Kanchanpur, February 18

Residents of Chandani and Dodhara VDCs in Mahakali district have been carrying out financial transactions in Indian currency.

“With a population of 50,000, the two VDCs use Indian currency for daily transactions and trade at the local market,” said Chandra Luwar of Chadani VDC-3. According to Luwar, locals use the Indian currency to purchase goods, to buy and sell livestock. Local production, including milk and vegetables, go to Indian markets from Chadani and Dodhara.

Luwar added that traders even fixed the price in Indian currency. “The use of Nepali currency is very rare. More than 95 per cent of transaction happens in Indian currency,” said local Man Bahadur Rana. Due its proximity to India, most of the locals in the two VDCs speak Hindi. “Earlier, all the locals used to speak Hindi. But lately the number of Nepali speakers has slightly gone up,” adds Rana.

A local, Mohan Nepali, suggests that the reason for a high level of Hindi speakers is due to jobs. “People travel to the other side of the border to buy goods for daily use. People in these VDCs have been using Indian currency for ages”, Nepali said.

A suspension bridge is the only way to reach the two VDCs. “Locals go to India even when they have minor illness. Since locals rely on India for

almost everything, the use of Indian currency is widespread”, said local Prakash Chandra Madai.