Jitendra Chepang
President, Nepal Chepang Association
Do you think the new constitution has ensured rights of the Chepang people?
We were expecting a Chepang autonomous region, but the new constitution ignored it. We have a population of 68,399 Chepangs spread across nine districts. But we have clusters in Gorkha, Dhading, Chitwan and Makwanpur districts. We wanted these four districts to be in a province. But Gorkha has been placed in other province. Dhading, Chitwan and Makwanpur have also been placed in a province that has Kathmandu valley in it. So, Chepangs will still be left excluded. Secularism is now at risk, which is our other major concern.
We should be given a protection zone. This is the best way to ensure our proportional representations in all state mechanism. It is also needed to ensure Chepangs' prior rights over local natural resources.
Do you think a special protection zone of Chepangs is needed?
Yes, indeed. If the state thinks Chapagns do not have enough population to claim an autonomous state, we should be given a protection zone. This is the best way to ensure our proportional representations in all state mechanism. It is also needed to ensure Chepangs' prior rights over local natural resources.
Has Praja Development Program helped uplift Chepangs?
Not really. We are still facing livelihood problems. Most of Chepangs are living on infertile land. The government should resettle Chepangs on fertile lands so that they do not have to struggle for livelihood. If that is not possible, Chepangs should be given land ownership certificates wherever they have been living by adopting slash-and-burn agriculture technique. Without land ownership certificates, Chepangs cannot take loans from banks.
Chepangs should be given land ownership certificates wherever they have been living by adopting slash-and-burn agriculture technique. Without land ownership certificates, Chepangs cannot take loans from banks.
How has the Chitwan National Park (CNP) affected livelihood of Chepangs?
In Chitwan, Chepangs are not able to depend on forests due to the CNP. In the hills, Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) are a trouble for us. Chepangs largely depend on forests for fuel wood, fodder and yams. But the government's policy to hand over forests to local communities has deprived us of our rights over local natural resources.
Various identity groups are now putting pressure on political parties to address their issues in the new constitution. Even Rautes sent a delegation team to Kathmandu. But why have Chepangs not taken any such initiatives?
It is not that we have not taken any initiatives. We have interacted with all political parties. We have registered our views even with the CA committees. But our pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears.
