Mahottari, April 15 : People from the Musahar community face numerous challenges for livelihood. Food stock is hardly sufficient to feed the family members. They are not able to even afford fuel from market to cook food, but wait desperately for spring season to collect fodder for fuel throughout the year.    
But, as others in her village, Bhuthhi Sada from Bhangaha rural municipality-4 in Mahottari is currently confined at home with the imposition of a nationwide lockdown since March 24 to stem the spread of coronavirus.    
The women from Musahar community including Bhutthi are desperate for the collection of dried leaves and tree branches for fuel. "The time from mid- March to mid- May is for collecting dried leaves and tree branches which we use throughout the year to cook food. But, this time we are stuck at home as we are told to move out of homes as the grave pandemic is around us,'' she said innocently.    
Sukani Sada of the Musahar community at Belgachhi of Gaushala municipality hopes the lockdown will be lifted after some time, but she is more worried of becoming unable to collect fuel for rest of the year. They used to even sell surplus materials to other farmers and make income. But these all have been halted with lockdown.    
Musahar people are considered the aboriginal dalit community in Tarai region and they face widespread poverty due to several reasons. The Musahar women have urged for making arrangements for firewood for them in addition to food assistance during this crisis.