There is a saying in Chepang village that '6 months of prosperity, 6 months of famine'
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My house is in Syamarang, Rapti municipality-13, a hilly area of Chitwan. Although he is 47 years old, he has not left the village yet. From Ba to Baje to Baraju, they also spent their lives here by digging khoria. Even though there is a settlement within the municipality, there is no electricity yet. Water comes in the stream only for two hours a day, that is the only thing that has seen development. There is no road suitable for vehicles to reach the village.
Apart from me, there are 80-year-old father Ram Bahadur and wife Kanshimaya in the family . Daughter Apsara and Nira got married. The son has been wandering towards Kathmandu since last year to get a match. If there is no income, it will be difficult to meet household expenses . Even the blind father's knee doesn't move well . As he could not be taken to the hospital to be checked, the father died at home. Despite having citizenship, it is not possible to register the name in the list of old age allowance and open a bank account . My wife and I spend time under father's supervision.
Except for two/three months in a year, there is no greenery in the Chepang settlement, so dust flies. When two crops are cultivated in one hectare of land, two ears of corn and millet are grown . If there was irrigation, pulses were planted. The production of Pakhobari does not stop for half a year . There is a saying in Chepang village that '6 months of sustenance, 6 months of famine'.
Son has not been able to send the expenses despite informing that he is carrying gas in Kathmandu. When he came last Dasain, his son paid the expenses. In order to earn expenses, I also go to the neighboring Dhading district to plant and harvest vegetables from time to time looking for work. When picking vegetables, they go to the farm . We spend a lot of time in Chepang during festivals. All the money earned is spent on buying alcohol and Coca-Cola when relatives and friends come.
There are two hives of bees in the house . There are two goats and two kids in the cage . I earn 8/10 thousand by selling honey in a year . I earn 10/12 thousand by selling Khasi . Salt oil and food are extracted from this. In all calculations, eight/ten thousand rupees a year is not enough for household expenses . There is no money at all in the months of February and March. At that time, Chaite Dasain is celebrated. The money is not collected until Sankranti. At such a time, a loan of 8 to 10,000 rupees is required as they have to find a loan. In order to reduce the household expenses, the guests have to eat less, otherwise there is no way.
At least one thousand rupees will be spent a month on salt, oil and chilli available in the village shop. Adding the vehicle fare, the price of spices in the village is seven/eight rupees more than in the market. To buy food, you have to go to Bhandara in Chitwan from the village. Traveling there costs about 1500 per day for car rental and food.
Rags cost five to ten thousand rupees a year . I buy two sacks of rice at the rate of 30 kg every month. Rice costs 100 rupees per kg. Except for rice, bread, spices, rags and clothes, it has not been possible to spend freely.
I have reared small local goats . Because it takes time to grow, selling it will not cost as much as expected . If two-four farms were raised to raise Maui goats, the income would increase a little . When will the washing of putting the Bikase goat in the cage by saving the expenses be completed ? No address .
There are 63 houses in our village. Except for one, everyone's situation is like mine . Many things play in their mind when they are unable to raise expenses. I also give advice on what to do with my wife when I'm angry. If some expenses are not met, I will go out to find a loan .
Presentation: Ramesh Kumar Paudel
