Raju Nepal is a 43-year-old street vendor, who sells pears and custard apples to the passersby. He brings the fruits from Kalimati in bulk.
Originally from Hetauda, he currently lives in Damkal Galli with his wife and four children. Raju got married some 18 years ago and has been selling fruits on the streets for about 17 years now. “Earlier, I used to work in a hotel. I could not go to school because both my parents died when I was still young. I raised myself amid harsh situations. I wish nobody has to go through the kind of struggle that I faced,” he shared. This is why, Raju said, he admitted his kids to a government school.
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Although his wife sells fruits in some other place, he said their earning is not enough to sustain a family of six. When asked about his life and struggles, Raju said, “Living in Kathmandu with a big family is difficult because everything here is expensive. My lack of education has added to the struggle as I cannot find any well-paid job.” His future plan is to find a work that pays enough to feed his family.
The government's decision to completely remove street vendors from the streets of Kathmandu city from August 31 has worried Raju.
