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such problems. No traditional authority exists anymore. he leaders of the village are also ailiated with political parties, so they themselves are responsible
for development and have major role during festivals.
In Rakam VDC, three political parties—Maoist, Congress, and UML—have inluence. here is representation of women, Dalits, and Janajatis in politics to
ill the quota, but men are responsible in decision-making levels. Women, Dalits, and Janajatis have low participation in district, village, and ward level institutions.
Political parties have no Badi representatives. his shows that there is no room for Badis at the higher level. Badis have also not been able to beneit from the Dalit
quota. Dalit women have no access at the decision-making level, whether at district level or village or ward level. Some men have been occupying the higher posts.
4.5 Representation Groups in Study Areas
In Jamnune Bazaar and Goji bazaar of Rakam VDC, there are mainly women’s groups. Kalika Badi women’s group and Badi Chautari women’s group are
conducting income-generation activities. here are many disputes inside such groups regarding leadership and distribution of proit. Educated and
economically strong women seem to have beneited from such groups, while women who should receive actual beneits are not involved at all. here are
mainly three user groups: drinking water user groups, forest user groups, and women’s groups. Except in their own Badi women’s group, there is no
representation of Badi women in other groups, while men are active members in water user groups. here was a Badi president in the school management
committee in Rakam VDC for the irst time in the history of the committee. he reason for low political participation is that Badis themselves are not politically
active and secondly they are not accorded respectable higher positions even if they are active in politics. Badis are not active in politics because their concern
is mainly on basic survival.
4.6 Education
Education is a backbone of every type of development. It is a matter of concern that Badi shave lower levels of education compared with other hill Dalit castes.
Although literacy rate seems satisfactory 69.66, only around two percent of Badis have passed the certiicate level, 0.66 percent have passed bachelor’s
level and 0.00 in master level. Most of the Badis are dependent on government schools. Around 37 percent of Badis are unable to aford the expenses for
education and are not attending or dropping out of schools see Table 5
Table 5: Education
Literacy Rate 69.66
Male NA Female NA School atending 5-25 Years 68.02
Educaion Primary 55.80 Lower Secondary 20.57 Higher Secondary 6.35
level
SLC 5.03 12+ceriicate 1.97
Bachelor’s 0.66
completed
Master’s and above 0.00
Type of School
Government 80.34 Community 4.70 Private 14.96 Other 0.00
Reasons for not
Teacher’s treatment 0.00 Long distance 3.16
atending dropping out Unable to aford
36.71 HH work
22.78
Educaion in Text book in mother tongue
60.53
mother tongue
Teacher explain in mother tongue 96.74
Efect of not having No comprehension 2.17 Failing in class
2.17
mother tongue schooling
Drop-out 2.17 Psychological anxiety 2.17
Source: NSIS, 2012
Badis lag behind in education in Surkhet and Dang in particular. In Rakam VDC, there are only two persons who have passed SLC, no one is studying
above SLC, and there are not many Badi children going to school. According to Chuke Badi, there is awareness among Badis that they need to send their
children to school, but due to poverty they are not able to do so. In the past, they were not allowed to go to school, but now they can. his can be seen as a
positive change. Badis are also far behind in getting health services. hough the health post is nearby, Badis go there only when they are ill. In the past, Badi
women used to deliver children at home, but now they go to the health post.
here have been some changes in the occupation of begging. Padme Badi says in the past they used to beg in the village, and often they gave few things in return
such as maadal and sulpa-chilam. However, nowadays they give something
when they go for begging. Badis of Srigaon of Dang have a similar situation. Maadal is considered as their main source of income. In the past, it was said
that crops cultivated by Badis did not grow. Nowadays some Badis have begun to cultivate small lands near their houses. Tase Badi says this is a type of change.
Badis of Dang have developed awareness that they need to uplift themselves and ight against injustices inlicted upon them. But Badis of Rakam think
that such injustices are ordained by God, so they cannot be eliminated by ighting. Badis of Dang are ahead in matters of revolting for equality and raise
their voice against oppression, according to a youth Badi activist. here are no Badis in government service, and very few are working in non governmental
organizations. Most Badis go to work in India, and some are drivers and bus conductors. In this way, they are living somewhat diferently than in the past.
According to some old Badi men of Rakam and Dang, there is no end to the prostitution occupation, which has been going on since the time of petty kings.
In the past, they used to be involved openly in prostitution; now they do it secretly. hey send their women to hotels in India for dancing and prostitution.
It’s fairly recently that Badis have settled in Jamune Bazaar in large numbers. In the past, there were only two houses in the area. Seeing this other Badis also
came to settle here. here have been many changes in this area along with the settlement of Badis.
Now all houses are brightly lit with electricity. However, the houses are the same old style. In the past there was no telephone, but now everyone has mobile
phones in their hands. Health centers, schools, and groups are present. here are many national and international organizations now. he fastest change was
