The government in its budget 2066/67 had announced that it would provide Rs 1,000 each to around 150 Rautes per month. However, the District Development Committee, which has been entrusted with the task of distributing the allowance, claims that it has yet to receive the amount.
“We heard about the allowances to be distributed to Rautes in the budget speech, but the government has yet to send a formal directive or amount for distribution. We will distribute the allowance as soon as we get the directive,” said Chitra Bahadur Khanal, accountant at the District Development Committee.
The Rautes have been looking forward to a great Dashain with the promised allowance. “They are upset. They think that the government has lied to them yet again,” said Krishna Om Thapa of Contemporary Vision, who visited the Rautes in Dullu-8, Dailekh.
The Rautes claim that the then Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai had fooled them by promising an allowance of Rs 1,000 last year.
The Rautes have also been demanding that the allowance be paid to them every month instead of being paid in lump-sum amount. “If we get it every month, we can eat what we want. They say they will make a one time payment, but we don´t know when they will,” Khanal quoted Raute chief Mahin Bahadur Shahi as saying.
The Rautes, who usually feast on meats during Dashain, do not even have money to buy enough food for the festival. There is not enough food due to famine in the area and the wooden pots that Rautes make don´t sell as much.
Contemporary Vision claimed to have distributed Rs 1,000 each to 40 families but Rautes feel that the amount wouldn´t suffice. “You have given us money. Now you go and tell the government to send money as well,” Khanal quoted Raute chief Shahi as telling.
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