MANANG, August 15: Since the past few years, Jagdish Pakhrin of Rasuwa has been working as a laborer in another mountainous district, Manang. Similaraly, Maya Gurung, Indra Bahadur Gurung and Muna BK of Gorkha, Arjun Pakhrin of Rasuwa among others are engaged in construction of houses, hotels, monasteries and even roads. Most of the workers involved in the construction works in Manang are earthquake victims. Hundreds of victims who were rendered homeless by the catastrophic earthquake of April 2015 are earning for their survival by doing labor work in Manang.

Especially, the victims from most affected districts like Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa and Nuwakot come to Manang in search of job. This district has been a great attraction for the earthquake victims as it offers plenty of job opportunities for them. It is easy to get job and they also get good pay for it. Twenty-seven months ago, Maya Gurung of Kerauja in Gorkha district not just lost her house but also her in-laws. Since then, she and her husband are trying their best to bring their life back to normal. Both of them are earning through labor Manang. According to her, Manang has been a good working destination for hundreds of people like them.   

Quake survivors are found not just in the district headquarters Chame but also in Bhratang, Bhraka, Pisang, Ghyaru Gaun, Manang Bazaar, Tankimang and in Khangsar too, informed Lokendra Ghale, chairperson of Chame Rural Municipality. He further informed that it is easy to get job in Manang as there are enough number of hotels, monasteries, farms and other businesses. 

Usually, laborers choose the work as per their skills and they get their payment as per the wage system. In a day, they earn between Rs 500 to 700. So, the monthly salary of women is at least Rs 15,000 while that of males is Rs 21,000 on an average.  Their salary depends on the working hour and the type of work they are doing. 

"We are busy working from dawn till dusk. So, there is no time for gambling or other such activities. That's why we are having a good saving as well," said Jagdish Pakhrin of Rasuwa, adding, "But we have to spend money on meat products and sometimes on drinks just to avoid cold."

Quake victims can also earn a lot of money by collecting yarsagumba, a prized aphrodisiac herb during its harvesting season. Nowadays, people won't have to walk for seven days to reach Manang. It takes just six hours to reach Manang from Besisahar, the district headquarters of Lamjung. Transportation facility has been a great relief for the locals as well as others.

 
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