'Raute communities face threats from climate change'

Karnali, March 16: Minister for Social Development of Karnali Province, Ghanashyam Bhandari, has said that the Raute community is facing various risks due to climate change.

Speaking at a programme on 'Impact of Climate Change on Raute Community' organized by DPNet Nepal in coordination with the Province government at Birendranagar in Surkhet today, he said all stakeholders should be serious to protect the endangered Raute community from the adverse effects of climate change.

He complained that the Raute's skills and art are not being utilized, although they are projected as the country's unique community in recent times. 

"There is a need to exhibit and market the materials like Kosi and Madhus made of wood by the Raute community, and preserve and transfer the various heritages of this community," he said, adding that all sides should be serious to prevent the Rautes from getting addicted to smoking, tobacco products and alcohol.

Minister Bhandari stressed the need to pay attention to the Rautes' health and education. 

According to him, the province government has prepared a plan to carry out works in a planned way in the coming days as it is necessary to record the language of the community and the scripts used by them. (RSS)