Self-initiation from the people of Majhimushahar Community to upgrading their settlements is commendable – Dormani Poudel
Chief Minister of Province 3 Dormani Poudel visited Majhimushahar Community of Ratnanagar Ward 8 on 15th November 2019. He was accompanied by the parliament member Kanchan Khanal along with Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Ratnanagar Municipality. On his visit, Minister Poudel congratulate the people of Majhimushahar community for their appreciative self-initiation in improving the housing and other infrastructure of the community through the loan support from Urban Poor Support Fund which was established in the city in joint collaboration of Lumanti Support Group for Shelter and Ratnanagar Municipality. Admiring the effort made by the people of the community, Minister Poudel said that the initiation from the people from the community like Majhimushahar to upgrading their settlements is the exemplary efforts which need to be replicated.
Majhimushahar Community is the isolated settlements of Mushahar caste within the city area of Ratnanagar Municipality ward no 8. Earlier, the community was resided at the bank of the Rapti River. The flooding in Rapti River in 1994 had swept away their entire settlement leaving nothing behind and they had to start their life from the very beginning. The families then migrated to the present location in 1994 and restart their life. Now total of 24 families are resided in there.
With the project intervention of Lumanti in Ratnanagar city in the year 2011, various community level programs like organizing people, community mobilization and capacity enhancement programs was initiated which has resulted some significant change in the mindset of the people observed. The people of the Majhimushar community were capacitated, the community groups, women groups and youth were strengthened through various level of trainings and exposure visits.
Total of 24 families have completed the construction of their house. All the technical support for the construction of the house have been provided by Lumanti. Out of 24 houses, 20 families have received soft loan worth NPR 400,000/- from Urban Poor Support Fund with interest rate of 6 percent per annum. They need to repay back the loan within 5 years. 3 families have invested themselves for complete construction and remaining one family received support from a local singer. Other infrastructures like road and drainage, WASH services and community building were improved in joint collaboration of Lumanti Support Group for Shelter, Ratnanagar Municipality, Chitrasen Community Forest Users Group and community households themselves.