Socio-Economic Condition of Magar Community: (A Case Study of Uttarganga V.D.C, Surkhet District)

Abstract

This research deals with the socio-economic condition of Magar people of Uttarganga VDC from Surkhet district. In this research, the problems related to their socio-economic condition are thoroughly studied. Under the social-economic condition their occupation, festivals,income practices, marriage system, education, religious practices etc. are observed. By observing these issues of the Magar people, the social and economical status of Magar people have been tried to find out on the basis of research question and hypothesis. Mainly three objectives are selected for this dissertation paper. First of all this research isoriented to analyze the socio-cultural status of Magar people. For that, the researcher studies the cultural tradition and social properties of the Magar people. Secondly, by studying economic activities of the people, it analyzes their economic condition. Then at last byanalyzing socio-cultural and economic conditions of the Magar people it assess the challenges of the Magar community in the study area. For the study, the extensive field visit has been conducted in Uttarganga VDC of Surkhet district.Primary as well as secondary sources of data have been used for this study. In the study area among eighty-five households of Magars fifty households have been taken for sampling. Simple random sampling technique has been used to select sample. For the research purpose structured questionnaire, field observation and personal interview methods and tools have been used. After the focused study of the Magar community in the researched area,mainly the following findings are captured. The most of the Magar people are adopting agriculture as a main occupation which is 40% in number. It is found that paddy, maize and wheat were the major agricultural production. In the study area it is found that the peoples are culturally rich but economically their condition is lower than average. Moreover, in terms of their cultural system and condition it is found that they have their own marriage system. By observing their practices of celebrating feast and festival it is found that they are highly influenced by Hindu tradition and culture.But they are aware and to their native tradition and are involved in various activities on the way of preserving their native tradition. The findings of the research can help to the policy maker and government to make the plan in the different sectors such as social, economic, health and many more for the betterment of the related community. In the context of my research, it is implicable to make some plan for upgrading the traditional agricultural system which is very less productive and less beneficial.Moreover this research is very important to make some plan in the education sector of Magar people which can attract their children to the education. It is also useful to collect the information about the youths' interests for going foreign employment and helps to make attractive plan to stop them from going foreign employment which is very essential for nation's development. To sum up this dissertation paper is focused on the socio-cultural condition, economic condition as well as major socio-cultural and economic challenges of the Magar community in the Uttarganga VDC of Surkhet district. To conduct this research, field visit, interview,questionnaire-like method and tools have been used. After the focused study on the various aspects of the Magar community in the researched area it is captured that, the economic condition of the people is lower than average. They are highly influenced by Hinduism and various dimensions of modernization which has created the challenges on the way of preserving their culture and tradition are the main issues.