THE YAKHA: CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN ...

parma workers was a source of extra anxiety. However, in its
flexibility the system might have had advantages even for these people.
Other Sources of Income
Agricultural labour like this was the most reliable but (apart from
ploughing) least lucrative way of earning extra income. By working as a
carpenter, builder or similar, for example, a man could earn up to 35
NRs (70p) a day depending on skills. Another option was portering,
Rates varied depending on the time of year (porters could generally
command higher wages during the summer because there were fewer
available), the load to be carried and for whom one was doing it. The
standard rate for portering from Basantapur to Tamaphok was 1M NRs
(about 3p) per kilo. As one man put it, you could earn 100 NRs (£2)
carrying a lahur i (ret ired so 1 d i er) ' s belongings to Basantapur, whereas
you would only earn 10 NRs (20p) from a day in the fields. Yet we met
Tamaphok residents carrying 50kg bags of fertilizer from Basantapur to
Madi Rambeni for the Co-operative Society there; they were only going to
be paid 100 NRs each for two days work.
A few families sold alcohol, One family took advantage of their
posit ion near the main path (mu1 b6To) from Basantapur to Madi Mulkharka
to sell cuha and raksi to travellers, and were said to make up to 30 NRs
(60p) a day. Other households sold raksi through the Brahmin-run tea-
shop. Sometimes a few women were to be seen sel ling raksi at pub1 ic
events, such as big panc6vat meetings. Other women made money for
themselves (pevako kBm) through other small business ventures such as
weaving mats and cloth for shawls and Topi (caps), However, in no
household did this appear to be a major source of income.