Pahari Women Fight to Preserve Bamboo Weaving in Badikhel

In northern Badikhel, Pahari women continue to weave bamboo into nanglo, doko, and household items — a skill passed down through generations. But cheaper plastic alternatives and rising raw material costs are driving many to abandon the craft for daily wage labour.

The Badikhel Women's Union and Pahari Women Development Society are fighting back:

• Awareness programmes with local governments to promote bamboo products over plastic.
• A cooperative managing nearly NPR 2 million in bamboo product transactions.
• Training workshops where elder artisans teach younger women the weaving techniques.

Leaders say that without government policy support to promote indigenous skills, cultural programmes alone cannot reverse decades of market pressure. The goal is a sustainable livelihood system rooted in traditional craft.