Livelihood Strategy of Mushar Community: A Case Study of Baijanathpur VDC, Morang

Abstract

Mushar are marginalized caste group people deprived of various basic facilities like education, health, communication, electricity and other services that are the essential factors for the development of the modern citizen. The present thesis “Livelihood strategy of the Mushar community: a case study of Baijanathpur VDV, Morang” is formulated according to the statement of the problems. The main objectives of this thesis are: to describe socio-cultural condition, to examine the livelihood strategies and to find out the change in livelihood of Mushar community due to modernization. To get the objectives, 75 households are taken to the cluster sampling out of 323 households.

Mushar people of Baijanathpur VDC practices multifarious strategies to maintain their livelihood. Such practices include wage labor, agriculture, animal husbandry, migration, investment and saving. Agriculture, with lesser impact of modernization is yielded to wage-oriented agriculture. Year-long food deficiency and loss of Mohi authority, is attributed to weaken the agricultural situation of Muahar community people. Animal husbandry, particularly poultry, despite of any hybrid animals and sufficient land for shedding and cultivation is mounting up due to the developed market in nearby village. Rickshaw pulling, Rajmistri, Janman, labor at factory and industry are the chief wage- related activities which are of utmost importance livelihood strategy of majority households of Mushars. Emigration to India, though traditional, particularly to Delhi and Punjab, is increased which is much helpful to support their livelihood and the occupation is suffice to introduce them with outside world. Saving at banks and co-operatives is significant. The consumption of modern equipments like Motorcycle and car is totally not seen but the use of television, DVD, CD, VCD and mobile increased with untapped electricity. The expenditure is below the poverty line which is, more precisely, less in education and health. With uneven income and sources for earning, the Mushar community might be the victim of social discrimination and the Mushar community people might be discriminated as haves and haves not group which might collapse the unity and cohesiveness of community in future. So, the Mushar community people are afflicted despite of some changes.