Sindhuli, April 29:

Majhi people living in different VDCs of Sindhuli are groaning under the yoke of abject poverty. The government and a number of non-governmental organisations in the district have been working to uplift the living standards of these people, but to no avail.

Members of the Majhi community generally row boats and catch fish in the rivers. Altogether 9,345 Majhis are living in over 12 VDCs of the district, including Bhimeshwor, Kapilkot, Kalpabrichha, Mahadevsthan, Mahendrajhadi, Pipalmadi, Ranibas and Nipane. “Majhi parents are unable to send their children to school due to poverty,” Haribahadur Majhi, a resident of Mahedevsthan, said. Majhi parents and children are forced to work as daily wage labourers to eke out a living, he said.

According to Chabiraman Adhikari, a teacher from Khurkot of Bimeshwor VDC, more programmes aimed at raising the living standards of the Majhi people should be launched. These people have their own religion, culture, custom and language, he added.