Livelihood Strategy of Musahar Community (A Case Study of Ishworpur VDC, Sarlahi, Nepal)

Abstract

Musahars are marginalized caste group people deprived of various basic facilities like education, health, communication, electricity and other services that are the essential factors for the development of the modern citizen. The present thesis Livelihood strategy of the Musahar community: a case study of Ishworpur VDC, Sarlahi, District is formulated according to the statement of the problems. The study is focused on the marginalized ethnic group of Musahar people and explores livelihood patterns of the Musahar community of Nepal. The main objectives of this thesis are: to describe socio-economic condition, to explore the traditional livelihood strategies and to find out the alternate livelihood strategies of Musahar community due to modernization. To get the objectives, 60 households were taken by using random sampling out of 290 households. Conceptually livelihood connotes 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 Musahar 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 Musahar in the study area. Unskilled labors from Musahar community migrate to the urban center and in India for wage labor especially during lean agricultural periods. Musahars have lots of hardship and drudgery in their livelihood earning. Musahar people of Ishworpur VDC practices multifarious strategies to maintain their livelihood. Such practices include wage labor, agriculture, animal husbandry, investment and saving. Agriculture, with lesser impact of modernization is yielded to wage-oriented agriculture. Animal husbandry, despite of any hybrid animals and sufficient land for shedding and cultivation is mounting up due to the developed market in nearby village. Transport goods loader, agricultural labors, Rajmistri, Janman, labor at factory and industry are the chief wage- related activities which are of utmost importance livelihood strategy of majority households of Musahars. Emigration to India, particularly to Delhi and Punjab, is increased which is much helpful to support their livelihood and the occupation is suffice to introduce them with outside world. The consumption of modern equipments like Motorcycle and car is totally not seen but the use of television; DVD, CD, VCD and mobile are increased with untapped electricity. The expenditure is below the poverty line which is, more precisely, less in education and health. With uneven income and sources for earning, the Musahar community might be the victim of social discrimination and the Musahar community people might be discriminated as haves and haves not group which might collapse the unity and cohesiveness of community in future. So, the Musahar community people are afflicted despite of some changes. Research in Ishworpur VDC shows that historically Musahar people had their livelihood from landlord being Haruwa and Charuwa and migrating to India being agriculture based labors. But rapid urbanization and globalization pushed them in the transition providing both opportunities

and constraints. The household assets have undergone rapid modification. Now they have no option other than modifying the traditional occupation. Land fragmentation, change in social institution, resulted from the urbanization and globalization. The livelihood diversification and introducing of foreign employment have recently emerged livelihood strategies of the people in the study area. Due to the proximity to the market, the influence of the urbanization is more apparent in the Musahar Village. Most of the households follow the multiple occupations in the study area besides agriculture. The role of agriculture activities in their life is substantial. The livelihood strategy of Musahar community in the study area is in transition. It shifted from agriculture to non-agricultural 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 changed the surrounding environment of the people of a particular area hence resulted change in their way of life to adopt with the changing environment. Livelihood difficulty reflects on unprofitable farming activities 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 Musahars. It is necessary to ensure access to resources and increase social and political participation of Musahar community for integral development of rural community in Nepal.