State of livelihood of tarai dalit a study on the Musahar community of Biratnagar metropolitan city, Nepal

Abstract

Historically, Musahars are excluded and most disadvantaged community who are deprived of the basic needs and social services. Although their socio-cultural attributes resemble to the socio-cultural attributes of indigenous peoples of Nepal, they have been categorized as Tarai Dalit who are still treated as untouchables in a predominantly Hindu society of Tarai. According to the composite human development indices, they are ranked at the bottom of the social strata of Nepal. Traditionally, they depended heavily upon the daily wages of agricultural labour. But the recent changes in the land tenure system and land ownership patterns, rapid processes of urbanization and industrialization have threatened their traditional patterns of livelihood and further pushed them to the verge of absolute economic poverty. At present, they have been trying to diversify the bases of their livelihood and cope with the poverty, but their social status as Tarai Dalits and their political status as unequal citizens, who do not have participation even in the local politics, still restrict them from their access to socio-economic opportunities that prevail in the society. Hence, in this study I argue that the social and political participation of Musahar community should be ensured to ascertain their access to resources thereby to promote their socio-economic development in Nepal. I also argue that in this thesis the lack of access to land and other productive assets in a changing context of social relation, very limited availability of non-farm employment and social constraints explain the persisting rural poverty in the context of Musahar community of east Tarai. In this study I have also been engaged with examining the underlying causes of landlessness of Musahars their other ways of living. It will undertake a critical examination of how limited productive resources are accessed, utilized and contested under the context of rising vulnerability. In the substantial discussion I have addressed some fundamental research questions and appropriate objectives This research is based on the descriptive research methods and qualitative information collected from primary sources applying anthropological methods, tools, and techniques, and garnered in the forms of anecdotes, comments, and narratives. The major methods and sources of data used through the interview, observation and life history etc. Every society passes through some profound changes not only in its social structure, its economic system, its norms and values and modes of life but also in all sectors of its life. Therefore, the Musahar people of the study area are not far from this change. Now they have became more conscious and they have realized their social status and position and they began try themselves to uplift their living standard. Musahars are practiced slash and burn cultivation as their means of livelihood. They supplemented their agricultural economy by hunting wild games and gathering wild roots and fruits. But neither had they owned lands collectively nor did they individually. Land was valuable for them to produce daily needs. But they were not aware of the future value of the land. For Musahars land was the fundamental source of livelihood, but they did not own any lands. Thus, there was an antagonistic relation of Musahars with lands, beside many other socio-economic and socio-cultural reasons I observed the poor economic life of Musahars in study area.