Bankariyas, indigenous people living by national parks in Nepal, deprived of fundamental rights

The sunbeams piercing through banana leaves fall upon Bankariya huts in Musedhap, Makawanpur. As the morning comes to life, the community starts its daily routine. Amid the disorderly clucking and snorting, Kamala Bankariya is seated in the front yard — peeling strands from a stack of khareto (kharra) leaves that she freshly collected from the dense forests in Chure range.

Within hours of peeling the khareto strands, Kamala ties them in a bundle that eventually makes a jhadu, commonly used as a broom. “Tying is an initial step, it is sun-dried and soaked in the fire for several days until it is ready to come into use,” says Kamala, “Each piece is sold for Rs 150 in the market.”