A Study Oneconomicbackwardnessof The Musaharcommunity Ingolbazar Municipalityofsiraha District, Nepal
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Central Department of Economics
Abstract
he aim of this study is to describe the Economic Backwardness of the Musaharcommunity, a socially excluded caste group of Terai, Nepal. For this purpose,Golbazar municipality of Siraha-District were selected because Musahardwells inthis areas of this district.
Descriptive and analytical methods were used in this study. Mainly primary data areused focusing on qualitative in nature.
The Musahar is one of the lowest Hindu untouchable groups in the Tarai.Traditionally, the Musahar people were engaged in agriculture but their mainoccupation is land worker. Except it, their other occupations are making a variety ofbaskets and sell them. They are Sudra and known as Achhut (Untouchable).
The Musahar is Hindu. They follow Hindu religion and worship Hindu Gods andGoddesses. The festivals of the Musahar is similar with other Hindu castes. Theymainly celebrate Dashain, Tihar, MagheSakranti, ChhathaParva, Dina BhadriPooja,Naga Panchami, Chaurchan, Jursital, Faguwa (Holi or Hori).
The Musahar is poor and exploited by higher castes. Most of them are landless anduneducated. Therefore, they are backward in every field. In the study-sites, it isdifficult to see their traditional type of dresses and ornaments. They speak Maithililanguage.
However, castebased discrimination is not so rigid as it was in the past, but somediscriminations can be seen clearly. The Musahar is not allowed to enter the home ofupper castes. They have separate tube-wells for their own use because they are notallowed to fetchwater either from the private or public tube-wells.
The Musahar is not found actively participating in local and national political affairs.Most of them are only voters. They have not access in local resources management.They are not aware about to get their citizenship and to register the vital events.
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There is satisfactory trend of getting health services from governmental health officesin the Musahar community.
Different types of NGOs/INGOs are found working to improve and enhance the lifestyleof Dalits, but there is not seen any positive sign of improvement in the socio-economic condition of the Musahar’s life style. Gradually, social awareness isimproving and enhancing among the Musahar community of the study area due to theeffect of modernization.