Demographic, Socio-Economic and Educational Status of Chepang Community

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to know the socio- economic and education status of Chepang community. The area of study was purposively selected as the Chepang community of Thakre VDC- wards 4,5,6,8 and 9 of Dhading district including the information of 130 households collected by using census method. The study was based on primary data which was obtained from the head of household of the Chepang community. The information was collected by using structured questionnaires and presented by descriptive approach. Most of the Chepangs were found to have followed agriculture as their principal occupation. 43.8 and 41.4 percent depend on agriculture and daily wages respectively, other people earn their living from small business, own industry and remittance. 48.8 percent Chepangs had their annual income between 10,000-50,000 whereas 33.8 percent households had their annual income between 60,000-1,00,000 and 17.8 percent households had their annual income above 1,00,000. Chepangs prefer nuclear family to joint one. 77.9 percent of Chepang are found to have still following Hindu Religion, 22.1 percent are Christian. The study shows that 27.6 percent of Chepangs people are illiterate can’t even read and write and 61.6 percent are literate but only 7.6 percent of them have got higher education. Awareness of the importance education is increasing in new generations than older ones. School dropout rate in primary level is 33.7 percent and in lower secondary level is 48.1 percent. 3.8 percent don’t want to go to school, 33.7 drop school due to household work, 15.6 percent due to marriage and 16.8 percent stopped going to school as they failed the exam. It is found that Chepang community is socially, economically and educationally back warded. The participation of female is lower in comparison to that of male in educational and socio-economic aspects. Chepangs, still are not able to come in the national mainstream of development mainly due to illiteracy, poor economic condition and social backwardness. Although, they are considered as back warded group by the government, still, no any intensive programmes have not been implemented to raise their living standard. Hence, it can be said that the major factors holding back the development of Chepang community are educational, economic, and social structure.