Socio-Cultural and Economic Status of Kumal Community in Pokharathok Vdc-3, Bhainsipur, Palpa District

Abstract

Nepal is a nation of various tribes, castes and clans differing inlanguage, religion, customs and culture. Nepali culture is a mixed culturewhere bending of various national culture representing in three ecologicalregions, the Mountain, the Hill and the Terai. TheKumalsarethe Mongoloidin appearance and inhabit the Terai, Inner Terai and close to the river valleyof mid hills of Nepal. Palpa district is inhabited by various ethnic groups. TheKumalis one of them and indigenous group of this area and has its own type oftraditional ethnic culture. This community, when studied historically seems tohave engaged in agriculture. In addition to variousother systems and ways ofworking this community has a lot of originality. The study" Socio-cultural and Economic Status of Kumal Community ofBhainsipur Community of Pokharathok- 3 Palpa district" with generalobjective is to find out and examine various socio cultural and economicaspects.The specific objectives of the study are to analyze the socio-culturalaspects of Kumal community. To analyze their Economic aspects. To find outthe problems faced by Kumal community. Primary and secondary data were used for the study. Primary data werecollected through structured questionnaire, interview schedule, key informantinterview, and observation and secondary data were collected throughprevious studies, published and unpublished documents, from relatedliterature and from government documents, CBS, Newspaper, leaflet andNGOs and INGOs working in Palpa district. Altogether 38 households ofBhainsipur Kumal Community were the study universe and descriptive andexploratory research design had been applied in this study. The present study focuses the changing socio-cultural and Economiccondition of Kumal and factors responsible for it. The Kumal or ethnic groupis least studied group by native and foreign sociologists. The way ofworshipping their village deities, believe in spirits, typical dress pattern andcluster type of settlement pattern distinctly differ from other ethnic groups. Inone hand, due to the domination of 'high Castes'Kumalare loosing their nativeculture, philosophy of life style, self confidence about their own traditions,language and beliefs. But on the other hand, due to the domination of 'HighCastes. Some significant changes are seen in education, health sector,sanitation, economic activities and way of life style of Kumal Community in Bhainsipur Village.Based upon the findings the paper suggests some recommendations to develop socio-cultural and Economic status of Kumal in Bhainsipur Village. It mainly focuses Kumal are one of the backward ethnic group of the country. So different awareness programme related to health, education, farming etc.should provide them.