Background Information:
Situated between India to the south and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China to the north, Nepal’s land area of 147,181 sq. kms is characterized by a very rich diversity in geography and socio-economic make-up. The country’s population of 26.5 million (Census 2011) and growth rate of 1.35 per annum (Census 2011) consists of over one hundred Indo-Aryan caste and Tibeto-Burman ethnic groups. The backward communities comprises of the Dalits (Hill and Madesh) and highly marginalized (indigenous) populations.
| Hill Dalits | Population (Census 2011) | Terai Dalits | Population (Census 2011) | Highly Marginalized Groups | Population (Census 2011) |
| Kami | 1,258,554 | Chamar | 335,993 | Majhi | 83,727 |
| Damai | 472,862 | Koiri | 306,393 | Lhomi | 726 |
| Sarki | 374,816 | Mushar | 234,490 | Dhanuk | 219,808 |
| Sonar | 64,335 | Dusadh,Paswan | 208,919 | Chepang | 68,339 |
| Lohar | 51,218 | Tatma | 104,865 | Santhal | 26,195 |
| Gaine | 3,541 | Khatme | 100,921 | Thami | 14,758 |
| Badi | 20,305 | Dhobi | 109,079 | Bote | 5,378 |
| Unidentified Dalit | 81,042 | Dhagad | 41,764 | Danuwar | 44,129 |
| Total | 2,326,673 | 1,442,415 | 463,060 |
Literacy rate of the Hill Dalit is 52.4% and that of terai Dalit is 34.5% as compared to the national average of 65.9%. Among the highly marginalized group, only 15% of the Chepangs are literate and data of other marginalized populations are hardly available.Low education status of the dalits and marginalized groups remained as one of the major barrier for their human development.
Project Description:
SAP Nepal has been working for capacity building of the socially excluded and disadvantaged groups ever since its establishment. As mentioned above, dalit and marginalized populations reflects minority in population and their low education status stands as major barrier to the overall development. In this context, SAP-Nepal planned for providing education and livelihood support to the backward community through Community Support Initiative run by Trust Fund.
Objective:
- To provide scholarships to children of backward community studying in the public schools
- To provide education material support to the children of the backward communities
- To provide other livelihood support to the backward communities (such as distribution of improved cooking stoves)
[Note: In the initial phase of the scheme Musharar from the Terai belt will be involved in the program followed by the Chepang community]
Funding sources:
- Initial contribution of SAP-Nepal to set up Trust Fund
- Donation of well wishers – individuals and institutions
- Fund raised through different cause based resource generation schemes
Latest Events:
- Education material distribution on 29 January 2020 to 52 Chepang students of Shree Rastriya Adharbhot Vidhyalaya located at ward number 6 of Icchakamana Rural Municipality of Chitwan.
- Improved Cooking Stove distribution on 28 January 2020 to 60 Chepang women of ward number 5 of Icchakamana Rural Municipality of Chitwan.