Socio-economic condition of dalit of Nepal (a case study of Manpur VDC of Dang District)

Abstract

This study entitled, "Socio-economic Condition of Dalit of Nepal: A Case Study of Manpur VDC Ward Nom 7 of Dang District " was based on primary & secondary data. The main objective of the study was to find out the socio-economic condition of Dalit Community. The other specific objectives included: to analysis the socio-cultural status of Dalit; to analysis the economic condition of Dalit and to find out the problems to improve the socio-economic condition of Dalit .community. For the purpose of the study, the researcher had applied the social science research methodology. The study was held on both exploratory and descriptive research design. The sources of data were both primary and secondary and the natures of data were both qualitative and quantitative. There were 2,238 households with 12,951 populations. The study area is the ward no 7 of Manpur VDC of Dang District. There are 331 HHs with 1,736 populations in this ward. Out of 331 HHs, there are 131 HHs of the Dalit and rest is of non-Dalits. Among 131 Dalit HHs, 35 HHs with 172 populations were taken for the study. Selection of the HHs was done by using random sampling. The Dalit households have the sex ratio 95.45 percent and most of them were unmarried. The educational status of Dalits HHs population was very low. Females were more illiterate than males. Wage labour was the major occupation.82.9 percent of them were bearing food deficiency. Only 17.1 percent HHs were produced sufficient food. In the study area 74.3 percent HHs are unclear family and rest 25.7 percent are in joint family.

Housing condition of Dalit is very poor. 85.7 percent HHs have been made by mud with straw roof. Due to lack of health awareness and poor economic condition, 94.3 percent Dalit HHs does not have toilet facility. Most of the Dalit HHs have tamed hen and ducks because they do not require extra feeding and residential area to keep them. 72.7 percent HHs take loan from formal sector. Similarly, 57.1 percent HHs have very low income i.e Rs. 1,000-10,000 per annum. 40 percent HHs have annual expenditure of Rs. 1,000-10,000. Poverty, education, lack of self conscious and untouhability are the major problem to improve the socio-economic condition of Dalit. There is lack of awareness in Dalit community and their economic condition is very poor. Thus, every year Dalit falls in the vicious cycle of poverty.