The people in the village of Badarjhula in the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park came to this land with nothing but bright expectations. Twenty years on, not much has changed, but they hope a new school might finally get them the recognition they need. (ALL PHOTOS AND TEXT: FOO CHEE CHANG & AHMAD ISKANDAR)
As the village is located far from the bustling cities, the villagers rely on raising their own livestock to feed themselves.Most of the work done in the village, such as farming and construction, are done manually done by hand or with the aid of animals. The only machine found in the village is the rice processing machine.The new school building is the most distinguishable landmark in the village with its bright colours. It also towers over the traditional huts, being three storeys tall.Children play cricket in front of Rastriya Primary School. The school is the only concrete building in the village.Community leaders Jagaran Praja, also a pastor, and Karna Bahadur B.K. chat with farmer Bhim Bahadur Gurung inside an empty classroom. Schools such as this cater to pre-primary education, before students move on to schools like Rastriya.A local girl stands amidst wheat fields in the height of harvest season. When school is out, the children will usually assist their parents in the day-to-day chores.A villager washes up at a manual pump. Groundwater provides a major portion of the village’s water needs. Water tapped this way is unsafe for drinking and has to be boiled and/or filtered beforehand.Scene at a stall selling women’s garments and accessories.Dwellings and other structures in Badarjhula are mostly constructed of wood, dried hay and whatever other materials available in the proximity. During the dry season, these structures are extremely susceptible to fire. Due to the poverty and the distance of the village to major towns and cities, development is slow.Fire rages on the hills bordering India. The entire area faces the risk of widespread destruction by fire, which is almost an annual occurrence. Just last Friday, flames swept through Badarjhula, leaving in its wake houses reduced to ashes.
