National
Kuchbadhiya kids deprived of education
Puja Kuchbadhiya, 14, of Indrapur in Banke district stopped going to school six years ago. After passing the second grade her parents decided to take her out of local school, so that she could help them in household works. Puja was eight years old then.Janak Nepal
Puja Kuchbadhiya, 14, of Indrapur in Banke district stopped going to school six years ago. After passing the second grade her parents decided to take her out of local school, so that she could help them in household works. Puja was eight years old then.
“I stay at home and help around in the house,” she said. “I want to study but I have to help my parents.”
Like Puja, dozens of children, mostly girls, from the endangered Kuchbadhiya community are deprived of education.
Even those who have been enrolled to schools have poor attendance.
Puja’s father, Kailash, said he and his wife have seven children to look after and that the couple was unable to do that as well as ply their trade.
“If we send the grown-up children to school, who is going to do the household works?” he said.
Puja’s 12-year-old sister Reshmi was also taken out of school by their parents after she completed her second grade.
There are community schools and Madrasas near their settlement, but the Kuchbadiya community does not send their children to school.
Dambar Thapa Magar, Banke district chairman of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, said poverty and ignorance were the main reasons why Kuchbadiya people do not send their kids to school.
There are 65 Kuchbadiya households in Indrapur. They eke out their living by making mortars and pestles, and plaiting ropes. As per the National Census 2011, there are around 800 Kuchbadiya people in the country.