Poor rains, poor harvests drive Sudurpaschim Dalits from their villages
Summary
Poor rainfall and repeated crop failures are driving Dalit families out of villages across Sudurpaschim, especially in Bajhang, as agriculture and traditional livelihoods collapse. Empty homes, declining caste-based occupations, and worsening water scarcity have left many settlements largely abandoned.
Key Points
- Repeated droughts, landslides, and weak monsoon and winter rainfall have slashed crop yields across Dalit settlements in Sudurpaschim.
- Thousands of Dalit families in Bajhang and nearby districts have migrated, many to India, leaving villages with padlocked homes and mostly elderly residents.
- Traditional occupations such as leatherwork, metalworking, and Bharte performances are disappearing as communities shrink.
- Officials and researchers say climate change, landlessness, and caste discrimination are combining to deepen displacement.
