Socio–Economic Condition of Bote Community (A Case Study of Yamgha Vdc, Palpa)

Abstract

Nepal is rich in socio-cultural diversity as a matter of fact Nepal itself is mixture of multi cultured multi ethnic group. The Nepalese society is diverse and heterogeneous. Bote are one of such community possessing indigenous identities who are scattered in several districts of the country. They are one of the most back ward groups who are hardworking, are honest and humble but are poor, backward and illiterate. The socio-economic status of Bote people that shape their social dynamics has not been systematically studied. Present study tries to analyze the socio economic status of Bote of Yamgha VDC of Palpa district. The present study with the objectives of presenting a socio economic profile seeks to map out the socio economic condition of the Bote of Yamgha VDC of Palpa district. The description is articulated on the assumption that socio-economic classes such as poor and rich, haves and haves not, land lord and slave, master and servent are formed within caste group also due to socio economic factors. The main aim of the study is to give a short description of Bote, a socially suppressed caste group of Nepal regarding their socio-economic status. For this purpose ward No 1 and 2 of Yamgha VDC of Palpa district has been selected. There are fifty five households of Bote people and their population is 334. Descriptive and analytic method is used in this study. Mainly primary data is used focusing on qualitative as well as quantitative in nature through household survey method. The primary data were collected through a field visit adopting different collection tools as interview, house hold survey, key informant etc. For house hold survey the questionnaire was used. Data from secondary source as books, journals, profiles, dissertation and newspaper were also collected. Bote people are traditionally fishermen and boat rowers. But in the study area they are not found doing their traditional work but are engaged in wage labor and are working as labor in foreign countries. The present study was conducted in Yamgha VDC of Palpa district as the research target and the study covered various social, economic and cultural aspects of respondent in the study area. The objectives of the study were (1) To find out present socio status of Bote (2) To describe the causes of backwardness of that community (3) To find out present economic status of Bote (4) To examine the factors affecting changes in their socio-economic status. Concerning this objectives this study follow different theoretical aspect as research documents and methodological procedures of research. The limitations of the study is concerning only with Bote people of the study. It has its own importance and significance as all the studies and resources activities. The main importance of the study was to bring Bote people in the mainstream of development through the analysis of their major causes of economic back wardness as well as social attitude. The out come of this study would be very usefull to the various researcher, policy maker, planner and others. The Bote people are poor and exploited groups. Most of them have less than one ropani land. They are uneducated and backward. Bote were found uneducated who lack adequate cultivable land. In the study area most of the respondents were illiterate. Economic, social and education practice was found very poor. From the observation of the study area it is found that most of the respondents were suffering from food deficits in a year. The major findings of the study can be summarized as: the avarage family house hold size of Bote of Yamgha was six. Most of them were pre dominatly dependent on wage labor and fishing for their livelihood. Only thirteen percent house holds grow adequate food grains to feed all year round out of fifty five house holds. Bote people are very backward in the field of education only some are literate. To improve the socio-economic status of Bote people the govt. policy and cultural preservation as well as cultural awareness programs must be launched for this community people. Similarly, income generating activities should be applied by govt. in local level through the community development scheme. There must be people participations in each and every steps of developments programs. These are some recommendations for their socio-economic prosperity