INTRODUCTION OF KIRAT PUMA RAI TUPKHABANKALA
1.INTRODUCTION:KIRAT PUMA RAI TUPKHABANKALA(KPRTB) is highly representative and an autonomous organization of Kirat Puma Community at National level. It has been formally established in 2003 A.D. and registed at Kirat Rai Yayokkha then again registered with the District Administration Office, Lalitpur ,Government of Nepal in 2007 AD. The KPRTB has been working for social and economic development as well as for religion Mundum , Language, Culture ,Development of the Kirat Puma community from its inception. 2.KPRTB and Situation:The KPRTB is one of the ethnic indigenous, communities of Nepal, especially Kirati group, having their own Mundum, Language, Culture, History and tradition. They have their own social structure for their whole social life cycle. They are endogamous in particular. KPRTB community had its own economic activities within the group prior to the modernization period. Their traditional land is in one of the remotest part of the country is called Pumahongma(Puma Area) of Khotang District. Presently At present, the Puma communities are living in more then 20 different districts of Nepal and the Indian State of West Bengal – Darjeeling, Kalingpong, Sikkim. However, the major settlements are in Khotang, Udaypur,Saptari, Sunsari Ilam, Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, Bhaktpur,Lalitur and Kathmandu. The total population of the Puma is estimated around to be 15,000 - 25,000. Puma community is one of the most marginalized ethnic groups in the country. As this community is resided in the remote hilly areas, the basic infrastructures and services like motorable roads, electricity, clean drinking water, education, communication and health services are not available to their residing areas. The majority of the Puma are depended on traditional agriculture and foreign services, especially in military force. Due to the unproductive land conditions, they are not able to produce adequate food from their farms. They do not have education and therefore have no access to productive resources and decision making process. They are compelled to migrate in search of pottering and agriculture labor for their livelihood. 3.Vision:The vision of this association is to establish equitable, just and dignified society by protecting and ensuring rights of the Puma community. 4.Mission:The mission of the organization is to achieve its vision through facilitating the Puma community in their organization and empowerment process to ensure their rights and development mainstreaming. In the process, the community will be equipped with information and skills for claiming their rights.5.Value:a)Entertaining rights with respect to others b)Fairness c)Democratic d)Transparency e)Equity f)Live and let others live 6.Goal: The goal of the organization is to help in national development through the overall development of the Puma community. 7.Objectives: • To establish, protect, recognize and promote rights of the Puma community • To strengthen social and economic status of the Puma community • To explore, protect and develop Puma Religion ,language, culture, historical properties, literature and arts etc • To explore, protect and promote traditional knowledge and skills practiced by Puma Community, • To protect and promote bio-diversity • To participate in the works of global peace and development based on the Puma community, • To bring the community into the mainstream of overall development for a dignified life. 8.Working Strateg:Organizing and mobilizing the Puma community to enable for claiming their rights is the major strategy of the KPRTB. For this, it has been conducting awareness campaign about the rights of the people and their obligation. It has also focused on organizational development of the Puma communities at the grass-roots level. Particularly, the KPRTB is providing support for their management capacity enhancement. Establishment of network alliance is also a strategy for the campaign. Both internal network and network/alliances with other like–minded organizations is also taken as a strategy for collective efforts.Economic empowerment process is another strategy. Until and unless the community members are well off economically, organization development becomes uncertain/incomplete. So it has been making efforts for access to resources. For this, the KPRTB is organizing \ arranging skill training, and looking for opportunities for linkages.Research/study will be carried out on the language spoken by the community, culture, arts, traditional knowledge and skills and efforts will also be made towards development/ promotion of them. Protection and promotion of bio-diversity will be made among the Puma communities’ for the development. The KPRTB does not implement its program activities directly through the central level. Instead, it implements through the respective local committee with direct involvement of local people from the very beginning. This process is expected to support the local peoples’ capacity enhancement.9.Structure: There, presently, are two levels of structure under the o KPRTB organizational structure as Central and District level committees. The National Conference is the supreme body of the organization. Representatives from all over the country will take part in the national conference and the conference will elect a Central Executive Committee for two years. Annual plan will be prepared by the annual general convention and implemented by the Central committee. Likely, primary committee hold conference/conventions in every 2 year and elect district committee. Annual general convention prepares annual plan and implements them. Beside the committees, there will be different departments under the committees as Religion ,language and culture, communication, socio-economic development, etc. 10.Resources: a)Budget resources:Levies and membership fees from Puma communities is the major source of budget. Some of the Puma personalities have donated for specific program like land purchase of office building and some of the specific programs as workshop/training. The KPRTB is also taking small grant support from government and non-governmental organizations occasionally. The financial transactions will be carried out through bank Accounts with joint signature of the Treasurer as compulsory and either of the President or the General Secretary. b)Physical facilities/assets:The KPRTB has its own office room at Talchhikhel-14, Lalitpur provided by community member free of cost and it is equipped with furniture & basic office facility. Several branch offices have also been established in respective villages of Khotang and Sunsari district. The office is equipped with the necessary facilities. District and village unit committee offices have been arranged in respective districts and villages by arranging office room. Generally the space for office has been provided by Puma members.11.Major Activities: • Restoration of endanger case of Historical Kirati Holly Places, Temples, Pounds, Milestones etc, like restoration of Sakenwa of Puma Area, Puma Languages , literature, culture, religion etc • Organizational development of Puma Communities (Central Committee, District Committees and also established Religion-Cultural, Language , Communication departments under Central Committee) • Organized various knowledge and skill development training for Puma Community people • Conduction of Puma Documentation program in collaboration with other groups • Publication of Puma Dictionary, Culture, Folk stories and Religion etc. • Organized Rokong Poetry Festival at local , district, and national level• Supported to sick, disabled and managed dead bodies belonging to Community as well as others community too. Contact Office, Talchhikhel-14, Lalitpur

Phone: 977-1-5-572684/ 5-542784(Request)
Mobile: 9841374356
E-mail:kiratpumarai@gmail.com
website-www.pumarai.org
website-www.pumarai.blogspot.com
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