Nomads become hi-tech without losing tradition

Ts. Tumurbaatar, 35 and considered a well-to-do Mongol nomad, is the proud owner of more than 1,000 sheep, horses and goats, many of which he inherited from his father. After finishing high school, he has spent his life looking after this precious livestock. Each year, their milk, meat, skin and wool earn him sufficient income to feed his family of a wife and three children. Six years ago, he received a plate from a township council, praising him as a successful nomad with more than 1,000 animals to his name. "I am happy to be here following in the footsteps of my father," he told a reporter from The Nation of Bangkok



"I know the area very well, so we know when to move in and set up camp," he explained. His family will move again, to prepare for the harsh winter that they know is approaching. "It is not easy to live in winter, but my family will survive," he emphasized.



Inside his large ger, was a Korean-made 20-inch flat-screen TV plus radio along with several huge wooden frames with photographs of the family and friends. Placed nearby are photos of Buddhist monks including a smiling Dalai Lama. "I respect him," he explained. Being a Buddhist, Tumurbaatar has deeply ingrained beliefs and customs to avoid upsetting the natural balance and environment when he and his family move around.



Political and economic transformation since 1990 has slowly helped to dismantle stoic Soviet governance and usher in a new era of rapid change for Mongolians, both city dwellers and those living on the plains. It is a common sight now to see cars parked alongside gers. On the outskirts of Tumurbaatar"s camp, it"s easy to spot a locally made satellite dish, a car, two Chinese-made motorcycles and a solar panel. The 24 x 35-inch solar panel is enough to power a single light bulb and the TV for two or three hours a day.



"We have 18 channels to watch news and music plus the [English] Premier League," he said with a huge smile. Inside the cosy yurt, the iron stove in the middle of the room, which is used to heat milk, also keeps visitors warm. He said he wanted to see his children get a good education and then work in the city.



Of course, not every nomadic family shares this vision. B. Batmunkh, 52, another herdsman, living in a nearby village, said he has a clear plan for his children. He is one of the growing number of nomads who has chosen to live two lives, first in the city and then in the ger. He and his wife explained that they want their children, all girls, to get a good education, then they can choose whatever lifestyle they want.



Batmunkh worked as an official in the IT sector for more than two decades. Five years ago, he decided to quit and return to a traditional nomadic life, leaving the stress of city behind. These days he enjoys the same trouble-free routine every day: Wake up early, milk the livestock at regular intervals six or seven times through the day, then rest or take care of the sheep and goats.



The two families are also part of a local network known as Vansemberuu, which promotes primary healthcare in Mongolia by providing a "family pharmacy kit" that contains traditional (herbal) medicine instead of expensive Western medicine. Funded by the Nippon Foundation since 2006, the program has proved a success, with more than 46,000 families throughout Mongolia carrying the kit of 12 kinds of pill for everyday use. A family with children suffering from a cold or fever can use the pills in the kit and pay later - just like with a hotel"s mini bar. Since a box of pills costs less than USD1, the bill puts minimal pressure on the family"s finances and the payback rate is almost 100 per cent.

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