Hunger and Malnutrition in Dalit Women at remote Bajura

Total 380 Dalit families have been living at ‘Muktikot’ (Ward No 1) of Swamikartik Rural Municipality of Bajura District. These families own very small and less fertile plots of land without irrigation facilities. Thus, food produced from their own land hardly suffices for one month. For the remaining months they sustain their livelihood by working as daily wage laborers at local places as well as in India for seasonal work. Thus, this community is facing extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition due to the lack of regular sources of income. Women and children of this community are facing hunger and acute malnutrition due to lack of access to adequate food, safe drinking water and basic health services. Due to the low levels of income, awareness, education and the socio-cultural environment they are extremely vulnerable in terms of health and nutrition. According to community women, there is no mother who has not lost a child due to lack of nutritious food and basic health services during pregnancy and child delivery. As per the case study conducted by FIAN Nepal, 84 children are acutely malnourished, and 12 children have died due to common flue within the year 2021/22.