Relief Items Distributed to Over 90 Chepang Families in Nepal

On 21 July 2021, Believers Eastern Church Diocese of Kathmandu organized a ration distribution program in a remote village in Makwanpur district, Nepal.

This village is mostly inhabited by the Chepang people group, semi-nomadic forest dwellers, and also one of the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. They are one of Nepal’s most backward, disadvantaged, and marginalized people groups. Even today many of them do not have access to basic social services such as healthcare, electricity, and education. In order to help them come out of the bondage of illiteracy and poverty, Diocese of Kathmandu started a school in this village which has helped many children from this community receive a good education.

A majority of Chepangs are daily wage earners, but the absence of alternative sources for wages during the lockdown has contributed to a rise in famine among the Chepang community.

It was with the aim of bringing succor to the families most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Diocese of Kathmandu held the distribution program. Altogether, 92 Chepang families from the village received the rations. Each family received a kit containing 30 kg of rice, 2 litres of oil, 2 packets of salt and 2 bathing soaps.

Mr. Om Bahadur Ghalan, Province Member of Nepal Maoist Communist Party, was present on the occasion. In his short speech, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the church for doing such an exemplary service among the poor and needy people in Nepal.

One of the villagers, Sachita Chepang said, “My family’s survival was solely dependent on my husband’s income, but the pandemic left my husband jobless and it became very difficult for us to meet our daily needs. We were so worried about our lives. But, today, Believer Eastern Church has brought relief and happiness to our lives by providing enough rations. Thank you so much.”

Ram Sing Praja said, “We, Chepang people are unlucky because happiness is never found in us or written in our destiny. We are always plagued by problems. We have to survive with the help of others. Even now we are in need of help because we don’t have a source of income. We don’t have land to cultivate crops. We always struggle for survival and it hurts when I think of our pain. I thank Believers Eastern Church leaders for showing concern for us and coming here with rations. I extend my thanks to you from the bottom of my heart.”