The Raute family could not observe Laxmi pooja and Dipawali due to lack of expenses require for it.
Tihar was not a festival for us this year as we could not celebrate it because we did not receive the elderly citizen´s allowance on time, said Lalbir Raute, who lives on a tent in the Siddha Community Forest.
Even ensuring two meals a day for my family is difficult, forget about celebrating Tihar, he said.
Likewise, Bhawani Singh Dhami of Mataina said they have been borrowing from villagers to make their ends meet.
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