MAKAWANPUR: A cooperative has changed the lifestyle of Chepangs of Raksirang, a remote village in Makwanpur district. Nigiretar Agriculture Cooperative Ltd (NACL) is behind the improved livelihood of hundreds of Chepangs.

Loans from landlords are becoming history. ‘We have not taken loans from landlords since the cooperative opened four years ago,” said Giran Praja of Raksing-8, Niguretar. Interest rate charged by the cooperative is half of what landlords take. Landlords used to take above 36 per cent interest

on loan. Reduced interest

rate has also reduced the fear of landlords. “Thanks to the

cooperative, we are safely doing our business now,” Giran said. NACL was established in 2005 by the villagers of Niguretar. The cooperative was formed with savings Rs 200 per family monthly.

“Now we have Rs 3,88,498 in reserve fund and Rs 1,50,000 in lending,” said Ramesh Praja, secretary of NACL. The cooperative has investment in agriculture sector, mainly cash crops. “Cash crops and off-season crops have significantly increased the livelihood of Chepangs. Our children have started going to school,” he explained.

Road link between Manahari and Palung via Rasirang is providing market to Chepangs’ products. “Actually, construction of the road motivated

us to do new things,” said

Giran. The government and the World Food Programme (WFP) have been building the road since 2003.

Chepangs, who lived in the forests till seven years ago are now linked with nearby towns and capital city Kathmandu through the road and are now growing bananas, Amriso (plant used to make brooms), pineapples, vegetables and keeping fish in water bodies on their own land.

“We are happy now, the cooperative is with us,” said Sajiwan Praja. “We have turned to civilization,” he added.