Chepang

Assessment on current use and needs of energy and potential for community-based renewable and low-carbon energy solutions for Indigenous Tharu women and their communities in Gulariya and Madhuwan municipalities in Bardiya district in southwestern Nepal

February 4, 2025

This assessment aims to provide an overview of the current situation of use and needs of energy for Indigenous Tharu women and their communities as well as the potential for local sources for community-based renewable energy and low-carbon energy solutions for them in Gulariya and Madhuwan municipalities in Bardiya district in southwestern Nepal. It has been produced under the project titled “Enabling indigenous Tharu women and their communities for access to low-carbon renewable energy and sustainable agriculture practices in Bardiya” implemented by Tharu Women Upliftment Center (TWUC) in technical partnership with Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ) with financial assistance from International Indigenous Women Forum (IIWF or Foro Internacional de Mujeres Indígenas (FIMI)) through its AYNI Fund: The Indigenous Women’s Fund Strategic Program, and the Global Environment Facility/Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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Improved Cooking Stoves training provided and construction undertaken at Chyaurang village in Makwanpur

June 5, 2024

On 25 May 2024, CEMSOJ provided a training on construction and maintenance of Improved Cooking Stove to Indigenous Tamangs and Chepangs of Chyaurang, Saleni Taar and Sukhel villages of Raksirang rural municipality in remote hills of Makawanpur district in southern Nepal. The Stoves are aimed to particularly benefit Indigenous women of the villages of Ward no. 9 of the rural municipality.

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15-kW Sankhar Khola Micro Hydropower Project set up at Dhirang village in remote hills of southern Nepal

May 28, 2024

On 26 May 2024, CEMSOJ inaugurated a 15-kW Sankhar Khola Micro Hydropower Project at Dhirang village of Raksirang rural municipality in remote hills of Makawanpur district in southern Nepal. The project will bring stable electricity for at least 120 households – all Indigenous Chepangs – from Dhirang, Darang, Garling and other villages in Ward no. 7 of the rural municipality.

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4-kW Sisneri Peltric Set Pico Hydropower Project inaugurated at Chyaurang village of Makwanpur district in southern Nepal

May 25, 2024

On 24 May 2024, CEMSOJ inaugurated a 4-kW Sisneri Peltric Set Pico Hydropower Project at Chyaurang village of Raksirang rural municipality in remote hills of Makawanpur district in southern Nepal. The project will bring stable electricity for at least 37 Indigenous Tamang and Chepang households in Chyaurang, Bhyalche, Tikuti and other villages of Ward no. 9 of the rural municipality.

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Rice and flour grinding mill handed over for women’s empowerment at Saleni Taar of Raksirang, Makwanpur

May 24, 2024

On 23 May 2024, CEMSOJ handed over a 4 horsepower dual hopper rice and flour grinding mill to Saleni Taar Pico Hydropower Users Committee for installation at Saleni Taar of Raksirang Rural Municipality, Ward no. 9 in Makwanpur district in southern Nepal.

In response to the request of the Committee, the mill is specifically aimed for socio-economic empowerment of the Indigenous Tamang and Chepang women from among the beneficiary families of the 6 kW pico hydropower plant that CEMSOJ had supported the Committee to set up and operate since last year by using the electricity from the plant not used during the daytime. The Committee has gradually increased its users from 35 to 48 over the year.

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Case Study: Tourism and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Nepal

November 1, 2023

Tourism industry plays and can further play a significant role for Nepal’s economy and prosperity, including in terms of environmental conservation. However, the industry has often entrenched marginalization of Indigenous Peoples in the country and resulted in violations of their rights, including in the context of establishment of protected areas, tourism establishments and businesses as well as representation of Indigenous image.

On many occasions, Indigenous Peoples have suffered loss of traditional lands and other violations of their rights in favor of tourism projects, which directly affects their lives and livelihoods. Particularly relevant is the establishment of protected areas, which have been mostly created by displacing Indigenous communities from their lands and resources. Concerningly, Indigenous communities have even been subjected to wide range of abuses, including killings, torture, arbitrary detentions, mistreatment, harassment as well as sexual violence against women at the hands of army, forest rangers and others in the context protected areas set up for environmental conservation and tourism.

