5th, June 2013
Nepal, a beautiful country in the globe! Chitwan, one of the most developed districtof the same country! Though regarded as developed, Chitwan consist of mostremote areas like Kanda village where people rarely know about their rightsthat are to be ensured by the government. In fact, they even don't know aboutthe country, citizenship and the government. Why are elections held? They nevertry to ask or find answer for it but they do vote.
Before a few days ofelection, they are informed about going to certain booth to cast vote and thenthey could have a bellyful meal. "Full meal" is the reason they gofor voting because everyone there dream of eating full meal to satisfy theirhunger. No one from the village has enough food or grains for the whole year.
Youmight be surprised to know it or might regard it as a folk tale. But this is atrue and painful story of Chepang people living at Kanda, Chitwan. I would liketo tell you more painful incident.
Itwas around two years back. One of my friend Ekal Silwal heard about a sad newsof the demise of 8 persons from the same family after eating poisonousmushroom. As a responsible journalist, he reached at the spot. Reaching at thehome of those demised, he tracked out the reason of their death. It was theconsequence created by the extreme poverty. It was a painful story like thoseof legendry time. Our journalist friend had walked almost 12 hours fromCharaundi to reach Kanda. When he reached the Chepang Community, he was tootroubled to see all those.
Theincident was like this :-
Aboy of the age around 16/17 was looking alternately at the roof and the roadwith a soft smile on his face. Suddenly he turned pale at seeing our friendbecause he was totally nude. After a few minutes awkwardness, he pointed to theroof and said- I have placed my clothes on the sun. He had washed the clothesand waiting for them to get dried. He was proud to have a set of clothes thathe bought after toiling many days at Manang on road construction works. He hada shirt and a pant which the other people (not only lads) lack in the village.Thus, he was smiling. But the scene, the suffering of the villagers hurt Mr.Silwal. He thought about doing some good to the place.
Itstarted raining when he reached the middle of the village. It was getting darkand he had to find out a safe shelter for the night. Finding appropriateshelter seemed difficult. People were either sitting round a cave or smallfenced huts, covered by the leaves while the others were the grass roofswithout walls. Totally wet with the rain, he reached a small hut. He was notallowed to enter it as he was the only clothed person on that place. Thechildren of the age between 22 days to 17 years were lying naked on the barefloor inside. The grown up children had managed to cover their genitalssomehow.
Thehouse owner lady had delivered her last child before 22 days. She was standingon the door to block Mr. Silwal or perhaps to block the shame. Mr. Silwalrequested her several times and finally she agreed to let him stay there forthe night. The problem was again that of space. Out of 9 children, one hadalready died. There were still 8 children sleeping inside. The father, who wasout in search of food, was yet to come. The space inside was almost small forthe children and the parents. Where would Mr. Silwal sleep? But there was noother option as it would take hours to reach the other home and it was not surethat the other home would be better. Thus he requested her to let him sleep onthe outer yard of the home. She agreed.
Hewas walking uphill from the early morning and was very tired. He pulled a stoneto sit and it and rested his head on the wall of the house. The stomachdemanded something to eat but no meal available there. The worms had sucked notonly the blood from each gap between the fingers of the foot but also theenergy provided by the past day meal. He had some packets of noodles on the bagbut could not eat after seeing extreme hunger and poverty of the villageincluding the home he was sheltering.
Aftera while, the house owner father came back with some wild roots and stems. Thehungry children woke up with a brightened faces with the hope of havingsomething to eat. They seemed as happy as the victorious warriors. Shocked withtheir reactions, Mr. Silwal gave all 4 packets noodles to the children. Theirjoy knew no boundaries when he told them "these packets are for you".
Itwas the month of Jestha. They had to wait still 2/3 months to have dhindo, thefull grain meal of corn flour cooked in water. Those who could manage grainsfor more than three months would be considered as the richest of the village.Most people there depend on forest for the wild food more than 9 months a year.The house owner felt awkward when the guest gave all his noodles to thechildren. He asked- sir, did you eat? Mr. Silwal replied- yes but he was notsatisfied. Without a word, he went down the home.
