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🇳🇵 Nepal /Culture & Society

They sang on Kathmandu’s streets to survive. The city silenced the music

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Visually impaired street performers in Kathmandu are struggling to survive after authorities began restricting their performances.
  • Performers, who relied on singing for income, face eviction and lack of alternative livelihood options.
  • They are protesting to demand livelihood guarantees and proper arrangements from the state.

Shivaraj BK, who is visually impaired, came to Kathmandu two years ago to study and work. Unable to find local employment due to his disability, he turned to singing on the streets for about a year and a half. The income, around 10,000 Nepalese rupees a month, covered his tuition, rent, and food.

The police and municipal officers chase us away wherever we sit. I started singing on the streets because I could not find any other job. Now, even that has been stopped. I don’t know how I will manage my expenses.

— Shivaraj BKDescribing the impact of recent restrictions on street performances.

However, recent restrictions on street performances by police and municipal officers have left him and others like him struggling. "The police and municipal officers chase us away wherever we sit," Shivaraj said. "I started singing on the streets because I could not find any other job. Now, even that has been stopped. I don’t know how I will manage my expenses."

He also faced rejection when trying to find work singing in restaurants and hotels, with establishments citing his visual impairment. "I sing well. I approached several hotels and restaurants to perform live music, but I was not hired," he stated. "I had no choice but to sing on the street."

I sing well. I approached several hotels and restaurants to perform live music, but I was not hired. I had no choice but to sing on the street.

— Shivaraj BKExplaining his difficulty finding formal employment.

Visually impaired street performers and informal workers have been staging a five-day sit-in protest at Maitighar Mandala, demanding livelihood guarantees. They argue they have been forced off the streets without any alternative arrangements for housing, food, or income. Among the protesters is a blind couple, Man Bahadur Thapa and Sarita Chaudhary, who earned between 500 and 700 rupees daily by singing and selling incense sticks. They reported being detained multiple times by police and municipal officers, who told them they were not allowed to earn money this way. "Since we cannot see, our only means of income was singing and selling incense sticks," Man Bahadur said. "We were driven out without any alternative."

Since we cannot see, our only means of income was singing and selling incense sticks. We were driven out without any alternative.

— Man Bahadur ThapaExpressing the hardship faced by visually impaired performers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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