Hetauda, Oct. 28 -- About a decade back, only two children from the marginalised Bankariya community were enrolled in a school. Most children belonging to this largely impoverished ethnic group would rather go search for wild fruits, kill fish and graze cattle than go to school. Today, the situation has changed, with all 23 children of school-going age from the community attending the nearby schools, Pashupati Secondary and Praja Basic School.

The ethnic Bankariya community is one of the most endangered communities in Nepal and owns no land. Until about two decades back, they were nomadic just like the Rautes. All of them live at Musedhap in Manahari Rural Municipality Ward No. 4.

The community was happy when two of its children, Pampha...