A single day shutdown causes a loss of Rs 870 million to the non-agricultural sector and about Rs 1 billion in total, said speakers at a recent talk program \'Banda and its impact to economy'. Dr Shanker Sharma, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission said 40 percent of the rural population is affected by bandas and nearly 1.7 million households who depend on daily wages suffer. In addition, there is incalculable loss to the economy from cancellations of tour groups, trekking and climbing expeditions. "Bandas and strikes not only cause a day-to-day loss but also hinder foreign investment in the longer run," he added. Mohan Man Sainju, vice-chairman at the Poverty Alleviation Fund, said that the practice of shutdowns should be replaced by other means of protests. "There is a need to give momentum to the economy and bandas only deteriorate it," Sainju said.