Safe housing provided for Raji community

Dhangadi, July 27: Meena Raji of Bharuwa, Bhajani Municipality-9, in Kailali district, had been living a difficult life for one-and-a-half years.

Meena, who demolished her thatched house in January 2021 in the hope of getting a concrete house, suffered for almost one-and-half years after the authority failed to hand over the safe housing built for the community in time.

After demolishing their traditional mud house, they were forced to live in a makeshift hut, bearing the extreme weather conditions. 

However, happiness has found her way after her dream of living in a concrete house was finally fulfilled.

Although it was delayed for some time, Meena's happiness knows no bounds after the new concrete house replaced her old thatched house.

Sharing her happiness, Meena said, “I am very happy to get a new house. They say that the fruit of patience is always sweet. It is indeed sweet.”

Her family has finally shifted to the concrete house.

Like Meena, 25 families of the endangered Raji community of Bhuruwa got new houses under the Chief Minister Integrated Model Housing Programme.

Binita Chaudhary, Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of the province, handed over the safe housing to the Raji families.

The marginalised community is elated after getting safe accommodation during the time of monsoon.

Dammar Raji, one of the beneficiaries, said that getting a new concrete house is a gift of happiness for the community who have been living in small huts for more than a year.

"We were forced to live in a makeshift hut for years," he said, adding, "We are happy to get a new house in this time of monsoon.”The Ministry endorsed the project in the fiscal year 2020/21.

After the contract was signed in the same fiscal year, Chief Minister Trilochan Bhatt laid the foundation stone for construction of safe housing during a programme on January 13, 2021.  

The B and C Builders were awarded the contract to construct 24 houses within six months and the contract amount stood at Rs. 11 million. Under the project, the Raji families have received a two-room concrete building, along with a toilet.However, the construction company delayed the project and extended the deadline. Finally, after one-and-a-half years, the company handed over the safe housing to the locals.

Minister Chaudhary said that the house was built for the extremely poor families or for those whose houses were damaged due to disasters.“Everyone should get a house to live in. Hence, the provincial government has arranged safe housing for the extremely poor and marginalised Raji families,” she said.

Minister Chaudhary said that the provincial government has introduced the concept of Chief Minister Integrated Model Housing Programme to provide safe housing for the endangered, marginalised and the extremely poor.

Raji is one of the most endangered, low-income and indigenous communities in Nepal.  This ethnic community is found scattered in Kailali and few other districts. They are mostly dependent on forest and water for livelihood.

The people of this community have been making a living by honey hunting and fishing, with some families found involved in agriculture.