A daily-wage laborer, Mal Bahadur had hoped to return home soon and resume his work after getting timely treatment for his daughter. However, the indefinite, district-wide strike enforced by the locals of Jajarkot have dashed his hopes of getting his daughter to hospital on time. Jajarkot locals have been taking to the streets demanding an intact Karnali province. Their so-called "protests for people's benefit" have caused immense hardship instead, complained Mal Bahadur."We have to spend Rs 600 daily at the eateries in Khalanga. That wouldn't have been necessary had there not been any district-wide shutdown," he said in annoyance. "I'm afraid the money I brought for my daughter's treatment is not going to suffice."
The situation of Durga Kumari Shahi of Dolpa is no different. Her husband, who has been working abroad since the past eight months, had sent her some remittance money and she has to reach Surkhet to claim the amount. However, like Mal Bahadur, she is stuck in Khalanga. "I suffer from an abdominal malady and my husband sent me the money for my treatment and for household expenses. But all I can do now is wait for the shutdown to be called-off," she said.
The shutdown has affected not only people like Durga and Mal Bahadur. Shopkeepers, entrepreneurs and the general public in Jajarkot have been hit hard as well. Mamata Rana of Khalanga-8, who had reached the bazaar in Khalanga Friday to buy salt, oil and other daily necessities, was forced to return empty-handed as none of the shops were open. "I'm tired of visiting the market every day. We have hardly any stock of food remaining. When will the shutdown end and we can heave a sigh of relief?" she wondered.
Bhadra Wali, a local trader, complained of the halt to his business and was very critical of the shutdown. "Customers knock at my door at night requesting goods of daily necessity. However, I can be of no help as I do not have any stocks left," he said. "None of the traders here are able replenish their stocks due to the ongoing strike."
Similarly, hotel operaters have also been hit hard by the unavailability of supplies. "Those responsible for supplying our stocks are totally committed to the strike. It's not possible to cater to our customers," said, Bir Bahadur Khadka, a hotel entrepreneur in Khalanga.
Even the shutdown enforcers have admitted to facing numerous hardships because of their own action although they said "the shutdown is for their own betterment". "We ourselves are the victims of the shutdown. Despite such protests, stakeholders haven't paid heed to our demands," said Deep Bahadur Gharti, a local. "It has only prevented laborers from earnings their daily bread and many households from lighting their kitchen fires."
Due to the district-wide shutdown that has continued for the firth day straight, 90,000 students of 431 community schools have been deprived of classes and seven private schools are also unable to operate. Public transport, government services, businesses and offices have come to a grinding halt.
Despite all this, the locals are determined to continue with their agitations until their demands are met.
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