The Raute community, endangerd nomadic tribe in Nepal, is facing an existential crisis as the number of single women in the settlement continues to rise. Data since 2018 show that 17 women have become single—many at a very young age—due to a combination of widespread alcohol abuse among men and restrictive traditional customs.

In Raute culture, remarriage is strictly forbidden for women. Once widowed, a woman is expected to remain single for the rest of her life, regardless of her age at the time of her husband’s death.

“The problem is compounded by the practice of child marriage,” said Durga Khatri, a worker at the Social Service Centre (SOSEC) Nepal, who has been working closely with the community. “Girls are often married off before they reach puberty. If they lose their husbands, they are forced to spend their entire lives in isolation within the community.”

According to SOSEC, the 17 single women currently in the settlement range in age from 15 to 51. Among them, 13 were married between the ages of 12 and 13, while four were married by the age of 15. The data show that nine of these women became widows between the ages of 15 and 35.

The cases of Surman Shahi and Mayo Shahi illustrate the trend. Years ago, Surman, then 15, and Mayo, 12, were married on the same day to Shivaraj, 34, and Dal Bahadur, 32, respectively. Within six months, both men died due to complications related to excessive alcohol consumption, leaving the girls widowed before reaching adulthood.

Demographic Toll

The rise in young widows is directly contributing to a shrinking population. As many of these women become widowed before having children—and are barred from remarrying—the birth rate has declined.

At the same time, the community faces a high child mortality rate. Health workers stationed in the settlement report that since June 2018, 53 members of the community have died, including 25 children aged between seven days and three years.

“The infant mortality rate is rising due to parental alcohol abuse,” a health worker said. “Heavy drinking continues during pregnancy, and after birth, infants do not receive adequate care. Many die from severe malnutrition and pneumonia.”

As the Raute population continues to decline, activists warn that unless substance abuse and the prohibition on remarriage are addressed, the unique cultural heritage of the “Kings of the Forest” could be at risk of disappearing.