Area: 3 districts (Banke, Bardiya and Dang)
Population: 1,230,869
Targeted districts: 3 districts, 2 municipalities, 69 village development committees
Sponsored children: Around 8,660 (70% are girls)

Plan’s Banke Programme Unit is located in Nepalganj,  the commercial centre for Nepal’s mid-western development region.  Situated on a plain and bordering India, it has a tropical climate. Around 85% of inhabitants rely on farming for their livelihood.

The average family income is 33,840 Rupees (US $470) per year. Plan Nepal works closely with children, youth, families and communities and has put immense effort into protecting children’s rights and improving lives. 

Programme highlights

Helping mothers to care for their children

Addressing the high incidence of child illness and improving the well-being of pregnant women are key initiatives of Plan Nepal in Banke district. Over 53,800 school children have received eye screening and training has increased the capacity of community health workers to prevent childhood illness and reduce child mortality rates. 

Female community health volunteers provide feedback to pregnant women’s groups on key behaviour critical for the survival of mothers and newborns. Pregnant women are provided with calcium tablets for healthy baby development.

Sanitation and a healthy environment

A community-led approach has achieved significant changes in hygiene and sanitation conditions in communities.  Good hygiene practices, community-managed water supply schemes, water safety plans, hygiene promotion, household water treatment and waste management are the key activities.

As a result, 16 communities have been declare their areas open defecation-free. 

Education for children of all abilities

Plan Nepal is supporting schools for children with disabilities so all children can realise their right to an education.

Blind children finally have access to education through Braille language and deaf children are being educated through sign language classes, benefiting a total of 59 blind children and 270 deaf children.

Similarly, many marginalised Dalit (so-called untouchables), Kamalari (bonded servitude girls) and bonded labourers’ children have received scholarships from Plan Nepal.

Kamalari abolition project – ensuring girls have freedom

Plan aims to abolish Kamalari practices  (the keeping of girls as slaves). The project has been successful in rescuing and reuniting 1,700 servitude girls with their families.
 
The project provided scholarships to these girls to study in formal schools. Some girls have received vocational training from Plan Nepal and have started small businesses.  

Freed Kamaiya livelihood project - helping labourers trapped by slavery

A person becomes a bonded labourer when their labour is demanded as a means of repayment for a loan. The person is then tricked or trapped into working for very little or no pay. The freed Kamaiya livelihood project is being implemented to improve the living conditions of 7,500 freed Kamaiya families (former bonded labourers, liberated in 2000).

The project helps them to retain their freedom, access financial services, receive training, develop market relationships and other livelihood support.

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