A proposal on
Integrated socio-economic and health awareness program to Mushahar and Chepang Community of Chitwan District.
By
Society of Health and Environment Development Nepal
(SHED-Nepal)
Bachhauli-4, Chitwan
Nepal
A proposal on
Integrated socio-economic and health awareness program to Mushahar and Chepang Community of Chitwan District.
Introduction
Nepal is a country, which has diverse and excellent beautiful scenarios as well wonderful animals and plants. Nepal has always been as a source of great attraction for her mountains, landscapes, lakes, green valleys, waterfalls and hillsides.
Nepal is located between the south's of Indo-gangetic plain and north of Tibetan plateau and is physio-graphically very interesting. It stands on latitude of 26022’ to 30027' north its longitude is between 8004' to 88012'east. It has an area of 147,181sq km, which 0.03% of total landmass of Asia and 0.003% of total landmass of the world .The east-west length of the country is 850km parallel to the Himalayan axis and average north-south width is 145-241km. The altitude of Nepal varies from 60m at Kechanakalam of Jhapa district in south rising to 8848m at world's highest summit Mt. Everest in north (Year book, 2002).
Mushar community is one of the lesser-known and backward people in Terai region. Most of these people are settled in the Terai and Inner Terai region including Morang, Sunsari, Udayapur, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Rautahat, Mahottari, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi, Rupendehi and Chitwan districts. The name of the Mushar might have come from the occupation of the cast’s people who are still famous for killing mouse (musa) and eating them (Gautam and Thapa -Magar, 1994).
Likewise, Chepang community is also one of the lesser-known and disadvantage group. The distribution of the chepang community is more in Chitwan, Gorkha, and Dhadhing.In Chitwan, this community is confined in the Churiya region, especially, Shaktikhor, Kaule, Siddhi and Korak VDC (CBS, 2001). Chepangs have their own religions, customs and culture. These groups are far from the developments and the education. They like to settle alone than other groups.
The Population status of the Mushar is only 127 (66 Male and 61 Female) in Chitwan district and . In Chitwan, these communities are confined to Meghauli, Gardi, Ratnanagar Municipality and Bachhauli VDCs. Like wise, 12098 Chepangs (6216 Male and 5882 Female) live in Chitwan district. This population is distributed to the hilly VDC of Chitwan named Shaktokhor, Kaule, Siddhi, Korak and Padampur (CBS 2001).
These communities have their own languages, religions, customs and cultures. Nepal has provided shelter and security for large numbers of migrant people from different ethnic, cultural and linguistic background (Pokhrel, 1997).
Although these Mushahar and Chepang are ethnicity rich, but poor in economic and health condition. They use the tradition method for searching the foods, and depend upon the forest for continuing their daily life.
Ethnographic settings have been gradually changed only with the pace of modernization, rapid population growth and the acute deforestation. The Mushar began to move from their original places to the new ones in the search of better facilities (Singh, 1995).
Mushar tribe is one of the groups, which is few in number. Most of these people are settled in the Terai and Inner Terai region. Chitwan, central Inner Terai district, is a flat valley situated between Mahabharat range in the north and Churiya range in the south. It is one of the districts of Narayani zone, which lies in the Central Development Region of the Nepal covering an area of 2218 km2.
Several ethnic groups and their cultures do not decorate by natural gift, but this district. Several ethnic groups such as Brahmin, Tharu, Chhetri, Danuwar, Chepang, Darai, Magar, Newar, Gurung, Gharti, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Thakali, Majhi, Damai, Kami, Sarki and Mushar also reside here (HMG/N, 1974).
Chitwan district lies between 27021' to 27046'E longitude and 83055' to 8509.37’N Latitude (HMG/N, 1974). It looks like a triangle in shape. It is situated at the altitude of 244m to 1945m. It is located 111km south from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. It is bounded by Makwanpur (Manahari Khola) and Parsa districts in the east, by Nawalparasi (Narayani river) and Tanahu districts in west, by Dhading and Gorkha districts in the north and by the state of Bihar (India) in the south. Administratively, the district is divided into 36 VDCs and two municipalities. The length of district from east to west is 97 km and average breadth is 25km. Three distinct parts northern hill, south Churiya hill and central plain are seen in the district (DDP, 2001).
Objectives
The prime objective this project will be to collect basic information about Mushar and Chepang in term of their ethnicity and scio-economic condition and then help to uplift them setting the income generating activities.
The specific objectives will be:
v To document and identify the animals and plants used by Mushar and Chepang for various purposes taxonomically.
v To shed light on ethno biology of Mushar and Chepang tribe.
v To conduct income generating activities to Mushar and Chepang community.
v To conduct health awareness and conservation awareness activities to these community.
Justification of study
Many of the researchers and NGOs, INGOs focused on the ethnic community like Mushahar and Chepangs. But due to the lack of actual data about their actual status, there is very difficult to implement the programs. First of all, it has to be known their scio-economic and their wills, before lunching the project. To realizing these facts, this project, 1st will collect the ethnic and socio- economic data of Chepang and Mushahar communities, and then health awareness, conservation awareness and income generating activities will be lunched.
Methodology
Preliminary field survey
To know the general distribution and the location of the settlement of Chepangs and Mushahar communities' general preliminary survey will be conducted. This survey will provide the general concept of the data collection and project implementation.
Field study and data collection
The socio-economic data related to their family status, economic status, health condition, facilities of road and transportation, hospital, schools for education, drinking water etc. will be collected by using questionnaire method. Systematic sampling will be used as standard tools for data collection.
Data analysis
The fields data will analyze by using Microsoft excel program using charts, graphs and tables. The analyze data will so the actual scenario of these community, which help to further lunching the programs.
Purposed lunching programs
To upgrade the economic status of these communities, income generating activities like handicraft trainings, candle making trainings, wool spelling program, Tika making program, off season vegetable farming program etc. Health awareness and camps will be conducted to these communities.
Proposed project area
The project will be focused on the marginal and disadvantage group Mushahar and Chepang, mainly focused on Bachhauli, Padampur and Shaktikhor VDC of Chitwan District.
Proposed work plan of the project
Duration of the project: one year (1st phase of the project)
Quarterly break down of the work plan:
SN
Description
1st quarter
2nd quarter
3rd quarter
4th quarter
Remarks
1.
Preliminary field survey
*
2.
Data collection
*
*
3.
Data analysis
*
*
4.
Awareness programs and health campaign
*
*
5.
Income generating activities
*
*
6.
Field verification and progress study
*
7.
Final report preparation and submission
*
Budget
Sn
Particularizes
Rate
Total
1.
Preliminary Data collection and field survey.
30*500*3
45000
2.
Data analysis
-
20000
3.
Awareness program related to health and conservation
-
35000
4.
Health campaign
-
20000
5.
Study of ethno biology
-
25000
6.
Stationary and equipments
5000+ 20000+5000
30000
Total
175000
