Karnali government prepares for improving rights of Raute through a corridor

Kakrebihar (Surkhet), Aug 11: The Karnali Province government is preparing to establish corridor dedicated to the Raute community, a traditionally nomadic group recognized as an endangered population in Nepal.

The “Raute Corridor” will be developed based on the province’s Raute policy, a study report from the Raute Coordination Committee, recommendations from various constitutional commissions, and a survey of Raute settlements conducted over the past ten years.

The Raute people live in makeshift huts in forest areas of hilly districts such as Dailekh, Surkhet, and Salyan in Karnali Province.

Province Minister for Social Development, Ghanashyam Bhandari, shared this information while presenting the progress report of his one-year tenure in office.

Key initiatives under the Corridor approach will include the publication of a Raute profile, ensuring their access to nutritious food, providing free medical treatment at provincial and government hospitals, promoting education rights for Raute children, and preserving the community’s cultural identity.

According to officials, the Raute population in the province currently stands at 135 and they belong to three surnames: Kalyal, Sobanshi, and Raskoti.