Socio – Economic Status of the Sarki Community (A Case Study in Hemja VDC of Kaski District)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to give a short description of the Sarki community, a socially excluded caste group of Nepal, regarding their socio-economic status. For this purpose, Hemja VDC of Kaski District was selected purposively. There are total 38 households of the Sarki Community and the total population of them is 368. Descriptive and analytic methods are used in this study. Mainly primary data are used focusing on qualitive in nature. The Sarki are traditionally occupational caste. Their main occupation was making Shoes and Plougher others field in past, but the young generation leaving their traditional profession for better economic and social status. Most of the people works daily wages about skilled labour( i.e carpentry, mason) and few of the younger people are went foreign country. They are Sudra and known as Achhut (Untouchable).The Sarki are religiously Hindu. They follow Hindu religion and worship Hindu God and Goddess. The festivals of the Sarki are similar with other Hindu castes. They mainly celebrate Dashain, Tihar, Maghe Sakranti, etc. The Sarki are poor and exploited by higher castes. Most of them are few land owner and uneducated. Therefore, they are backward in every field. Caste based discrimination is not so rigid as it was in the past, but some discriminations can be seen clearly. The Sarki are not allowed to enter into the home of upper castes. The Sarki have not actively participation in political affairs. Most of them are only voters. They have few accesses in local resources management. There were different types of NGOs/INGOs which were working to improve and enhance the life style of Dalits, but there is not seen any positive sign in the improvement of the Sarki life style. Gradually, social awareness is improving and enhancing among the Sarki of the study area due to the effect of modernization.