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Dalit’s livelihoods in Nepal: income sources and determinants

Author

Listed:
  • Kishor Atreya

    (Tribhuvan University
    Tribhuvan University)

  • Narayan Sharma Rimal

    (PHASE Nepal)

  • Prabina Makai

    (PHASE Nepal)

  • Manish Baidya

    (PHASE Nepal)

  • Jiban Karki

    (PHASE Nepal)

  • Gerda Pohl

    (PHASE Nepal)

  • Sunita Bhattarai

    (PHASE Nepal)

Abstract

This paper focuses on the lack of income opportunities for Dalits in Nepal, as they are the most affected group in any disaster. The presence of vulnerable family members in Dalit households may further increase their income deprivation. We therefore studied Dalit households’ income sources and identified income determinants in Gandaki Rural Municipality in Gorkha District—the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake. We observed a higher dependency of Dalit households on daily wages, livestock sales, social security allowances, and vegetables sales; however, remittance and seasonal job earnings represented the largest share of household incomes. We observed a significant difference in per capita income between farm (US$46) and non-farm (US$273) income sources, with the difference smallest in the lowest income quantile and the largest in the highest quantile. When the household head was a single woman, we observed a reduction in non-farm (by 29%) and total incomes (by 23%). Likewise, when the household head had a chronic health problem, or the household included an elderly family member, there was a reduction in the household’s income. We suggest economic interventions for Dalit households to prevent increased social exclusion in the development process, specifically focusing on vulnerable individuals and households in the lowest income quantile.

Suggested Citation

  • Kishor Atreya & Narayan Sharma Rimal & Prabina Makai & Manish Baidya & Jiban Karki & Gerda Pohl & Sunita Bhattarai, 2023. "Dalit’s livelihoods in Nepal: income sources and determinants," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 12629-12657, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:25:y:2023:i:11:d:10.1007_s10668-022-02582-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02582-2
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