Due to traditionally feudalistic social and political structure, primarily based on orthodox Hinduism, few dominant caste and ethnic groups have for long been enjoying social, economic and political supremacy in Nepal which is home to over one hundred minority groups. Most of the indigenous groups, who comprise 37.2% of the total population of Nepal, are largely excluded from the mainstream of national life and remain as highly marginalized and disadvantaged people. They face common problems of social exclusion, cultural discrimination, political oppression and economic exploitation. Many indigenous nationalities are highly marginalized and suffer from several deprivations; such as limited land ownership, landlessness, pronounced food insecurity, widespread illiteracy, limited access to educational and health services, dependence on uncertain and unskilled wage employment, political powerlessness, and continuous dispossession of their limited assets.
Among the 59 ethnic groups of Nepal Bote, Majhi and Mushahar are near the bottom. There are around 1100 households of the Bote, Majhi and Mushahar in Nawalparasi district who have been living on the bank of Narayani river from hundred of years. They are also severely affected by the social, economic and political problems which have made them marginalized and deprived. Talking about the educational condition it is very thoughtful and shameful because only 50 have passed SLC among 8000 of them and only 4 have intermediate level. The government’s investment on education has been made free and more accessible but the light of education is very far from them. Till today they suffer from the hand to mouth problem. Their traditional profession; fishing, boating, collection of wild fruits, has been collapsed due to the establishment of Chitwan National Park. Aiming to uplift their living standard by motivating the children in education, this program will be launched in the three VDCs namely Rajahar, Pithouli and Kawasoti. This program focuses on the children’s education, their health as well as their child-right. To make this program successful and effective we have handed over the responsibility to the local Indigenous People’s Organization named Majhi Bote Mushahar Kalyan Samiti. The beneficiaries from the program will be 75 children from three educational center taking 25 from each directly but the impact of this program will be diffused in and around the community which will help them to know the importance of education.
Need of the program:
The community does not give priority to education due to lack of awareness. Although there are 8000 people in this community only 50 have reached to SLC examination. One of the major reasons for this low rate of matriculation is that people are not able to utilize the free government education. Children are sent to school when are too young to work. But once they get older they are sent to work either in the field or in the nearby villages. The drop out rate is high as they do not see the advantages of education. If this trend continues the investment on education will not be fruitful. Infrastructure alone is not adequate for quality education. The community themselves have to be motivated to achieve education for their future develop and to increase their quality of life.
Another major challenge faced by the students, who attend school, is that they are discouraged by the lack of support for completing their school work. As the parents are mostly uneducated and are not able to help their children with their homework, both the parents and the students quickly lose interest.
The program will address both these issues – encouraging children and families towards education as well as supporting the current students to continue their school work.
Simultaneously the program is planning to carry out the class of child rights and health awareness programs to the children as the target indigenous community have very poor knowledge on health and sanitation and child rights. This program will help to create a group of aware generation about improved health and their rights.
Objectives:
The general objective of the program is to create education-friendly environment and to uplift the status of the people through education and awareness programs. The specific objectives are:
- To encourage children and their families towards education through awareness classes
- To motivate students to continue their education.
- To provide knowledge about improved health and child rights.
Expected output:
After the implementation of the project:
- Children motivated to continue their education
- Children aware about and environment, leading towards health life.
- Decrease in drop-out rate from school as well as decrease in child labor
- Parents aware about the importance of education and healthy environment.
- Proper and full utilization of investment of the government on education
- Creation of employment at local level
