October 12, Bheriganga (Surkhet)
The Raute community has been gripped by fear after an intoxicated youth entered their settlement at night. According to police, the youth from Lekbesi Municipality of Surkhet entered the Raute settlement late on October 10 under the influence of alcohol. The Raute youths detained him and handed him over to the police the following morning. District Police Office spokesperson Mohan Jung Budhathoki said that an investigation into the incident is underway.
In recent times, the Raute people have reportedly started feeling unsafe due to unauthorised entry of outsiders into their settlements. The semi-nomadic Raute, who live in forests following their traditional customs and lifestyle, say random visits by outsiders under various pretexts have made them vulnerable. Members of the community claim that some outsiders engage in inappropriate activities during such visits.
A few years ago, police had also taken action against several individuals for misbehaving with the Raute community, which migrates across various parts of Karnali Province.
Raute youth Deepak Shahi said, “We feel uncomfortable when outsiders enter our settlement without any reason. At night, when they come after drinking, we feel unsafe. Just last night, a drunk man entered our settlement and created a commotion. Even at other times, random people come here, and we live in fear.” He urged outsiders not to visit Raute settlements at night, especially after consuming alcohol.
Similarly, Durga Khatri from the NGO SOSEC, which works for the welfare of the Raute community, said the community is facing increasing security challenges and police presence has become necessary. “Many outsiders come here to take videos, and lately, more suspicious people are entering the settlement at night, increasing the security risk,” she said.
Khatri also suggested that instead of providing cash allowances, the government should offer ration supplies to the community. She said that cash handouts have led many Rautes to alcohol addiction, negatively affecting their health and further compromising their safety.
Viral fever outbreak in the Raute community
In recent days, viral fever has been spreading in the Raute community. Initially, only two people were infected, but the number has risen to 25 over the past week. Health worker Anuja Pant, who has been treating the Rautes, said they refuse dengue and other medical tests, so only primary treatment has been provided.
“More than 25 people have fallen sick with fever in the last week. They refuse to undergo dengue tests,” Pant said. “We have only been able to give basic treatment, as they are unwilling to be convinced for further checkups.”
Declining population
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged all three tiers of government to formulate new plans to protect the Raute community, whose population is steadily declining.
According to the NHRC’s 2024 report, the Raute population has fallen from 149 in 2018 to 135 as of January 2025. The data shows a steady decline each year: 148 in 2019, 145 in 2020, and 144 in 2021.
Experts attribute this decline to the community’s rigid social values and traditions. Hira Singh Thapa, executive chief of SOSEC Nepal, explained that the Rautes are divided into three clans — Kalyal, Raskoti, and Sowanshi — and intermarriage within the same clan is strictly prohibited. “As a result, many young men and women remain unmarried,” he said. “Another tradition forbids widows, regardless of age, from remarrying. Currently, there are 23 widows, most between 20 and 30 years old. With women of reproductive age unable to bear children, the population naturally decreases.”
Thapa added that the number of elderly and children is higher than that of youths in the community. “Excessive alcohol consumption is another major reason for the population decline. Many have died from falling off cliffs while intoxicated,” he said.
Citing the NHRC report, Thapa urged the federal, provincial, and local governments to design specific protection programs for the Rautes. The commission has recommended providing housing, food, clothing, nutrition, and education instead of direct cash allowances, which have fueled addiction. It also warned that modern influences are threatening the Raute’s traditional way of life.
The NHRC report further highlights poor public health, malnutrition, lack of access to medical care, inadequate reproductive health services, substandard housing, insufficient clothing for the weather, and lack of clean water and sanitation as key factors driving the population decline.
NHRC Karnali Province Coordinator Man Bahadur Karki said the government’s cash allowance, intended to support Raute livelihoods, is often spent on alcohol, leading to a rise in deaths. “That may not be the only reason, but it’s one of several contributing to their population decline,” he said.
Karki added that the community’s worsening health, refusal of medical treatment, poor diet, and traditional customs have made survival increasingly difficult. “The government must create new protection plans. Growing insecurity also risks further human rights violations against the Rautes,” he warned.
The Karnali Province government has initiated the construction of a ‘Raute Corridor’ and other protection programs for the community.
—RSS/ Tek Raj KC
