Field-Visit report of Rupandehi, Kapilbastu, Pyuthan, Dang, Surkhet, Banke, Bardiya and Kanchanpur

I, Naresh Tamrakar, Finance & Admin Manager of Janajati Empowerment Project (JEP) left KTM on 11th Aug. 2008 at 9:30 am for Bhairahawa to visit 8 DCCs of western Nepal from Rupandehi to Kanchanpur until 16th Aug. 2008.

I joined the team of JEP, Mr. Shree Lal Majhi; Project Director, Mr. Ramjee Kongrn; Project Coordinator and Mr. Sunil Gurung; field Coordinator at Butwal on same day who left for the field visit a day before. This visit was as a regular visit to monitor community groups and discussion with DCCs of pioneer selected area/district of Nepal. Below; after the objectives of the visit is the detail of the 6 days trip.

Objective:

This field visit has been planned with few objectives as listed below:

• To discuss with NEFIN DCC member about VCC formation process.
• To monitor selected DCC and performance of it's assistance under DCC's action plan.
• To visit to community of Kuchwadiya and Raute.

Visit report in Detail:

1. 11^th Aug. 2008 - Rupandehi; Kapilbastu to Pyuthan

Leave KTM at 9:30 am for Bhairahawa and meet JEP team at Butwal. After joining the tam all team headed to Pyuthan through Kapilbastu for drinking water support at Sankarpur. We observed installation of D/W scheme which is in work-in- progress. Communities were satisfied but requested for more support. Most of the people are from Magar community as shown in picture below:

2. 12^th Aug. 2008 - Pyuthan to Dang

We meet DCC members in it's office. The location is geographically difficult but beautiful. 6 VCC have been formed out of 49 where Gurung, Magar Newar and few Thakali and Kusunda are living. They have organized last world indigenous day 2008 on 9^th Aug. 08. Seems few internal problem and one of the DCC member has miss used local resources of DDC in the name of Janajati. Photos are below:

• Actively involved in Janajati movement
• Observed World Indigenous day 2008
• Program on UN declaration
• Program on ILO 169 and
• VCC formation is next recent program

No DCC office but IPOS are sentiment for janajati issues from their own IPO's office. After the meeting we stayed there for one night.

We moved for Surkhet form Dang after short visit to Tulsipur in the morning but we were blocked on the way by the agitator at Narayanpur because of tussle between in local people and policy

After few minute we headed to Birendranagar, Surkhet. We reached there at early evening and held a meeting with DCC members of Surkhet.

Chaudhary, Raji, Magar,Gurung, Newar, and Thakli are major IPO in Birendranagar but other Kumal, Khampas are in less no. They have formed 4 VCCs out of 50 VCC but 4 VCC have no Jajanati in this area as Chairperson Mr. Man Bhr. Chaudhary told.

• Actively involved in Janajati movement
• Observed World Indigenous day 2008
• Interaction program on CA
• Sample election program
• DCC formation is next recent program

We stayed there and hold a night.

We left Surkhet for Banke, Nepalgunj and meet members of DCC of Banke at a "Gumbba" where DCC office and offices IPOs are managed in separate room and in cupboard.

Kuchwadiya, Newar, Gurung, Tharu, Tamang, Sherpa, Magar are major IPO of Banke. They have also formed 15 VCC out of 46 and it is in progress. Center office of Kuchwadiya has no good response to DCC as all members accepted it. They have tried many time to tap local resource but only allocated not released to Janajati issues. In this DCC, NFDIN has supported to establish a resource center and building construction is also going on for the center and they have planned to provide a room for DCC office also. They have been charging Rs. 500 from Each IPO for a year as annual fee but no updated. Then, we visit to Kuchwadiya community near to DCC office.

It seems problem in the community like all supports are using for family of Kuchwadiya so other people from dame community were complaining to us about the program. It was late afternoon so we left Banke for Kailali and reached late night in Dhangadhi nad hold a night.

Meeting with DCC member of Kailali at Hotal Tarun which in owned by the chairperson Mr. Laxman Tulachan. Handover 1^st pay of VCC formation of Rs. 30000 to the chairperson. Tharu, Newar, Rai, Raji, Sherpa, Gurung, Thakali and Tamnag, Magar, Chhantyal, Majhi and Raute IPOs are living there. Center office of Raji is not responding to DCC. There are 42 VCC in the district.

We left Kailali at 11 am for Kanchanpur, Mahendranagar and meet Mr. Basanta Gurung at early afternoon. All DCC members were in DCC office near to highway. Magar, Gurung, Tamnag, Newar, Raji, Raute, Tharu IPOs are there in the district. Others are also in less no. They have formed 14 VCCs out o 19 and it seems complete soon. They have also using local resources form DDC and municipality.

• Actively involved in Janajati movement
• Observed World Indigenous day 2008
• Food festival with Rat as foodable thing in Tharu community

We hold a day and night in Kanchnapur, Mahendranager.

6. 16^th Aug. 2008 - Kanchanpur to Banke (Nepalgunj) for Kathmandu

On the last fo the visit, we left Kanchnapur in the morning and reached Nepalgunj, Bank before airpot time because we had to meet members of Bardiya DCC which we have skep duritn th visit. But no one of us knows any member of the DCC. We planned met them through office bag we are using and told them to look for person having the office bag. Ultimately they found/recognized bny office office that we are using. After having meetring airport with member of Bardiya DCC, we left for KTM. After completing all activities I came back to KTM from Banke, Nepalgunj airport at late evening.

Conclusion:

The visit was very fruitful and it was very excited that most of the Janajatis are awarded a much than before. DCCs are also seems empowered than before so DCC can orient to the community in right way. They are doing well at their place and it will be more effective if they are supported more for betterment of Janajatis.

Visit period:

11th Aug. to 16th Aug. 2008

Team members:

1. Mr. Shree Lal Mahji
2. Mr. Ramjee Kongren
3. Mr. Naresh Tamrakar
4. Mr. Sunil Gurung