The story of Nepal’s poorest rural municipality
Summary
Junichande Rural Municipality in Jajarkot district is the poorest in Nepal, with nearly 78% poverty rate and high youth migration for employment. The area struggles with unemployment, child marriage, low literacy, poor infrastructure, and limited economic activity mainly centered on traditional agriculture.
Key Points
- Junichande Rural Municipality in Jajarkot has the highest poverty rate in Nepal at 77.9%, nearly four times the national average.
- About 40.5% of residents have migrated abroad for employment, predominantly young people aged 15-24.
- Agriculture is the main occupation (86%), but mostly traditional and unmodernized, contributing to persistent poverty.
- The municipality lacks modern infrastructure including power transmission lines and high-quality internet, and faces issues like high child marriage rates and low literacy.
