Siwani Chhongiya, 10, practices to become a police officer

We make a roadside visit to a small settlement of Chongiya. This group is known for begging, although they do not appear in the list of 142 castes in the 2021 housing census, or among the 26 Dalit sub-castes. This probably means they identify with another group, but for now neither Pinky nor our guide Ram Lahu Chaudhary are aware of it. I can’t find anything about them online.

The settlement comprises around 30 families and we meet with a family of ten around a large table. Within minutes we are told that older female Chongiya are known for their skill in sucking out the pus from wounds – which is about as unpleasant a way of making money as I can imagine. Some still do it occasionally in return for rice, although not very often. Just as well.

Living next to the main road, this group is exposed to plenty of strangers and happy to chat. Several are carrying mobile phones. Bishnu, who takes charge of the conversation, has just returned from hospital and wears a thick bandage on his wrist.

Bishnu spends about half of his time begging, which brings in about 300 rupees a day. He says that he is usually ignored or told to “get a job.” He also works as a day laborer collecting sand and stones as his father did before him, earning 500 rupees for six hours of work.

The conversation switches to marriage. The Chongiya follow other sub-castes that we have met in not marrying outside their community. But we are heartened to hear that Chongiya women typically marry between the ages of 18 and 22. In other words, no betrothals at the age of five as in the Chidimar.

Unlike the Kusbadiya we met, this family is also fiercely committed to education. We are introduced to Siwani, 10, who is the only member of the family present to have gone to school. They break out into grins as Siwani steps up and answers our questions without missing a beat.

Siwani’s brother dropped out of school after failing his exams and went to work in a shop that sells alcohol. The family is fiercely determined that Siwani will not suffer the same fate. Primary education is free in Nepal and students receive a meal throughout grade 3 (between the ages of 6-14). But it still costs 6,000 rupees a year to pay for the uniform, pens, bags etc.

That is a lot of money for this family but Siwani seems worth every rupee. She is determined to become a police officer and practices her salute out on us. Her mother and father glow with pride and we share their joy. Finally, here is a group that understands the power of education.

Pinky and I reach the same conclusion and look forward to the day that Siwani enrols in the police academy.

Next: The Khatik Pig Farmers