While educational institutions, offices and marketplaces remained shut, vehicles remained off the streets. Wage-earners and street vendors were the hardest hit due to the banda. Republica talked to them to find out what they had to say about the banda. Excerpts:
Goma Karki from Okhaldunga (fruit-seller): I did not know about the banda today. Or else, I would not have come so early. It was raining heavily when I arrived here in the morning. But due to the banda, my business has badly been affected. I have only sold a bunch of litchis so far. I make around Rs 200 everyday, but today I don´t think I can make more than Rs 50. I have son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren at home. My son and daughter-in-law do not earn much, so I chip in. One cannot run a house from the income of a single person these days. I have been doing this for 26 years, but we have not been able to save much. Whatever I earn is spent on meeting the bare necessities. Banda doesn´t seem to affect the banda enforcers. It is only the poor people like us who suffer.
Babu Tamang from Ramechhap (rickshaw-puller): Today is our day. It is only during bandas that we make good money. For Thamel-Sundhara route, we generally charge Rs 100. But today, I did five trips and earned Rs 300 each. But I understand that banda is not good though. Some of my friends who own small businesses are always worried when there is a banda. I didn´t know anything about today´s banda until this morning. Nonetheless, I was happy as I earn more during bandas. People are ready to pay much higher today.
Jenisha Chaudhari (3rd grader): I am a third grader at Bishwo Niketan School. My school is closed due to Nepal banda. My mother works at a construction site. This is my brother, he is crying as he is looking for mom. But today she has asked me to look after him. I love to go to school. At home I have to take care of my brother and I do not like it when he starts crying.
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