In Arnama Rural Municipality in the south-east of Nepal, we saw the familiar pattern of people without land and those from the lowest Dalit caste being widely discriminated against and disadvantaged.

This group of people often had to make ends meet by working as seasonal labourers on others’ farms, and on construction sites in the off-season. They were mostly unaware of their rights.

Mahesh, a local governor, explains:

“The Dalit community’s challenges went beyond poverty; they were isolated from local government and had no knowledge of how to engage with government programs. Many were unaware of the services provided by the Rural Municipality or how to submit proposals reflecting their needs. But things started to change with the introduction of the Asha project.”

The Asha project aims to change the future for Dalit farming families. One of the initiatives rolled out in Arnama was collective farming groups – where local farmers come together to get training, encourage one another, share their skills and pursue their rights together.

In Armana Municipality, the Asha project introduced initiatives that would improve farming opportunities for people with no land, including leasehold farming, advice on livestock rearing, solar powered irrigation for fields, and insurance to protect Dalit farmers’ livelihoods.

But helping these families engage with local politics was a key step to change the situation in the long term.

Making Dalit voices heard by local government

Mahesh says:

“Working alongside the community, I realised our local government lacked policies to support marginalised groups, particularly in agriculture.

“The Asha project facilitated meetings between local farmers and government officials, including myself. We engaged with the farmers to ensure that their voices were heard, and that the policies we were drafting genuinely addressed their needs. Together, we drafted the Agriculture Act, which is now in the final stage and will be passed by Municipal Assembly.

“For the first time, community-based organisations have secured resources like wheat and paddy seeds, goats, and agriculture inputs. This was a historic change of momentum for the Dalit communities. They realised that by working with the local government, they could access the benefits and services that had long seemed out of reach.

“Today, I am happy to see growing awareness among the Dalit community about their rights and the services offered by the Rural Municipality.”

The Asha project is delivered by INF’s partner SAHAS Nepal. A grant from the Guernsey Overseas Aid and Development Commission is helping to power this project.