Itwas almost 9.30 at night when he returned back with some corn flour on a strawbasket. He did not have modern utensils to cook. Holding a earth pot, he asked-sir will you eat the flour cooked in this pot? Mr. Silwal was dumbfounded withthe respect shown by the poor Chepang. He replied- it's ok my brother. The nextmorning, he tried to hand him a hundred rupee note but that Chepang refusedsaying- it’s a sin to take money from the guest.
Thatday, he was accompanied by two more friends on the journey. They all reachedthe home of those 8 demised due to poisonous mushroom. Local teacher Mr.Balkrishna also reached there and he described the incident as such-
Theparents were out to maintain the watermill as Bhadra was approaching and theywill have maize to grind. While returning, they decided to collect somethingfor 7 hungry children at home. Nothing could be found. Suddenly, the father sawmushroom on the wood. When his wife saw him picking the wild mushroom, shescreamed- don't you know that is poisonousmushroom? But he replied- Don't worry dear, I will manage to remove the poisonout of mushroom. I can remove the poison of snake out of body by exorcising andit would not be difficult for me to remove poison of these mushrooms with mycharm. The mother still protested- what if your charms don't work on them? Weall will die.
Buthe was determined and thus carried the mushroom to home. The elder son was alsoout to fetch food. He returned home bare hands. Knowing about mushroom, heasked his father not to cook. But he cooked and gave all except the 17 yearsold son to eat. They ate. The next morning a child died, starting the deathchain. Two daughters-in-law expired in the afternoon. When Balkrishna sir knewabout the incident, he thought of carrying the survivors to the hospital. Hemanaged some loans and took the others to hospital the third day.
Three personsdied in hospital while the old mother died at home on the same day. The elderson had eaten fewer mushrooms. Balkrishna sir tried his best to save him. Hetook him to Patan Hospital, Lalitpur in the hope though he on debt. But he toodied. The only survivor, 17 months child, was taken to SOS with someone's help.Herein capital, the leaders are engaged only on the game of chair and there thousandsof lives are being claimed by the poverty and ignorance. These leaders arewould be cursed badly for the misuse of people's mandate.
I ama general human. What could I do? But I have food to eat and capital city totoil on. I am very sad too because I have lost two intelligent sons ondifferent road accidents within nine months period. But my pain seems lesssignificant in comparison of those marginalized Chapang people of kanda. I feelas if they are my children, lying on my home with hungry stomach. I feel hurt. AndI am committed to contribute from my part. Laxmi Pratistha will conduct variousactivities for making their conditions better.
Afew months before, we have planted apple plants for the long term solution anddistribute beans for the temporary solution of their food problem. It was doneafter the feasibility study through a technician. The Chepang people weretaught about apple plantation and informed about sanitation and personalhygiene when our team visited Kanda for the first time on Magh. MiteereFoundation, a local institution and Laxmi Pratisthan cooperated for the task.
On Jestha 4 (18th May), a rafting was organized onTrisuli river for the charity purpose. With certain save amount, a team of 12including Laxmi Pratisthan members, advisors, health workers, and agriculture& vet experts revisited Kanda. Laxmi Pratisthan Aawas (housing) planningstarted and a draft planning of Agro-Eco-Tourism was chalked out by the team.Various other activities were conducted during the visit like medical camp,veterinary, Agro related activities (chilly Nursery, Ginger and turmericnursery, rice nursery), Monitoring activities of apple plantation, maize seedproducing activity, goat breeding and poultry breeding and breed improvementactivities were completed.
Let's hope that we can see the Chepangs of Kanda have sufficient food for themthrough out the year as well as sound health and mind. For meeting that aim,Laxmi Pratisthan is establishing a "Transformation Fund" and whatevercollected on the fund will be utilized for conducting various activities on thevillage so as to improve their living conditions.
We have started the mission but our sole effort is notsufficient for the complete social transformation. Thus, we are seeking allround support for uplifting the social and economic status of Chepang peopleliving in remote Kanda. You are most welcome to join hands for this piouspurpose. Please support our campaign and contribute for socialtransformation.
