Nature and Dimension of Poverty in Musahar Community (A Case Study of Triveni Susta V.D.C., Nawalparasi District)

Abstract

The present study has focused on nature and dimension of Poverty in Musahar Community of Triveni Susta V.D.C., in Nawalparasi District. This study was conducted from May 2008 to Sept 2008. The study was mainly limited on household’s survey of Triveni Susta V.D.C., ward No. 4, 5, 8 and 9. Out of 89 households 60 HHs was selected with quota sampling and random sampling method by lottery method. The study was mainly based on quantitative and qualitative research approach. Rural poverty is usually related to those rural people who are facing varieties of economic problems in sustaining their life. Two thirds population of the world is below poverty line. The poverty line includes the people with earn of $ 1 per day. Mostly, Asian and African people are in below poverty line, through poverty in found all over the world and is the burning issue of the world. Poverty is broadly conceptualized in two categories one is absolute and other is relative poverty. The absolute sustain life. The relative poverty approach defines poverty relative to appropriate comparative group. Poverty in rural areas is very much land based. Poverty incidence is highest among land/less/marginal groups than among the small, medium and large landholders. This study has three major objectives, i) To examine the present socio-economic situation of Musahar community. ii) To measure the extent of poverty. iii) To identify the causes of the poverty. In the study area the per capita income of Musahar has found NRs. 14286.30 (39.14 per capita per day) per capita expenditure NRs. 9382.17 (25.70 per capita per day). This considered as absolute poverty which was calculated from local prices of the central, pulse and other non-food items in the sample population male are 52.05 percent and female are 47.94 percent. The education status of the sampled population 86 percent are illiterate and 10 percent literate and 3.33 percent educated. The average family size is 5.28. Housing pattern is 50 percent hut and tiled roof, 48.33 percent small huts and 1.66 percent concrete but tiled. Occupational status, 58.33 percent holy man, 1.66 percent house mechanic and 1.66 percent services. Landholding pattern, 33.33 percent landless. Causes of poverty are illiteracy, low wage, landless, Susta distriessed, unemployment, large family size, lake of awareness and education program, practice of traditional cultural practices, etc. There is a high disparity in the landholding in the study area. The poverty problem is found higher among the illiterate people. The level of income is dependent on education and employment. The study shows most of the poor spend a large proportion of their income on alcohol, smoking and traditional festivals. To alleviate poverty in study area, the Musahar should be provided land for cultivation and house for live. Improved livestock developments skill development training should be provided. Establishment of cottage industries, employment opportunities, should be provided, discouragement of bed habits. Compulsory and free education should be instituted for children. Most labour forced engaged in agricultural sector should be transformed to other more production sectors and agro-based industries should be established.