A Vendor’s Hope

KATHMANDU: Dhoona Singh, a 61-year old fruit seller outside Civil Mall, has an eight-member family in Matihari, India.

He has worked hard selling fruits in Nepal just so he can earn enough money to send back home. But while trying to make a honest living, he is constantly harassed by the officers of the Kathmandu Municipality Office but over the years, he has learnt to hide from them. He used to set his stall at Kalimati during his first few years in Kathmandu, but with an excessive influx of vendors from across the valley, he was forced to move out.

He found refuge at roadsides but to make matters worse, he has been constantly hounded by Municipality officers make his move and pay Rs.1000-1200. To avoid the officers now, he sits next to shops outside Civil Mall and earns more than Rs.500 every day.