Shanti, who has been burning maize for 30 years, sells 180 snails a day.

लगानी न्यूज

२६ आश्विन २०८३, सोमबार १३:१४October 12, 2026

{{TAG_OPEN_div_32} Kathmandu. Shanti Shrestha, 59, of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City-16 has been running her household for the past three decades by burning maize. After the death of her husband, she has been taking care of the financial responsibility of the house and has made this profession the main basis of livelihood.

Shrestha’s daily routine starts early in the morning to buy green maize by reaching Bhavane, Morang. She drives from Dharan before the sun rises and goes there to buy green maize. When she returns to Dharan with maize, it is already 10 to 11 in the morning. After that, her daily starts burning and selling maize on the roadside near Laxmi Chowk in Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City-13. Shanti has been burning and selling maize for about 160 to 180 horses daily.TAG_OPEN_div_30

} For Shrestha, who has been in this profession for nearly three decades, selling maize has not only become a means of income but also a basis for making a living. While working by the roadside under the open sky, she has been continuing her profession despite enduring the sun and rain.

TAG_OPEN_div_26 Shrestha said, “If we do other work, we can’t do it, we can’t get work on the other side. Burning maize is also not easy. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it is sunny. It is difficult, but now we have become accustomed to enduring the sun and rain.” ”

} She has also taken maize fields in different places of Morang on contract and has been selling green maize in Dharan. She has been giving maize orchards from Rs 60,000 to Rs 150,000. She has also been supporting other friends in this work. Shrestha said, “It is a little cheaper to take a contract with friends, but it is not always profitable. Sometimes there is a loss and sometimes there is a profit. There is fluctuation in business.” ”

} She has been selling maize for Rs 15 to Rs 50 per stalk depending on the size. Shanti said that she earns Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 per month by deducting the cost of burning coal from this business. She said that she has been managing all the household expenses with the money received from the sale of maize.

} She said, “If you work, there will be no shortage of food. The household is running by burning maize. There is no person to earn in the house, I am the one who earns.” My daughter got married and went to her home. I got older, I got used to working, I don’t want to leave work and stay at home, I don’t want to leave work, I don’t want to leave work because it hurts. ”

Proud that he did not have to work with others to meet his daily household expenses because he continued to sell maize, he expressed his determination to continue this profession as long as his body could support him.

TAG_OPEN_div_16 Shrestha said, “I have become accustomed to doing this work. If I don’t go out to work for a day, I feel restless. It is difficult to spend time sitting at home. Just because I am old does not mean I should stay at home. My hands and feet are working, I have to work as much as possible. ”