Kanchanpur: The nomadic Raute people, historically reliant on jungle resources such as wild roots, yams, and tubers, are now increasingly integrating into broader society and engaging with other communities.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Raute community’s shift is partly due to restrictions on tree cutting in the jungle, which has impacted their traditional woodcraft profession. The community now relies on government-provided social security allowances, having limited options to continue their ancestral craft of making wooden materials.
Historically, the Raute led a nomadic existence, subsisting on hunting langur and macaque monkeys, and gathering forest tubers, fruits, and greens. They would trade carved wooden bowls and boxes with local farmers for grains like rice, along with iron, cloth, and jewelry.
Badsingh Raute from Tundikhel in Bhimdatta Municipality-9 shared that the community is now participating in various local activities. He noted, “The government brought us from the forest to the settlement and has been providing us with a monthly allowance. Since I haven’t found work according to my skills, I have to manage on the allowance provided by the government.”
The transition from forest life to settled life has not been without challenges. The Raute community faces difficulty in finding employment that matches their traditional skills, leading to economic hardship. Badsingh highlighted the lack of educational opportunities for their children and the insufficiency of the government allowance to cover basic necessities.
Kiri Devi Raute expressed that her son had to seek work in India due to limited employment opportunities locally. “We have assimilated in society, but there is a problem due to lack of employment,” she mentioned, emphasizing the need for the government to provide income opportunities to support their new way of life.
In Kanchanpur, home to a population of about five hundred thousand, only three Raute families reside. They migrated from Lali in Darchula to Tundikhel in Kanchanpur via Jogbudha of Dadeldhura, searching for alternatives to their traditional livelihood.
Anita Raute shared the challenges they face adapting their ancestral skills to their new environment. “It is difficult to eke out a living here with the skills of our ancestors. We only get daily wage work in the village, if any at all,” she said, urging the government to assist them in becoming self-sufficient by imparting relevant skills.
Despite the challenges, the Raute community has embraced participation in local festivals and celebrations, marking a significant cultural shift from their previous isolated jungle existence. The transition signifies a pivotal moment in their history as they navigate a new chapter in settled life.