WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.439 --> 00:00:02.612 [Tradional Nepali flute music] 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:47.496 [Speaking in Nepali] In our villages, gas stoves are unavailable. 00:00:48.830 --> 00:00:53.833 We use traditional firewood for regular cooking foods. 00:00:56.281 --> 00:01:02.715 Community forests are opened once a week, which limits us from collecting adequate firewood. 00:01:04.535 --> 00:01:11.211 We are forced to gather wood illegally from the forest. 00:01:11.211 --> 00:01:16.996 We face numerous difficulties cutting and collecting firewood from the community forest. 00:01:30.506 --> 00:01:36.000 Agriculture and animal rearing are our age-old traditional occupation and livelihood means. 00:01:36.330 --> 00:01:41.421 We sustain our livelihood through cattle rearing and poultry farming (hen and ducks). 00:01:41.421 --> 00:01:48.084 If the government supported us to enhance our traditional agricultural skills, it could make a significant impact. 00:01:48.084 --> 00:01:54.075 We currently lack opportunities that hinder our progress and participation. 00:01:54.263 --> 00:02:00.255 Without proper training and support to our traditional occupation, how can we move forward is the question we have. 00:02:03.962 --> 00:02:05.505 [loud, squeaky pumping sounds] 00:02:11.851 --> 00:02:17.214 I am Indigenous woman with a disability and I sell liquor for my livelihood. 00:02:19.097 --> 00:02:26.590 These are my traditional skills that I learned, and I make and sell liquor for the source of my livelihood. 00:02:26.590 --> 00:02:32.924 For this, we collect firewood and dry grasses from our land and forest. 00:02:35.089 --> 00:02:42.000 I am partially visually impaired, and it becomes more difficult for me to go to the forest and collect firewood. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:50.844 These days, most of the Indigenous people’s land and forests are encroached by the state and turned into the community forest. 00:02:50.844 --> 00:02:55.579 We are not allowed to collect firewood from the community forest. 00:02:55.579 --> 00:03:00.868 We have to buy it, which is expensive, so it impacts our economic condition. 00:03:02.641 --> 00:03:10.087 One bundle of firewood costs around Rs. 500 to 600, which isn’t even enough to make one gallon of liquor. 00:03:10.087 --> 00:03:13.109 This has created such a major problem for us. 00:03:16.597 --> 00:03:24.203 We are bound to stick to this occupation. We don’t have any other alternative, as we lack education and skills. 00:03:25.042 --> 00:03:28.491 As a woman with disability, finding a market is difficult 00:03:28.491 --> 00:03:33.266 and people doubt me when I go to sell liquor regarding the quality and ingredients. 00:03:34.635 --> 00:03:40.103 Additionally, there are many other problems that I face while answering these questions. 00:03:40.839 --> 00:03:46.569 The government staff and police often raid our homes and even take us to police custody. 00:03:46.952 --> 00:03:50.744 They ask to make label and destroy our liquor. 00:03:54.615 --> 00:04:03.214 These liquors are our lives, cultures and identity. It is essential for us to offer in birth, death, and in other rituals. 00:04:03.214 --> 00:04:07.257 If we don't offer it, we lose our culture, tradition and our rituals. 00:04:16.456 --> 00:04:24.391 Police ask us to label these Indigenous local liquors, but all other liquors in the shops are openly traded. 00:04:24.848 --> 00:04:29.366 And we Indigenous peoples make liquor from natural 00:04:29.366 --> 00:04:33.932 local Indigenous ingredients at home and it is considered illegal. 00:04:35.119 --> 00:04:38.860 This creates lot of obstacles and is very difficult for us. 00:04:43.961 --> 00:04:49.056 The traditional livelihood practices of Indigenous communities, to sustain their livelihoods 00:04:49.056 --> 00:04:55.908 such as skill-based agriculture, livestock rearing, wool weaving, liquor making 00:04:55.908 --> 00:05:01.038 which have been ongoing since ancient times, are now gradually disappearing. 00:05:01.038 --> 00:05:05.903 Both state and non-state actors have been displacing these practices. 00:05:05.903 --> 00:05:13.174 Consequently, today, we Indigenous people with disabilities face increased problems and dependency on others. 00:05:13.174 --> 00:05:20.282 To address these issues, the community, society and the state must promote and encourage 00:05:20.282 --> 00:05:25.147 traditional knowledge, skills, and livelihoods of Indigenous communities. 00:05:25.147 --> 00:05:30.711 In order to ensure that women with disabilities, particularly Indigenous women with disabilities, 00:05:30.711 --> 00:05:35.351 utilize their traditional knowledge and skills to sustain their livelihoods, 00:05:35.351 --> 00:05:40.910 it is essential that their environment is made easy, convenient, safe and accessible. 00:05:42.102 --> 00:05:46.862 Creating such an environment is the primary duty and responsibility of the state. 00:05:46.862 --> 00:05:52.675 Persons with disabilities and Indigenous persons with disabilities should be ensured 00:05:52.675 --> 00:05:59.937 accessible and sustainable environments that enhance their capacities to live a dignified life, 00:05:59.937 --> 00:06:03.338 comparable to their non-disabled counterparts. 00:06:03.338 --> 00:06:10.761 Thus, all the concerned stakeholders and duty bearers must play a crucial role in this regard. 00:06:13.352 --> 00:06:15.399 [joyful singing]