By Our Correspondent
Arghakhanchi, Aug. 2: Badi families, who are historically marginalised community of Arghakhanchi and who have been living miserable lives in tarpaulin huts built inside the forest, have received their house after 35 years.
A total of 13 families, including 11 Badi and two Dalit families of Sandhikharka-2 have received brand new houses in a model integrated village. The community is thrilled at the prospect of living in tin-roofed homes after the Lumbini Provincial government built houses for them.
“It seems our days of hardship are over. We don’t have to worry about the scorching sun or heavy rainfall anymore,” said Raj Kumar Badi, 45. His family is now free of the burden to stay awake all night during the monsoon, he added.
The poor Badi families have painful experiences of being homeless in disasters like flood and landslide.
"The food we brought after working hard all day was never safe during the monsoon. We thought our life would pass like this, but thanks to the government that has become a thing of the past now,” Raj Kumar added.
“None of us had ever imagined we would have a concrete house,” said Chandra Devi Badi, who recently lost her husband.
Recalling the days when they had to face the brutal rain, sun and cold, Chandra Devi shared her happiness of moving into a new concrete house.
She also expressed her gratitude to the government for making the community realise their existence.
After 35 years, we got a new life, said Badhu Badi, chairperson of the construction committee.
Badhu said a total 50 people were living in the settlement.
Thirteen houses have been constructed under the Chief Minister's Rural Development and Employment Program at a cost of Rs. 4.36 million.
Ramji Prasad Ghimire, Lumbini Provincial Assembly member of Arghakhanchi Constituency- 2, said that he was happy to solve the problems faced by the community for a long time. The community was forced to live a miserable life.
Coordinator of Chief Minister Rural Development and Employment Programme Bharat Neupane informed that the provincial government had been providing housing through both the Chief Minister's Rural Development and Employment Program and the Janata Awas (People's Housing) Program.