A community school has been established by targeting the children of underprivileged badi community faced with longstanding economic and social barriers.
The Christian Community School (CCS) has been established at Mulpani, Kathmandu by Educate Nepal and with the financial aid of international donor agency CCM, Australia.
Inaugurating the school on Sunday, State Minister for Education Lila Bhandari said although the world had entered the 21st century, badi community was still compelled to face difficulties like the women of the 16th century.
The government is working to realize the slogan of "Education for All" soon, she added.
She said that the government was introducing National Badi Commission for the overall development of the badi people living in the different districts of Far-Western and Mid-Western Region.
Binod Pahadi, a Constituent Assembly member, said that the government had failed to execute the agreements established between government and Badi in 2007.
"The assurances have been limited to only in the paper and the flesh trade continues to flourish in the badi settlement," he added.
"After the government banned prostitution in 16 districts, around 200-250 women of badi community is compelled to migrate to India for seeking their livelihood," said Pahadi.
He said that around 30,000 people of badi community were still struggling to secure their ethnic identity, fundamental rights.
"The government must grant the fundamental rights of the community and rehabilitate them back to the society with dignified life," he added.
District Education Officer Baikuntha Prasad Aryal said that still 5 per cent of school going children was deprived of education and the sole effort of the government was not sufficient for providing education to all.
John Lenden, CEO of CCM, said that they were happy to work for the children of badi community of Nepal.
Raju Sundar Das, Chairperson of Educate Nepal, said that CCS was established with the investment of total Rs.10 million and would be operated with the support of the national and international aids.
The school has a capacity to enroll 400 students and will operate the class from K.G classes to grade 5, he added.
A total of 180 badi children from different 16 districts have been admitted to the school so far and staying at the boarding house where they will get all essential care, he said.
