Some sociocultural consequences of transportation development in the Jiri Valley, Nepal

The once isolated Jiri Valley of this hilly region of eastern Nepal came into prominence as a result of a Swiss developmental project. The Swiss Association for Technical Assistance (SATA) initiated a multi-purpose development project in 1957. At this time, the Swiss government and His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HGM) began to expend a tremendous amount of effort to develop the area, with such enterprises as the building of the Lamosangu-Jiri road, agricultural development, health care, and education. The Swiss took the initiative in this effort and they supplied funds and planning for the development projects. Interestingly the Jirels as the indigenous population of the Jiri Valley were not given a role in determining priorities during the project implementation phase. The primary idea was that the Jirels would benefit along with everyone else in the area by participating in the local infrastructural development as labourers and lower level office workers etc. While the Swiss project was in its initial stages, a major change took place in the political system of Nepal, from a multi-party system to the Panchyat System.