Nepalese children

Bordered by China and India, Nepal is a land of profound beauty but is subjected to the stark reality of a people in a daily struggle to sustain themselves. In a country rich in cultural, religious and ethnic diversity is the painfully obvious signs of poverty and illiteracy. Steeped in patriarchal and caste-based traditions, society places minimal value on women and children. This is glaringly evident in the higher than normal infant mortality rate, as well as the lower life expectancy for females versus males. These discrepancies can be directly attributed to lack of proper education for women and children, which also translates into fewer economic opportunities for females. Considering that 50% of the population is under the age of 18, it is quickly apparent why 60% of the population lives below the international poverty level and the other 40% live in abject poverty.

Combined with the onslaught of constant political unrest and civil war, women are often left as widows to provide a living for their families. Children are left to fend for themselves and in many cases, forced to work as slave laborers. Although slavery was officially abolished in 1924, debt bonds are still a persistent problem in the Terai, and often involve children. Approximately 50% of all children are working and living in deplorable situations. These children suffer from malnutrition, untreated medical problems and emotional and physical abuses that are unimaginable for most people in more developed countries. Child labor is considered an inevitable part of Nepali society and is the harsh reality of the country’s socio-economic and political strife.

Rural communities heavily rely upon the exploitation of their children, who play a significant role in their family’s survival. Fetching water, collecting firewood, grazing cattle, caring for younger children and supporting parents in the fields are the most common work. Pushed by poverty and deprivation, many children are migrating to the urban areas. This forced migration has ultimately contributed to an overwhelming increase of child labor in the cities. The predominant industries that utilize child laborers are the carpet, garment, and confectionary factories, brick kilns, road and building construction companies, transportation services and stone quarries. Similarly, thousands of children are being employed in mines and domestic service. Unscrupulous employers prefer children because they are a cheap source of labor, are meek and uncomplaining.
Many children are homeless and live on the streets in the cities. They are known as “Khate”- the street children. They forage through fly-infested garbage heaps to collect plastic, metal and paper, which they sell to earn a small income for food. The less fortunate become thieves, beggars and prostitutes. Bare feet and unclothed bodies, snotty noses and unkempt hair, playing with dirt and stones, screaming around the roads or working...these are the palpable features of Nepalese children.


Nepalese community

Nepal is very rich and diverse in natural physical attractions and cultures. Indeed, the civilization of community is still centuries behind than the rest of the world, thence it is unique. Nepal has never been colonized by another nation, and as such it has developed a self-contained culture and society. The dominant Hindu religion pervades Nepali culture, along with some Buddhist influences. Here, caste system has dictated the society and culture, side by side exists the ever being practiced barter system. Different ethnic groups have different style of living. Interestingly, slavery system has yet to be eradicated here in Nepal.

It seems that people are sticking to their way of living so that in many communities and mountain region, most of the people still don’t have their toilet; it is not a nine days wonder to see them stooling on porch. In some communities, people marry their kids in childhood- around the age of 7. In Newar culture, girls must be got married with Bel (a kind of fruit) before puberty and getting married with a guy. Raute and Kusunda, two distinct ethnic groups in Nepal, still live in primitive condition. Kusundas live in caves, under the trees or in temporary huts in the jungle; subsist on wild stuffs as well as hunt and eat monkeys. They carry bow and archery as their weapon; speak different language which is believed as spoken by the least many people in the world. It is, by and large, believed that there are about not more than a hundred of them who speak their tribal language. So, their language is in the verge of extinction. These people are also very few in population, may be just around thousands. Only a handful of them are settled into occupational farming.

Structure, materials, location of houses reflects the ethnic group’s community different than that of other groups’. Tharu normally has simple stalked hut and huddled up in small area. On the other hand, Gurung, Rai, Limbu, and others have house made with wood, stone, stone paved roof and cramped many houses in small area. Different ethnic groups have different kind of cuisine, costume, ornament, language etc. In general, Chepang, Tharu love the fish whereas Gurung, Magar, Bramin, Chhetry, Newar etc love varieties of meat to eat. They use woods and twigs as fuel for cooking. They often take on Dhami, Jhakri (the healer) as doctor while being sick or in need. Surprisingly, in mountainous region, most of the people have never ever seen motor vehicles in their life, what to speak of TV, computer and other gadgets except gaping at the planes in the sky.

Most of the Tharu women decorate themselves with tattoo on their body which is not common in other tribal groups. On the other hand, in Badi community- a tribal group confined around in western border of Nepal- women prostitute in their own home. Most of the ethnic groups keep couples of pig, poultry, buffalo, goat, cow that bears out their impecuniousness. They rather emphasize on agriculture and working than in education but festivals and ceremonies are very much of value to them.

Moreover, here are many occupationally classified cultural groups for centuries long who are supposedly specialized in their exclusive occupation. Some of them fall in very low in ranking in ever practicing caste ranking system. In addition, they are culturally banned to go into the temples, monasteries, upper ranking people’s house; they are even not supposed to touch the upper caste people which has ever been in practice in society. Customarily, Damais are tailors, Kamis are smiths, Sarkis are cobbler, Dhobis are washerman, Khumbaras are porters, Gaines are professional singers, Giris are beggars, Dhamis are healers, Lamas and Upadhyayas are priests etc.
Though it’s far from the civilization, Nepalese communities have bountiful amazing stuffs.