Efficiency of Water Users' Association of Lepcha Community in Construction of Irrigation Canal: Evidence from Rong Rural Municipality of Nepal

Lepcha tribe belongs to a minority and socially discriminated group in our society. The Government of Nepal as well as the local government has made various efforts to boost their socio-economic condition. However, despite the government's input, the Lepcha tribe hasn't fully been able to raise their economic status. Thus, this study is carried out to assess the efficiency of Water Users? Association of Lepcha Community on Construction of Irrigation Canal. The objectives of the study is to assess the socio-economic condition of the Lepchas and to analyse the factors influencing the efficiency of Water Users' Association of Lepcha community as a case study in Rong Rural Municipality of Ilam district, Nepal. This study is based on primary as well as secondary data obtained from field survey of 16 households in 2019. The Lepcha community of the particular study area are not economically stable however, they are hopeful that the canal they constructed will now raise their household income through agriculture. The efficiency of the WUA depended on a number of factors like their family income, their occupation, the technical assistance and support from Small Irrigation Programme and Rong Rural Municipality. It is recommended that the local government provide as many agricultural extension services to the community to boost their crop productivity as just the construction of canal alone is not the only necessary tool for development of the study area.