“I am the only one left who can speak our language” – Gyani Kusunda

Efforts to save the Kusunda tribe of Nepal

Gyani, born in nomadic jungle tribe called Kusunda, is currently in her declining years. She had lots of ups and downs in her life but she is troubled about only one thing in her old age. That is after she dies, their tribal language may die with her. ‘I am the only one left who can speak our language,’ she said in her own language, ‘after I die, no one will speak this language.’

‘Our language has disappeared,’ Gyani continued, ‘all people of my age are dead, and now there is no one left to teach our language to new generations.’ She expressed her worries about the lack of protection for Kusunda language. She has migrated through various forests during her entire life and can only recall that she was born in the east of Nepal as second child of her parents. All her four siblings have passed away.

Kusunda tribe had traditionally been living in jungles but Gyani did not have to live in the woods for long. When she was twelve, her family started social life from the shed of a villager.

Nepal is a country with large indigenous and tribal populations; however, many of its tribes have not been able to come to the mainstream movement for rights of indigenous and tribal peoples yet. Kusunda is one such tribe also known as banrajas, literally meaning kings of jungles. The tribe is currently in the verge of extinction and has recently begun organizing its peoples for the protection and development of their tribal identity and culture. Though long time has passed since Kusundas started living social life, their economic situation remains dire.

A Kusunda Bikas Samaj (Kusunda Development Society) has been established in Nepal’s western district of Dang almost a year ago to bring together Kusundas from all over the country for their economic, social, cultural, educational and linguistic progress. Kusundas have their own distinct language, culture, tradition and customs. So far, 159 Kusundas have affiliated with the society. The 2001 census of Nepal had enumerated 164 families of the tribe.

Kusunda tribe used to live by hunting birds with traps and bow and arrows and gathering forest plants during their jungle life. They are now living in public lands in different districts in western Nepal. Given their dire economic situation, they have urged all concerned stakeholders for economic and/or educational assistance. Their body registered as an NGO at local administration office has prepared various programs to work towards their demands for provision of lands and acknowledgement as endangered tribe, among others.

Translated and Edited by Prabindra Shakya (shakya.prbn@gmail.com) from Devika GM’s article originally published on USNepalonline.com. For the article in (Khas) Nepali, see the link below

http://usnepalonline.com/indigenous/kusunda-united-for-their-rights.html   

‘People’s Housing Programme’ — that is given continuity in this fiscal year’s budget too — extended to Chepang, Raute and Kusunda community’s

'Look outward policy can resurrect real estate'

Added At:  2011-01-31 11:01 PM  

Last Updated At: 2011-01-31 11:01 PM

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HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Nepalis Direct Investment (NDI) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) can resurrect the domestic real estate business, according to a real estate entrepreneur. “For those Non-resident Nepalis (NRNs), who want to create asset back home, the government can help them by making the policy favourable,” said Om Rajbhandari, managing director of Comfort Housing.

“In the first phase, we need to attract investments from the Nepalis living abroad,” he said, terming the NRNs Direct Investment as NDI, — a new phrase coined by him for investments.

“From their hard-earned money, the NRNs can create asset back home,” he said, adding that Nepal Land and Housing Development Association (NLHDA) can organise Housing Exhibition for those NRNs, who want to buy home back in Nepal.

He said that Nepal can also attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by giving expats ownership of apartments. “In each apartment project, 20 per cent to 30 per cent of the total units could be allowed for the expats,” he said, adding that those expats, who are more than 50 years of age can get retirement visa and own an apartment in Nepal.

Meanwhile, the increasing trend of constructing unmanaged residential buildings in the fertile land has forced the government to revise the National Building Code to manage and facilitate modern amenities to address increasingly unmanaged urbanisation and housings.

The decade long insurgency has forced the people to migrate to the urban areas for security reasons speeding up the urbanisation without proper planning and infrastructure.

Among government, private builders and individuals, culturally, the individuals are more inclined to construction of houses as traditionally house gives a scene of security in the society. But the individual construction has been more unmanaged and unplanned.

“The private developers can create a small city or satellite city with all the necessary infrastructures that could lead to planned development,” said Rajbhandari, one of the private developers. “The planned city will serve as the focal point of the multiple dimensions, providing a variety of attractions that promote public enjoyment and appreciation of the area, acting as the anchor of the nation and promoting decentralisation concept too.”

With mass employment opportunities, Multi Dimension Cities (MDCs) will surely be beneficial for people and generate huge revenue for the government too.

The government has also planned 10 new modern cities for business and residential purposes in the vicinity of Mid-Hills Highway and North-South corridors. The budget for the current fiscal year has promised infrastructural mapping after the identification of the location and completion of their feasibility studies.

Though, the government has also been involved in the ‘People’s Housing Programme’ — that is given continuity in this fiscal year’s budget too — that is extended to Chepang, Raute and Kusunda community’s settlement areas, the private builders are the key players in the sector.

Approach paper

KATHMANDU: The Finance Ministry has formed an internal committee to prepare an approach paper to bring reforms in the reality sector by allowing foreigners living or working here can buy apartments. The committee is expected to submit the approach paper on Monday, according to finance secretary Rameshwor Prasad Khanal. The government is planning to allow expatriates buy human-erected apartments.

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