Nepal and
also subsequently featured in October 2013 issue of the very popular Outdoor Painting
Magazine.
These days Gurung is more concerned in community based artworks and raising the social and
cultural issues through his paintings
Many paintings are being enjoyed in the homes or offices of private collections within Nepal and
abroad. Gurung himself lives simply, and works diligently in Kathmandu, Nepal.
dhwojgurung@gmail.com +9779849230700

email: info@cgcf.org.np