Betrawati : A community forest at Bidur municipality-8 in Nuwakot has proved a means of bringing positive change in the livelihood of locals. The place is predominantly settled by the people from the backward Majhi community.
The village has fair-price shops providing furniture items to grains grinding services. The village adjoining to the district headquarters Bidur was deprived of benefits of development in the past as the local Samari River had been an obstacle for development. Now a suspension bridge has been constructed over the river. No donor agency had reached there for their support, but the locals themselves geared up for making their life easier and build the infrastructure.
The village has well-managed road facilities, no matter roads are just graveled. A catering service center is available here to provide services during social functions and other gatherings. A building lies in the center of the village where locals assemble on a regular-basis to discuss about the development agenda concerning their community. The local Prithvi Nawaprakash Basic School has started providing classes in English medium, bearing in mind the demand of time and interests of parents.
But these all achievements and changes had been possible through a community forest run by the Majhigaun Community Forest Users’ Group. The locals tried their best to properly utilise the forest products and made it as a source of income generation and through the utilisation of same income, the villagers became able to change the face of the entire settlement, said group chair Ramsharan Shrestha.
The forest proved as the means of boosting the living standard of the people through their economic empowerment and social reformations. Neither the village has proper State sufficient facilities nor locals are in a position of investing in productive and service-oriented sectors.
The community forest that was established some 25 years ago here has now become the backbone for the economic development in the village.
The group has 150 members and most of them are farmers. They are given agricultural training through the forest users’ group. The forest is spread in an area of over 87 hectares. The compost organic fertilizer made from the use of dried tree leaves and other non-used products has increased the agricultural productivity. It has been easier for locals to manage fodder for livestock and women and mothers have been benefitted the most, said group secretary Santamaya Nagarkoti. The group members have become knowledgeable regarding livestock rearing, agricultural practices and proper utilization of the forest products through regular trainings and orientations.
Furniture shops and saw mills, grinding mills and fair price shops have been operated through the group. The forest management committee provides soft loan to the needy.
The forest has contributed to maintaining the atmospheric quality in the village and increasing the greenery. The committee has financially assisted the construction of toilets meant for people from low economic status.
Group former president Babukaji Shrestha said in initial days, locals were not much interested in the concept of community forest, but gradually upon realizing its benefits, they came forward to conserve and further promote it. RSS
