Gone are the days when the people from Pamariya tribe made a living by singing and performing dances at the houses graced by new babies in the villages of Nepal´s Mithila region. [break]
Today, with local people turning increasingly reluctant to welcome Pamariyas on the occasion of the arrival of a new member in their families, most Pamariyas are migrating to India, especially to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, in search of odd jobs.
“Only a decade ago, people happily offered us money, sometimes even gold,” recollects Israel Pamariya, 65, who lives in Pakari VDC of Saptari district.
“Today, we don´t even get food and clothes.” The people who used to support us themselves suffer from financial crunch these days, therefore, they have lost the zeal for traditional cultures, opined Israel. “Sadly, most of us have no other skills,” he said. “This is why most of my friends and their families have left for India for a better living.”
While many Pamariaya families continue to perform in the villages in India, youths from the community have begun taking up other type of jobs. “If we had a choice, we would never leave our native land, but we are forced to do so because of the bleak situation here,” said Isarel.
According to Shyam Sunder Yadav, chairman of Maithali Traditional Academy, most Pamariays don´t own lands for farming and have no other skills to fall back on. "They have become victims of circumstances," Yadav said.
“Pamariyas are mainly settled in Saptari but the lack of employment opportunities has set off their migration,” said Yadav, a scholar who has been studying Pamariya people in Nepal.
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