Doka, Dala, Thunse and Bhakari, which were traditionally used in the rural areas of Myagdi, are disappearing due to the use of imported plastic materials and lack of raw materials.
Until a few years ago, these tools used for agriculture and safe food storage in the village have been disappearing lately. For generations, skilled people from the Dalit and Janajati communities have been making a living by weaving Doko Dalo, Thunse and Bhakari and selling them at fairs, festivals and in the villages.
However, the business has been disappearing in the last few years due to increasing use of imported agricultural materials and lack of raw material in the community forests of the villages, said Bhavindra BK of Beni Municipality-3. According to him, the profession is in crisis due to lack of use of plastic and other metal materials, bamboo and reeds, and lack of materials made from choya.
Until a decade and a half ago, the Dalit community had been earning a decent income from bamboo and reeds by selling household items including doko, dalo, nanglo (suppo), chalno, tapari and bhakari. Many people who have been making a living in Beni Municipality, Malika, Mangala, Raghuganga, Dhawalagiri and Annapurna villages of the district have been forced to change their profession.
Tul Bahadur BK of Malika Gaonpalika-2 Room said, "The way to earn income has been blocked after we stopped getting bamboo and reeds." He said that the problem has arisen after the way of earning income by selling bamboo and reed products was blocked.
Tek Bahadur Karki of Beni Municipality-2 Bagarphant said that the number of farmers using bamboo and nigala products in the village is also decreasing.
"Tractors are being used in the village to make cattle. Drums or plastic and steel utensils are brought from the market to store grain. Now the materials woven from bamboo and nigala have disappeared," said Karki.
They have complained that the Dalit community is being harassed due to lack of income as per the cost of production even after importing raw materials from far away. The community sells bamboo and nigalo choya for Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 per doko. Similarly, Dalo, Bhakari, Mano and Nanglo have been selling at Rs. 800 to Rs. 3,000. This profession, which was taken up by a few older generations after the young people were attracted to foreign employment and trade, has been disappearing in recent times.
There is also a lack of market to sell manufactured materials. Sales are not easy in nearby villages. Even though they have sold, they have not been able to get a fair price
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