Kathmandu, January 12
Around 2,200 industries have closed due to the India-imposed blockade and the Madhesh movement that the United Democratic Madheshi Front has been spearheading, industrialist Saurav Jyoti said on Tuesday. With industries, factories and businesses closed, more than four lakh workers have lost their jobs because of this, he said.
Jyoti said this at a programme that FNCCI had organised in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Also chair of the FNCCI’s Revenue Committee, Jyoti said: The Tarai-Madhesh has witnessed strikes for 152 days, 2,200 industries have closed. The economy is on a free fall.” He said entrepreneurs have been bearing daily loss of two billion rupees due to the movement in the Tarai-Madhesh. Jyoti said trade has gone down by 31 per cent and the gross domestic production has gone down by 0.9 per cent. The quake-hit national economy has suffered further due to the strikes and closures, he said, appealing all to find a way out sooner than later.
The quake affected 14 districts, but the strikes and closures have affected all 75 districts, he said. The quakes pushed seven lakh Nepalis below the poverty line, Jyoti said, adding that the strikes have put an additional seven lakh Nepalis below the line.
At the programme, Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel said the government is serious about solving the problems facing the private sector, appealing the sector to have patience. He claimed that the Madhesh stir will end soon.
