mugu

Mugu District is located in far North West Nepal. With three quarters of the land at an elevation of 3,000m or above, it is known as one of the most remote parts of the country as well as one of the least accessible. Monsoon rains in the summer and snow in the winter restrict vehicle movement to Gamgadhi which is the centre of Mugu.

Despite being home to the largest lake in Nepal [Rara Lake], Mugu District has the unenviable tag of being having the lowest Human Development Index figure in Nepal. Limited at best would describe community access to electricity, clean drinking water, higher education opportunities and health facilities.

With only 5% of the land being cultivable, people have to work hard to provide enough food for their families, with many family members having to migrate seasonally, South to India, to earn additional income to survive. With much of a household’s energy spent on basic necessities of obtaining food and water, education is often neglected, highlighted by the fact that only 37% of females can read and write.

INF began its work in Mugu in 2001 addressing health concerns of the most marginalised and poor by setting up Community Health and Development http://www.inf.org/infs-work/community-health-development/ and Community Based Rehabilitation [http://www.inf.org/infs-work/community-based-rehabilitation/] programmes. INF is also addressing poverty by assisting 146 Self-Help Groups through provision of loans to help set up income generating work.
• Population of approximately 55,000
• 20% of children are severely underweight
• In 2009 the life expectancy of Mugu people was 44 years 

Download a detailed factsheet https://www.inf.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/factsheet-MUGU.pdf