Thatched huts dominate the settlements near the Sonapur market along the Koshi Highway in Sunsari district. Kehiyani Rishidev, 60, who lives in the area, was collecting snails to be cooked for dinner on Monday.

 

With the prices of vegetables going through the roof, due to a continuous strike, she has been collecting snails for curry for the last few days.

 

"Our problems have been growing with each passing day because of the on-going strikes," said Kehiyani. "We have not been able to earn any wages as there is no work."

 

She used to earn around Rs 500 per day, which was enough to feed her family. "Bandas deprive us of the chance to earn any money, making our life difficult."

 

Ward-3 and 8 of Sonapur and ward-13 of Itahari are populated by laborers. There are at least 800 households in those areas, with 90 percent of the families surviving on daily wages. The area inhabited by members of the Rishidev community alone has around 200 houses, with most of them dependent on daily wages.

 

Shankarini Rishidev, who is also from the same village, said she has run out of items of daily need. As even the nearby shops have remained closed for the past many days, she said she will have nothing left to cook from Wednesday if the strikes continue.

 

Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee and Madhesi Morcha have been organizing banda in the Tarai districts for the last 18 days.

 

The series of bandas has worsened the problems of laborers who depend on daily wages for survival from day to day. Since Tuesday, the protesters have also shut down some factories operating between Khanar and Duhabi.

 

"The government and protestors should start negotiations to diffuse this crisis situation," said Shiva Narayan Shah, who works in a factory in Sunsari.