Venturing into masonry will improve women’s income and help them challenge traditional gender roles

Binod (Bhim) Shakya, a repousse artist, abandons his hammer and chisel and goes to sleep on the floor, propping his head against a wooden block when he can’t make sense of work. The 41-year-old artist says it’s his thing to do when he becomes muddled in his head and doesn’t know how to proceed.

Aiti Tamang, 24, blinks as the smoke stings her eyes, while she blows at the fire with a piece of polythene pipe. The smoke clouds her tarpaulin tent as she bends down blowing some more, and then curses.