Livelihood Strategy of Chidimar Community in Nepalgunj

Abstract

This thesis on the, “Livelihood strategy of Chidimar community‟ was conducted in Belashpur VDC of Banke District. The study is focused on the marginalized ethnic group of Chidimar people and explores livelihood patterns of Chidimar community of Nepal. Chidimars are known as occupational caste groups with their traditional occupation. In Nepal the occupational castes have been treated as Paninachalne and the term Dalit is used to refer to this group of people. Dalits are culturally socially and economically oppressed. Conceptually livelihood is the means of activities entitlements and assets by which people make a living. It is related with both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors. The sources of livelihood of rural people are mainly through cash crops, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy, poultry, piggery, fishery, organic farming- vermin compost, handicrafts, rural artisans, and non-timber forest products etc. which are also followed by the Chidimar people of the study area. Dependence on wage labor, mostly of the unskilled and underpaid variety, is another important source of livelihood for majority of Chidimar in the study area. Chidimar unskilled labors migrate for wage labor especially during lean agricultural periods. Chidimars have lots of hardship and drudgery in their livelihood earning. The general objective of the study is to find out the livelihood strategy of Chidimar community, whereas the specific objectives are to explore the traditional livelihood strategy of Chidimar community in the study area, the continuity and change occurring in the livelihood strategies of the study area. Before selecting a topic, a brief review of the literature related to the study of the livelihood strategies has been studied. Primary as well as secondary data have been taken as sampled household of Chidimar. 44 household have been taken as sampled household out of 120 household‟s sample. In the study, data were collected from field survey by applying household survey questionnaire, field note focus group discussion and observation method. The livelihood strategy of Chidimar community in the study area is in transition. It shifted from caste based occupation to wage laboring one. The household assets of this community have greatly influenced the process of adaptation of new strategy or modification of traditional occupation. Economic development and other economic activities change the surrounding environment of the people of a particular area have to change their way of life to adopt with the changing environment. Livelihood difficulty reflects on unprofitable Caste based occupation or un- remunerative employment, which may not even allow the poor family to meet their basic needs. So, it is inevitable to identify and disseminate the effective livelihood strategy, especially, for the improvement of livelihood of Chidimar. It is necessary to ensure access to resources and increase social and political participation of Chidimar community for integral development of rural community in Nepal.