Dumkhal

Dumkhal is a village development committee (VDC) located in the Khotang District of Province No. 1 in eastern Nepal. VDCs were the lowest level of local government in Nepal before being replaced by municipalities and rural municipalities in 2017. As such, Dumkhal no longer functions as an administrative unit.

Historically, Dumkhal was responsible for local-level administration, resource management, and development activities within its defined geographical area. These responsibilities included tasks such as maintaining local infrastructure (roads, schools, irrigation systems), managing natural resources, providing basic services (health posts, sanitation), and implementing government programs.

The population of Dumkhal, like other VDCs in Khotang, primarily consists of various ethnic groups, including Rai, which is the dominant ethnic group in the district. Agriculture is the main occupation, with rice, maize, and millet being the primary crops cultivated. Livestock farming is also a significant part of the local economy.

The transition from VDCs to municipalities and rural municipalities aimed to create more effective and accountable local government structures. While Dumkhal itself no longer exists as an administrative unit, the area it encompassed is now part of a larger local government body within the federal structure of Nepal. Understanding its former role helps contextualize the current administrative landscape of the region.