Rautahat, April 7 -- Until a decade ago, brick chimneys rose above almost every village in the central Tarai, the lowland region in parts of southern Nepal bordering India.

The air was thick with smoke, trucks queued up for deliveries, and each kiln bustled with around 200 workers labouring late into the night. Brick factories had become a vital source of income for the poor.

However, these operations are shutting down due to an economic downturn, causing thousands of workers to lose their jobs, as construction activities slow down across the country.

Out of 700 brick factories established in the eight districts of Madhesh province, only 314 are currently operational.

According to the Federation of Nepal Brick Industries, Madhesh prov...