SAHAS

Promoting Economic and Social Conditions of People with Disability in the Madhesh Province of Nepal (SAHAS Project)

Despite legal frameworks promoting inclusivity, persons with disabilities in Nepal continue to face widespread exclusion from education, employment, and basic services—especially women with disabilities, who encounter intersecting layers of discrimination. In Madhesh Province, which has the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) score (0.519) among the seven provinces of Nepal, people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to poverty, unemployment, and social marginalization.

The SAHAS Project, funded by the City of Vienna and ADRA Austria, is being implemented in Aurahi, Bardibas, and Bhangaha municipalities of Mahottari district. The project seeks to empower 70 persons with disabilities (PWDs) and strengthen the capacity of local institutions, including Organizations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) and municipal governments, to foster inclusive economic development and gender equality.

The project aims to promote sustained and dignified livelihoods for people with disabilities through skills development, enterprise support, gender-transformative approaches, and inclusive advocacy mechanisms. It aligns with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by taking a rights-based approach to disability inclusion and economic resilience.

stories

Gaining Independence through Enterprise

Koshila Devi, 40, from Mahottari district, lives with a physical disability and her husband also has a disability and cannot speak. For years, the couple survived on irregular daily wage labour to support their three children. With no land or steady income, life was a constant struggle.

Through ADRA’s SAHAS Project, Koshila received enterprise training and support with a business plan tailored to her skills and local market. With an initial NRP15,000 investment, ($105) she bought utensils and ingredients to start a small snack business. From a mud stove in their one-room home, she and her husband now prepare pakodas, samosas, and chatpate, selling them outside their house.

Now earning about NRP500 ($3.50) daily, Koshila feels empowered, working within her abilities and managing her own income. She is looking to reinvest and prepare snacks for festivals to increase her earnings. After some time running the business, she will also receive another NRP5000 ($35) investment in the business, helping her build a more secure future for her family.