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The working area of the proposed project is a small Musahar settlement called Kataiya located in Ward No. 6 of Dakneswari Municipality of Saptari. A settlement of comprising 40 households, living in thatched huts, is located 2 minutes away from the Indian border in southern eastern part of Nepal. It lies 25 km west of district headquarter Rajbiraj, and takes one and a half hour drive to reach. Consequently, the Musahar people are compelled to work as daily wage laborer’s, but find their income insufficient to sustain families’ basic needs.

According to the latest data gathered from a preliminary survey by a local Sandeep Sada, of the 40 households, only 6 people from the village are either in the Gulf. Their families entirely rely on the remittance sent home. Some families move between Kathmandu and India for work. Others remain in the village, relying on the almost non-existent incomes from farming in landlord’s farm. 

The locality has a secondary school, which is located in walking distance from the settlement. Yet, of the 50 school going age children from 5-19 years of age, only 15 go to school. Of those who do not go to school, they either migrate to Kathmandu or India for work, while those who stay back spend their days cooking and helping their parents in the field.  

A health post lies some half hour walking distance, and provides basic health care service. 

The community exhibits some serious child rights issues. Child marriage is a common, with average age of marriage being 14-15. Likewise, male children cross 13-14 years of age, they usually children who For example, a 13-year-old Dipen Sada works in Kathmandu. 

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