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The lockdown has forced people to go for occupational change. Roadside carpenters, scrap dealers and barbers left jobless in recent weeks due to lockdown have now opted for hawking vegetables in residential colonies, giving a stiff challenge to routine hawkers.
Chunnu was a carpenter before lockdown was enforced. He worked from a roadside shop and used to fix sofas, repair chairs and other furniture and earned between Rs 400 and Rs 500 per day. But things changed after the lockdown was imposed.
“After being told that I cannot open my shop, I stayed home for a few days. After I exhausted my savings, my friend suggested that I should sell vegetables in residential colonies as people were afraid to come out. That is what I am doing now,” he said.
Chunnu now earns Rs 200 per day but pays Rs 50 as rent for the cart. “Still, I am earning something which can take care of my family of two kids, wife, mother and two younger brothers,” he said.
Similarly, Rafiq was a scrap dealer before March 25. He used to visit colonies, purchasing old newspapers and scraps, including coolers, machines etc.
“I have been in the scrap business for more than a decade. After lockdown, I opted for selling fruits and vegetables on a cycle-cart. From the savings I purchased vegetables and now I sell them in the same colony where I used to buy scrap,” Rafiq (27) said.
Even Mudassar, a barber working from a roadside shop in Bhoothnath market, has opted to sell vegetables in the nearby residential colonies.
But goings have not been easy for them and problems have now started cropping up.
Hawkers, who have been in the business and selling in the area, have started objecting to this ‘intrusion’ by ‘outsiders’. They even complained to the local corporator and the police.
“These people have switched to this business as the state government has announced financial help for hawkers and roadside sellers. Recently, Rs 1,000 each was sent into the accounts of daily wagers and these guys have been eyeing this money,” said Mahipal, a regular vegetable vendor.
He admitted that their daily business had suffered due to the newbies.
The second problem the new vendors have been facing is that majority of buyers distancing themselves due to their faith. Majority of the new vendors are Muslims and they say that non-Muslims are avoiding them as videos have gone viral showing Muslim sellers spitting on vegetables and fruits.
“Many Hindu buyers hesitate to purchase fruits and vegetables from us. It is not the case with all Hindus but some ask our name before making the purchase. Some start conversing with a ‘Ram Ram’ salutation and when we do not respond, they ask ‘Musalman hai kya’ and then walk away,” said Rafiq.
A video has gone viral asking vendors to come with their identity cards while in another video, people are seen discussing purchase of goods only from Hindu vendors.