AStory as if of Legendry Time :-
-Bishnu Gautam
Chairman,Laxmi Pratisthan
Nepal,a beautiful country in the globe! Chitwan, one of the most developed districtof the same country! Though regarded as developed, Chitwan consist of mostremote areas like Kanda village where people rarely know about their rightsthat are to be ensured by the government. In fact, they even don't know aboutthe country, citizenship and the government. Why are elections held? They nevertry to ask or find answer for it but they do vote. Before a few days ofelection, they are informed about going to certain booth to cast vote and thenthey could have a bellyful meal.
"Full meal" is the reason they gofor voting because everyone there dream of eating full meal to satisfy theirhunger. No one from the village has enough food or grains for the whole year.
Youmight be surprised to know it or might regard it as a folk tale. But this is atrue and painful story of Chepang people living at Kanda, Chitwan. I would liketo tell you more painful incident.
Itwas around two years back. One of my friend Ekal Silwal heard about a sad newsof the demise of 8 persons from the same family after eating poisonousmushroom.
As a responsible journalist, he reached at the spot. Reaching at thehome of those demised, he tracked out the reason of their death. It was theconsequence created by the extreme poverty. It was a painful story like thoseof legendry time. Our journalist friend had walked almost 12 hours fromCharaundi to reach Kanda. When he reached the Chepang Community, he was tootroubled to see all those.
Theincident was like this-
Aboy of the age around 16/17 was looking alternately at the roof and the roadwith a soft smile on his face. Suddenly he turned pale at seeing our friendbecause he was totally nude. After a few minutes awkwardness, he pointed to theroof and said- I have placed my clothes on the sun. He had washed the clothesand waiting for them to get dried. He was proud to have a set of clothes thathe bought after toiling many days at Manang on road construction works. He hada shirt and a pant which the other people (not only lads) lack in the village.
Thus, he was smiling. But the scene, the suffering of the villagers hurt Mr.Silwal. He thought about doing some good to the place. Itstarted raining when he reached the middle of the village. It was getting darkand he had to find out a safe shelter for the night. Finding appropriateshelter seemed difficult. People were either sitting round a cave or smallfenced huts, covered by the leaves while the others were the grass roofswithout walls. Totally wet with the rain, he reached a small hut. He was notallowed to enter it as he was the only clothed person on that place. Thechildren of the age between 22 days to 17 years were lying naked on the barefloor inside. The grown up children had managed to cover their genitalssomehow.
Thehouse owner lady had delivered her last child before 22 days. She was standingon the door to block Mr. Silwal or perhaps to block the shame. Mr. Silwalrequested her several times and finally she agreed to let him stay there forthe night. The problem was again that of space. Out of 9 children, one hadalready died. There were still 8 children sleeping inside. The father, who wasout in search of food, was yet to come. The space inside was almost small forthe children and the parents. Where would Mr. Silwal sleep? But there was noother option as it would take hours to reach the other home and it was not surethat the other home would be better. Thus he requested her to let him sleep onthe outer yard of the home. She agreed.
Hewas walking uphill from the early morning and was very tired. He pulled a stoneto sit and it and rested his head on the wall of the house. The stomachdemanded something to eat but no meal available there. The worms had sucked notonly the blood from each gap between the fingers of the foot but also theenergy provided by the past day meal. He had some packets of noodles on the bagbut could not eat after seeing extreme hunger and poverty of the villageincluding the home he was sheltering.
Aftera while, the house owner father came back with some wild roots and stems. Thehungry children woke up with a brightened faces with the hope of havingsomething to eat. They seemed as happy as the victorious warriors. Shocked withtheir reactions, Mr. Silwal gave all 4 packets noodles to the children. Theirjoy knew no boundaries when he told them "these packets are for you".
Itwas the month of Jestha. They had to wait still 2/3 months to have dhindo, thefull grain meal of corn flour cooked in water. Those who could manage grainsfor more than three months would be considered as the richest of the village.Most people there depend on forest for the wild food more than 9 months a year.The house owner felt awkward when the guest gave all his noodles to thechildren. He asked- sir, did you eat? Mr. Silwal replied- yes but he was notsatisfied. Without a word, he went down the home.
