A life of alms, and no exit in sight for Netuwas

In the Kapilvastu district of Nepal's Lumbini province, the endangered Netuwa community continues to grapple with generational poverty and marginalization. For many, like Shubhawati Netuwa, begging is not a choice but a necessity, a traditional occupation passed down through generations, providing the only means of survival in the absence of land or stable employment.

“

We cannot go hungry. What we gather from villages is what keeps us alive.

The daily struggle for sustenance is a harsh reality for these families. Even with members working as daily wage laborers, the meager earnings are often insufficient to feed large households. The precarious living conditions, such as residing on public land in makeshift shelters, further compound their difficulties. Kamalawati Netuwa's story echoes this plight, where lack of land ownership prevents access to basic utilities like electricity, hindering even the possibility of sending children to school.

“

With no steady income, we cannot send our four children to school. We have to walk from village to village just to manage food.

Despite being officially recognized as a minority group, the Netuwa community faces significant barriers in accessing state support, including social security allowances. Advocacy groups like the Netuwa Development Centre emphasize the urgency of the situation, calling on policymakers to provide viable alternative livelihood options. The community's desire to move beyond begging is clear, but requires concrete government intervention and support to break the cycle of poverty and ensure a dignified existence for the approximately 2,896 individuals identified in the latest census.

“

Those who make policies are responsible for this situation. In this day and age, living by begging is unimaginable. If we are given alternatives, we are ready to leave this occupation.