LAHAN, Jan 2: A small thatched hut serves as the home for Shyam Devi Sadaya of Golbazar Municipality-10 Musahari Tol in Siraha. The family, consisting of four children and an elderly mother-in-law, endures the harsh cold by constantly living outside the house under the open sky. The bedding comprises a thin mattress laid on the cold floor, covered with wood on one side and straw on the other, topped with a thin straw carpet. The only source of warmth is an old cloth blanket. To shield against the winter, Shyam Devi wraps the old clothes of the house with straw, attempting to seal any openings in the roof.
Shyam Devi recounts nights spent sitting by the fire to combat the cold, a common practice during the chilly weather. The struggle to survive the cold is a persistent challenge for impoverished families, compelling them to burn straw to make makeshift mattresses.
The Musahari settlement in Golbazar-10, situated on the bank of the Ghurmi River, relies on tractor work for men and agricultural and daily wage labor for women. The residents face a dilemma between purchasing warm clothes and affording basic necessities like food. Jangli Sadaya from the slum expresses frustration, stating that the government has not taken any measures to protect the poor from the cold, and non-governmental relief remains elusive.
Blankets distributed to 200 poor and Dalit families
While firewood distribution campaigns are initiated at the local level during cold waves, these efforts primarily reach prosperous settlements, with limited impact on slums. Shyam Devi emphasizes the lack of attention from both organizations and the government towards slum areas.
The plight of Golbazar's poor slum dwellers reflects the broader challenges faced by the impoverished population in Madhesh. The lifestyle, from sleeping arrangements to clothing, mirrors that of the Golbazar settlement. The common thread is their reliance on labor for survival.
Annual cold waves claim lives among the poor in Madhesh. Lack of proper clothing and inadequate housing exposes residents of very poor slums to the harsh impact of cold waves. Financial constraints prevent them from affording thick clothing, leading people from the Dalit community to rely on 'ghur' for warmth. The absence of blankets and mattresses exacerbates their challenges during the winter season.
Residents assert that if the government had provided warm clothes and blankets when the cold wave started, lives could have been saved. Men and women in these slums, lacking the means to purchase warm clothes, endure the cold while doing household chores. In unbearable winters, they resort to straw fires for warmth, but the temporary relief is short-lived, and the cold persists.
The recent cold wave has significantly impacted life in various districts of Madhesh province, including Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Sirha, and Saptari. Reduced market activity, decreased attendance in schools, and a slowdown in businesses mark the impact of the cold wave. Despite efforts to combat the cold, the harsh weather takes a toll on the health of the population, leading to an increase in cases of colds, diarrhea, asthma, and fever.
While there is no reported loss of human life due to the cold wave, authorities are taking measures to distribute warm materials in collaboration with municipalities to alleviate the impact. The poor, particularly groups like Musahar, Chamar, and Dom, remain more vulnerable to the challenges posed by the ongoing cold wave.