Itwas almost 9.30 at night when he returned back with some corn flour on a strawbasket. He did not have modern utensils to cook. Holding a earth pot, he asked-sir will you eat the flour cooked in this pot? Mr. Silwal was dumbfounded withthe respect shown by the poor Chepang. He replied- it's ok my brother. The nextmorning, he tried to hand him a hundred rupee note but that Chepang refusedsaying- it’s a sin to take money from the guest.
Thatday, he was accompanied by two more friends on the journey. They all reachedthe home of those 8 demised due to poisonous mushroom. Local teacher Mr.Balkrishna also reached there and he described the incident as such-
Theparents were out to maintain the watermill as Bhadra was approaching and theywill have maize to grind. While returning, they decided to collect somethingfor 7 hungry children at home. Nothing could be found. Suddenly, the father sawmushroom on the wood. When his wife saw him picking the wild mushroom, shescreamed- don't you know that is poisonousmushroom? But he replied- Don't worry dear, I will manage to remove the poisonout of mushroom. I can remove the poison of snake out of body by exorcising andit would not be difficult for me to remove poison of these mushrooms with mycharm. The mother still protested- what if your charms don't work on them? Weall will die.
Buthe was determined and thus carried the mushroom to home. The elder son was alsoout to fetch food. He returned home bare hands. Knowing about mushroom, heasked his father not to cook. But he cooked and gave all except the 17 yearsold son to eat. They ate. The next morning a child died, starting the deathchain. Two daughters-in-law expired in the afternoon. When Balkrishna sir knewabout the incident, he thought of carrying the survivors to the hospital. Hemanaged some loans and took the others to hospital the third day.
Three personsdied in hospital while the old mother died at home on the same day. The elderson had eaten fewer mushrooms. Balkrishna sir tried his best to save him. Hetook him to Patan Hospital, Lalitpur in the hope though he on debt. But he toodied. The only survivor, 17 months child, was taken to SOS with someone's help. Herein capital, the leaders are engaged only on the game of chair and there thousandsof lives are being claimed by the poverty and ignorance. These leaders arewould be cursed badly for the misuse of people's mandate.
I ama general human. What could I do? But I have food to eat and capital city totoil on. I am very sad too because I have lost two intelligent sons ondifferent road accidents within nine months period. But my pain seems lesssignificant in comparison of those marginalized Chapang people of kanda. I feelas if they are my children, lying on my home with hungry stomach. I feel hurt. AndI am committed to contribute from my part. Laxmi Pratistha will conduct variousactivities for making their conditions better.
Afew months before, we have planted apple plants for the long term solution anddistribute beans for the temporary solution of their food problem. It was doneafter the feasibility study through a technician. The Chepang people weretaught about apple plantation and informed about sanitation and personalhygiene when our team visited Kanda for the first time on Magh. MiteereFoundation, a local institution and Laxmi Pratisthan cooperated for the task.
On Jestha 4 (18th May), a rafting was organized onTrisuli river for the charity purpose. With certain save amount, a team of 12including Laxmi Pratisthan members, advisors, health workers, and agriculture& vet experts revisited Kanda. Laxmi Pratisthan Aawas (housing) planningstarted and a draft planning of Agro-Eco-Tourism was chalked out by the team.Various other activities were conducted during the visit like medical camp,veterinary, Agro related activities (chilly Nursery, Ginger and turmericnursery, rice nursery), Monitoring activities of apple plantation, maize seedproducing activity, goat breeding and poultry breeding and breed improvementactivities were completed.
Let's hope that we can see the Chepangs of Kanda have sufficient food for themthrough out the year as well as sound health and mind. For meeting that aim,Laxmi Pratisthan is establishing a "Transformation Fund" and whatevercollected on the fund will be utilized for conducting various activities on thevillage so as to improve their living conditions.
We have started the mission but our sole effort is notsufficient for the complete social transformation. Thus, we are seeking allround support for uplifting the social and economic status of Chepang peopleliving in remote Kanda. You are most welcome to join hands for this piouspurpose. Please support our campaign and contribute for socialtransformation.
