Bamboo craft training creates income opportunities for families of people with disabilities in Bardiya

Bardiya, September 21, 2026 — Families of people with disabilities in Bardiya have found a new source of income through training in bamboo craft production.

The Disability Rehabilitation Center in Bardiya recently provided a month-long training program, benefiting 20 individuals and their family members from across the district.

Sita Chaudhary of Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality-9 has spent two decades caring for her husband, who sustained a total disability following an accident. Her caregiving responsibilities previously prevented her from pursuing regular employment.

She said she is optimistic that the skills gained through the training will help her earn an income. “I believe this skill will become a source of income,” she said.

Similarly, Deviram Tharu, who has been caring for his mother for eight years, said he can now produce items such as stools, prayer baskets and hangers from home.

The training was supported by RRN, DGM Nepal and the ABLIS Foundation, with participants from Gulariya, Bansgadhi, Barbardiya and Badhaiyatal.

According to Netra Sapkota, chairman of the Disability Rehabilitation Center, Bardiya has 17,000 people with disabilities, including approximately 5,000 people living with total disabilities.

“If provided with skills and opportunities, people with disabilities can become self-reliant,” Sapkota said.

The center has committed to managing the marketing of finished products. Efforts are also underway to source raw materials from local community forests.

By focusing on home-based skills, the initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on families providing full-time care for their loved ones while promoting environmentally friendly production.