Surkhet, March 18 -- The Raute community, endangerd nomadic tribe in Nepal, is facing an existential crisis as the number of single women in the settlement continues to rise. Data since 2018 show that 17 women have become single-many at a very young age-due to a combination of widespread alcohol abuse among men and restrictive traditional customs.

In Raute culture, remarriage is strictly forbidden for women. Once widowed, a woman is expected to remain single for the rest of her life, regardless of her age at the time of her husband's death.

"The problem is compounded by the practice of child marriage," said Durga Khatri, a worker at the Social Service Centre (SOSEC) Nepal, who has been working closely with the community. "Girls are ofte...