Chepang Described
Ethnic Group Characteristics
According to HOT, "Chepangs are one of the most marginalized Indigenous communities in Nepal. Traditionally nomadic people who relied on hunting, fishing and the products of the forest, these ways of life were brought to an end by the introduction of new government policies.
Restrictions on hunting, gathering and clearing of forest patches have forced the Chepangs to adopt a settled way of life. This change of lifestyle has brought extreme poverty in their community and made it difficult for the Chepangs to access basic amenities such as nutritious food, proper housing, safe drinking water, education and healthcare."
About the Chepang
According to Wikipedia "The Chepang have often been characterized as the poorest of Nepal's poor. Forced teenage pregnancies are common. Chepang men and women are basically egalitarian, and no social ranking exists as it does in caste Nepalese society. Many Chepang cannot read and write due to a lack of education beyond elementary school, and this illiteracy stands in contrast to the great gains Nepal has been making in reducing illiteracy."
Geographic Location
The area is a challenge to get to. It is approxi mately XXXX kilometers from Kathmandu only accessible only by primitive roads / jeep paths or by air to a small airport XXX kilometers away from the area.