DHADING: Children of the Chepang community in Dhading are deprived of education as there are no schools near their settlements. Children of the 80 Chepang households in Dumling, Ghuseni, Jaulakhai, Kattike, Jodrang and Mahakali in Mahadevsthan VDC-1 of Dhading have to walk two hours daily to reach the nearest school.

The nearest schools — Bumrang Primary School in Dhusa VDC-9, Baswang Primary School at Lothar in Chitwan and Ghairang Primary School in Dhading — are more than two hours of walk from the settlement.

The children of Mahadevsthan-3 of Braswang are also facing the same problem as there are no schools near the VDC. There are 17 households of Chepangs, however, no school near the village.

The nearest schools are Bagutar Primary School at Lothar in Chitwan and Deurali Primary School in Dhading. It takes three hours to reach the schools.

“As there are no schools near our settlements, children of the Chepang

community are deprived of proper education,” Tilak Chepang, former central secretary of Nepal Chepang Association said.

“Though there are different organisations including Praja Development Programme working for the welfare of Chepangs, no organisation has addressed this problem faced by the children of the Chepang community,” he said.

Chepang children of the 31 households in Bharpang of Jogimara-5 are also facing the same problem as they have to walk three hours to reach the nearest school. Locals said that the nearest school, Gairang Primary School, was more than three hours of walk from their village.

Only two Chepangs have passed the SLC exams from the community so far.