Nepalgunj – On the edge of the forest adjoining Rapti River, there is a settlement of Khuna community in Bhamka village. The main occupations of Khuna community are fishing, alluvial gold mining and rowing boat.
There are around 200 households of Khuna community in Bhamka of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality.
Chheetra Prasad Khuna, the community leader, said that they have not been able to receive the landownership certificate though they have been living in the area for the past three generations.
Bhamka village is one kilometer south from the Kushum Bazaar. One has to cross the Rapti River to reach the village.
Even though Khuna community has been living here for generations, the local people still have to ride risky canoe to travel back and forth from the village. The people of Khuna community have been facing the trouble in travelling to Kusum market and return home due to lack of suspension bridge. They have been relying on canoe to travel in and out of the village.
Though there is a primary school in the village, the students of Khuna community—who study in grades above 5—are forced to take risk every day to go to school and return home.
Ranjit Khuna, a seventh grader, said they have been facing the problems such as getting their books, copies, bags and school uniform drenched while crossing the river. Around two dozen students of Bhamka village everyday travel back and forth from the village to go to school.
The establishment of Banke National Park has put the traditional occupations of Khuna community at peril. As their traditional occupations of gold mining, and fishing have been at threat, most youths of Khuna community have been earning their living through menial labor, while the rest of the people go to Butwal, Narayangadh, Kathmandu and bordering town of India for work.
The people of Khuna community started migrating to Bhumka village from Khonpurwa of Deukhuri, of Dang district many generations ago. The Khuna community lives in Dang, Banke and Kanchanipur districts. Though Khuna community looks similar to Tharu community due to their intermingling, the Khuna has its own rituals and culture, says Maya Khuna.
Nepal government has been doling out social security allowance and other perks and benefits to the people listed as minority group or marginalized community.
Though the Constitution of Nepal has made the provision for services, facilities by enlisting them as minority, marginalized, and oppressed communities, the Khuna community living in Sonari on the banks of Rapti River has not been put in the list. Though the community representatives drew the attention of the prime minister and president on different occasions, their demand has not been addressed, said school teacher Bhuwan Khuna.