Tourism establishments and business have also encroached upon lands and sacred sites of Indigenous communities in various parts of Nepal. Indigenous defenders and activists have faced retaliations and reprisals for raising their voices against violations of their rights and those of their communities in the context of such tourism undertakings, including at the hands of businesses.

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6 kW Saleni Taar Pico Hydropower Project inaugurated in southern Nepal

June 9, 2023

On 8 June 2023, CEMSOJ inaugurated a 6 kW Saleni Taar Pico Hydropower Project at Khairang village of Raksirang rural municipality in remote hills of Makawanpur district in southern Nepal. The Project implemented under the second phase of CEMSOJ’s Community-based Renewable Energy Project (CbREP) initiative will bring stable hydroelectricity for the first time to between 40 to 60 indigenous Tamang and Chepang families in the area.

Thanks to the indigenous Tamang and Chepang communities’ members for putting their trust on us and contribution through labour for the Project, the Pawanka Fund for continued financial support to the CbREP initiative, the Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP) for facilitating the support and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE) for fiscal sponsorship.

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Chepang settlement joyful as electricity reaches their village

April 4, 2022

Hetauda: For the first time, electricity has reached Runchebung Parsibang, a remote village of Raksirang Rural Municipality, Ward no. 9 in Makwanpur district of central Nepal. The extremely marginalized indigenous Chepangs of the village used to burn pine lamps for light in their houses as they did not have electricity although it was only at a distance of about 35 kilometers from the East-West Highway.

With the inauguration of a peltric set-based pico-hydropower plant to provide electricity to the village on Sunday, the Chepang community has got rid of darkness. The plant was set up with the financial assistance from Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ) and Raksirang Rural Municipality as well as labor contribution of the locals, who were overjoyed as the 4kW plant came into operation.

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गाउँमा बिजुली पुगेपछि मुस्कुराएको चेपाङ बस्ती (तस्वीरसहित)

April 4, 2022

थाहा खबरको लागि श्रीजना नेपालको रिपोर्टिंग, चैत २१, २०७८

हेटौैडा : मकवानपुरको विकट राक्सिराङ गाउँपालिका–९ पार्सिबाङ रुन्चेबुङमा पहिलोपटक बत्ती पुगेको छ।

अति सीमान्तकृत चेपाङ समुदायको बाहुल्यता रहेको राक्सिराङ गाउँपालिका–९ को पार्सिबाङ रुन्चेबाङमा पहिलो पटक बिजुली बत्ती पुगेको हो। पूर्व–पश्चिम राजमार्गबाट करिब ३५ किलोमिटर मात्र भित्र रहेको सो स्थानमा हालसम्म बिजुली पुगेको थिएन। बत्ती नभएकोले त्यहाँका चेपाङ समुदाय सल्लाको दियालो बालेर घर उज्यालो पार्ने गर्थे।

तर आइतबार गाउँमा बत्ती बाल्न पेल्ट्रिक सेट उद्घाटन भएसँगै त्यहाँका चेपाङ समुदायका घरको अँध्यारो हटेको छ। सामुदायिक सशक्तीकरण तथा सामाजिक न्याय सञ्जाल र गाउँपालिकाको आर्थिक सहयोग तथा स्थानीयको श्रमदानमा बनेको पेल्ट्रिक सेट आइतबार सञ्चालनमा आएको छ। ४ किलोवाट क्षमताको पेल्ट्रिक सेट (हाइड्रोपावर) सञ्चालनमा आएसँगै स्थानीय हर्षित भएका छन्।

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Baseline assessment on access to and use of energy and potential for community-based renewable energy development for Chepang communities in Manahari and Raksirang rural municipalities in Makwanpur district in central Nepal

December 22, 2021

This baseline assessment is aimed to present the current situation of access to and use of energy (electricity) as well as to determine the potential sources for renewable energy production in Chepang communities in Manahari and Raksirang rural municipalities of Makwanpur district in central Nepal. It has been carried out under the pilot initiative of Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ) and Himalayan Human Rights Monitors (HimRights) titled “Empowering indigenous Chepang youth and women for promotion of Community-based Renewable Energy Project (CbREP) in Nepal”.

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