Tika R Pradhan

Kathmandu, February 7:

Prakash Lawar, 24, is a tailor who works in the streets of Khasibazar. He keeps his sewing machine at a nearby tea-shop in the evenings and returns to his rented room with a dream to lead a better life. Sometimes he earns enough to buy two meals but at times he is compelled to satisfy himself with only one. For the past nine years, this youth from Jhapa, is earning his living at Khasibazar — average income being Rs 50 a day. Political leadership changed many times and promised to do a lot for the welfare of people like him but his life has not changed.

He stitches clothes and quilt covers besides minor mending work.

On may occasions has been insulted for working in the street. “People undermine our profession which I dislike the most,” he said.

Prakash has a number of woes to share. There are a host of others like him near Dharahara at Sundhara who share a similar fate. One can find a row of people sewing clothes here.

According to Rajan Lawar, who stitching badges at Khasibazar, estimates that over 1,000 people work in the streets.

Among them is Man Bahadur Nepali, who originally hails from Melum of Dolakha district. “We are living a difficult life. We have to buy food on credit when there is no work,” he said. He can’t even afford to buy a sewing machine.

These street tailors are harassed by the metropolitan police. “Sometimes we have to flee with our heavy machines for fear of cops.”

Rajan says that the government which cannot provide jobs to its citizens does not have the right to harass those earning their bread in the streets. He was referring to the civic employees, who quite often swoop on them and seize their sewing machines and charge Rs 500-1000 as fine.

Another tailor, Ashish Mahat, is fortunate enough as he has never been harassed by anyone. Only a few reporters had approached him for interviews to share his plight. “We would like to request the concerned authorities to provide working place as we have to pay a rent of Rs 600 to stay in the streets,” he said.

Dinesh Pariyar of Dalit Sewa Sangh said that no Dalit organisation has worked for their welfare except for using them whenever they are needed. Hundreds of such self-employed people can be seen working on busy streets in Old Bus Park, Bagbazar, Dhobidhara, Dillibazar, Kalanki, Chabahil, Patan, Lagankhel, among others.