Chepangs reel under food shortage crisis

CHITWAN, Nov 14: Food crisis has gripped members of the Chepang community living in rural parts of Chitwan district. The seasonal corps they produce hardly can meet their food demand of six months, thereby forcing them to face food crisis for the remaining period. [break]



Till June Chepangs were able to feed themselves with maize and millet, but the stock of these crops ran out from July.



According to census carried out in 2058 BS, a total of 52,000 Chepangs live mainly in Kaule, Dahakhani, Kalibash, Darechowk, Siddhichandi, Lothar and Saktikhor in the district.



A local of Kaule-3, Ram Bahadur Chepang, said most of the families in his village are reeling under severe food shortage.



"With no stock of maize left, we have to send our children to school empty stomach," he said. Githa and vyakur--wild fruits found in jungles--are their only food now.



"We have been surviving on githa and vyakur," said Ram, who is among other Chepangs sharing similar tale.



Poverty has kicked us in the teeth, said Bir Bahadur Chepang of Siddhi-8. "My wife committed suicide last year due to grinding poverty."



People working for the welfare of the Chepang community blame the state for the Chepangs´ sufferings.



The government should be serious enough to end food shortage, said Yeman Chepang, coordinator of Chepang Association, Chitwan.

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