Agriculture Land Economy and Resources

49 2014 48 2014

4.2 Economy and Resources

he economic condition of Badis is vulnerable in general. Badis hold on average 0.1481 hector of land see table 3 per family. Concerning labor migration, 24 percent of Badi family members migrate for work whereas around eight percent of 5-17 years old children are working in the labor market. he source of cash income for Badis is mostly from non-agriculture wage labor 53.95 inside and outside 8.55 the country. Badi families spend their income more on food Rs. 63526 than education Rs. 7523 or other expenses. Interestingly, only 25.66 percent of Badi families have an income that is adequate for annual food supply. Table 3: Economy and Resource

4.2.1 Agriculture

Badis have never been involved in agriculture. hey inherit the whole village rather than the land. Badis lived in the house or cow shed of Bistas of the village, and made maadal and sulpa. In exchange for the maadal and sulpa, Badis would have to be content with whatever grains the Bista would give them. hey never cultivated and so never made agricultural tools. An aged Badi man remarks, “why till the land when the plate is full by begging?” here are legends relating to Badis and agriculture. Once some Badi thought as they were fed up with begging they should try cultivating land and live happily just like other communities. hey consulted their village leader on every matter of importance, as is their tradition. So, they went to the leader and expressed their plan. Initially, the leader rejected and told them that they could not cultivate and whatever they planted would not grow. After much insistence, he agreed but instructed them that they should choose the sandy land near the river and should sow the seed only after parching it. he Badis did as instructed, and the grain did not grow. hen, the leader showed them the ield of others and told them not to cultivate because whatever they sow would not grow. From that day on, they did not consider agriculture. his story was told by Panche Badi. He thinks that because of misinformation Badis were not able to cultivate. Nowadays Badis are interested in agriculture, but they have no land. hey live near the river bank and beg from one house to another for living. Some Badi youth have become bus conductors and tractor drivers, and many have gone to India for labor work. Very few have gone for work outside of India or Nepal.

4.2.2 Land

Badis have always been landless. Some Badis earn money by making maadal, sulpa, ishing net, ishing hook, or rearing horses, but most remain landless. In the past, Badis were allowed inside the jungle for irewood and to ind wood for making maadal. But after all jungles turned into private or community forests, they were restricted from getting wood ghara for maadal. hey also are not allowed to fetch irewood. So, they cook using cow dung cake and twigs that are loating in the river. hey are not included in the forest user’s committee. According to a Badi activist of Dang, because Badis are always wandering, they did not give importance and had no access to jungle, land, and water, and Land ownership Mean land area in ha. 0.1481 Value of land Rs. 511841 Labor migration Family member 24.34 Mean duration 9.00 Are children 7.89 migrated for work month 5-17 years working for cash or kind? Source of Cash Agriculture 5.26 Industry 1.97 Trade 12.50 Regular job 3.29 income Agriculture wage labor 10.53 Non-Agriculture wage labor 53.95 Foreign employment 8.55 Average annual Food 63526 Education 7523 Medicine 14621 expenditure ClothOrnaments 12197 Festivals 11628 Tax 88 TelephoneElectricity 3995 HH goods 3699 Is your income adequate for annual food supply? 25.66 Source: NSIS, 2012. A land of Badi 51 2014 50 2014 they have not given priority to land. here was no acquiring or buying of land from the past. hey inherited the right to beg and work in the whole village. However, they now cultivate some public land in which they settle. Because it is not enough, they work at other’s houses bhus. Nowadays some Badis are involved in daily agricultural wage labor like planting rice.

4.2.3 Occupational skills