Raute suffering from food shortage and temperature drop (Photos)

Ramesh Rawal

Surkhet: Raute is an ethnic group, which is popular for its nomadic lifestyle. Raute belongs to the Khas Arya community.

The community does not stay in one place for a long time and keeps moving its settlements from one place to another. The language they speak is also different. Their mother tongue is Khamji.

The Raute community resides on the banks of the Girigad River in Barahtal Rural Municipality-8 and Birendrnagar Municipality-2, Surkhet.

They migrated to the Girighat River some time ago. Earlier, the community was residing in Dungeshwar Rural Municipality, Dailekh.

CPN (UML) Chairperson Oli visits Raute settlement (Photos)

The community has been living huts made of tarpaulin and a roof thatched with some straws. The decrease in temperature has challenged the settlement of the community. Not only cold but also managing food has been challenging Raute. They have been facing the cold and food shortage.

‘Currently, there is a challenge in managing the food due to the winter. There is also a shortage of clothes, and rice,’ said Raute Deepak Shahi.

Raute Hari Bahadur Shahi said they spent the night by setting fire. According to population census 2021 (2078 B.S), there are currently 46 households in the Raute community, while the total number of Raute is 143.

The community has a main chief “Mahamukhiya” and three “Mukhiyas” in power. Mahamukhiya assigns particular duties to the members of the community.

They hunt monkeys and also survive on wild fruits. However, their lifestyle has experienced some changes as they started making and selling wooden utensils.

(Glimpses from Raute settlement)