Socio-Economic Condition of Dalits A Case Study of the Kamis Shesh Narayan VDCKathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

This study socio economic condition of Dalit: A case study in Shesh NarayanVDC which lies in the south part of Kathmandu district. It was focused to examineSocio-Economic condition of dalit in Nepalese society. The specific objectives of thestudy were following1)To find the literacy condition of Kamis 2) To study the social andcultural aspect of Kamis 3) To analyze the economic conditionof Kamis. The research design of this study was both descriptive and analytical. Regarding, all35 households of Kamis were taken as census methods. The data were both qualitative andquantitative nature and both primary and secondarysourceswere used for data collection.The primary data werecollected through fieldvisit and secondary data were collected fromvarious official sources and publication and also different previous research documents. Tocollect data different techniques and tools were used.Different techniques were households’survey, observation, interview and tools were structured and unstructured, took informationfrom other caste group and key information interview. Data were analyzed throughtabulation with short description. The studywas focused in the specific area i.e. SheshNarayan VDC ward No:-3 with limited time framework. There is no doubt that Nepal has a very diverse from various caste ethnicity andlanguage. Among these various castes that has been a glory to thecountry; ironically theKamis falls under the category of untouchables, but has been slowly decreasing day by day.The dependent population is 30.5 percent and 69.5 percent people are economically strong.There no caste based discrimination in the public sectors except the people of upper castehouses. They are not allowed to enter the upper caste houses.In this community 61.2 percentmale are literate and only 38.8 percent female are literate. The literacy of female is low inthis in this area competitively male people.Only 28.6 percent respondents are illiterate.Nofemale have passed above SLC level but only 6.5 percent male has passed above SLC. Thereis no people who passed masters level. Most of the kamis family has low income so that their life style is lower than otherupper caste peopled.They choose their priest among their nearest relatives son in law andBhanja. If they aren’t available they among their others for their activities. Thekamis fallunder the Aryan group. Which is influnced by the religionof Indo-Aryans but almost all arekamis are Hindu in this community area only 5 houses hold families are follower of Christianreligion.Most of the cultural activities are the same as the upper caste like Bramin andChhetri All respondents want to free from the caste based discrimination totally. Theyexpressed that it could be over thrown through education, eliminating poverty, awarenessand strict law. There are not being able to do agriculture as they don’t own enough land, thus theyhave to buy all the food products from the market. Most of the kamis people changed theirindigenous occupation due to the Bali Pratha and they started the sliver making business.Bali Pratha is also remaining in this community and they could not modify due to the lack ofeconomic efficiency. Women of these families are busy in tailoring, households and hangingbeads and women who work indigenous help their males in Aran. Their saving is low due thelow income and high expenditure because of the lack of the educationand indigenous can’tearn muchincome.