| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 Nepal | 1,470,010 (5.04% of Nepal's population) (2021)[1] |
| Languages | |
| Tiuni Rudiko (kami Vasa or Sunar Vasa),Nepali language (Khas kura) | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism 96.35% (2011),Christianity (3.39%) (2011)[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Khas people,Darjee,Badi,Sarki,Gandarbha/Gaine | |
Kami is anIndo-AryanNepali-speaking group that primarily worked asmetalsmiths.[3] Later Nepal abolished its grading system.[4] The tribal designation ofKhas is given in some contexts.theGovernment of Nepal legally abolished the caste-system and criminalized any caste-based discrimination, including "untouchability" (the ostracism of a specific caste) - in the year 1963A.D.[5]
Caste-based discrimination and violence are a grim reality of Nepali society with numerous people losing their lives due to racially motivated mobs.[6] Both the Government and many other INGO are working hand-in-hand in order to uproot the problem by targeting grassroot issues such as education, awareness and employment.[7]
In the 21st century, the economic status of this group rapidly increased. They live in hilly or mountainous districts of Nepal and in the Indian areas ofAssam,Sikkim andDarjeeling District.[citation needed]
The2011 Nepal census classifies the Kami within the broader social group of HillDalit.[8] At the time of the Nepal census of 2011, 1,258,554 people (4.8% of the population of Nepal) were Kami. The frequency of Kami by province was as follows:
The frequency of Kami was higher than national average (4.8%) in the following districts:[9]
According to the 2001 Nepal census, 895,954 Kami inhabited the country, among which 96.69% wereHindus and 2.21% wereChristians. Kami makes up 4.8% of Nepal's population (or 1,258,554 people) according to the survey of 2011.[8]
Common surnames (Thar-थर) include B.K., Rasaily, Sunar,Silwal, Diyali, Lohar, Gajmer, Khati, Sirwal, Baraili, Laamgade, Gadal, etc. Their surnames are similar to the Brahmins of Nepal. These surnames are used by Nepali community living in the different parts of India basically in North East States, Sikkim Darjeeling, Tarai and Dooars. InWest Bengal these surnames are brought under Scheduled Caste. But in other states like Assam the people of Kami Community are not included in Scheduled Caste.[8]
The primary occupations includesilversmith,ironsmith,goldsmith. Products include idols, weapons, and shields were also produced by these people in the past. Majority of the community were illiterate and had poor economical status in the past. As the democracy established in country many of them are engaged in business activity improving their socio-economic status.[citation needed]
| Sino-Tibetan (Trans-Himalayan) |
| ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indo-Aryan |
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| Indo-Aryan of adistinct origin | |||||||||
| Other peoples (M,D,i) ofIndus-Ganga |
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| Other basis |
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| Immigrants | |||||||||
