Even if the work is certain, it is not certain that you will earn this much by sewing shoes and sandals all day
My residence is in Bhimadat Municipality-11 Bhujela. I am 55 years old. I could not say that I was tired any day. Every day at 9-10 in the morning I ride an old bicycle to Mahendranagar market. All day I sit in Madan Chowk and sew shoes. I return home in the evening.
When I started this work, Madan Chowk, the center of Mahendranagar market, had some paved and some unpaved roads. From that time, I started doing such work sitting in Madan Chowk. Earlier, a camp was built for the cobblers to live on the side of the road. Now there is no place to pour after breaking the wall. There are many problems when the sun is hot and it rains.
It's been 20 years since this work . So, even if my work is certain, it is not certain that I will earn this much by cutting shoes and sandals all day long. On the same day, the income is up to 2/300. Sometimes after earning 20/30 rupees, you have to return home disappointed. After coming to the square, the day is cut even if it is by gossiping with friends. It is easy to manage household expenses with a large income.
Although it is not like a full-time job, I am delivering food and snacks for my husband, wife and five children. Two sons and one daughter who studied general literature are unemployed. They have been sitting at home for so long. A daughter and a son are studying in the first semester of the first year under the bachelor's degree at the central campus of Sudurpaschim University. 8/10,000 fee per month for children, they need to spend on books, copy and pen .
It is not easy for us to teach children. Again, since I don't have my income, I can't even teach in the chosen place. In today's age, I am teaching my children even though I have to borrow money to educate them. If the loan is added every year, it becomes unpayable. With my only earnings, I have to pay for salt, oil, greens, vegetables and sometimes the cost of my children's books.
Now the price of 25 kilos of rice has reached around 2500 . Even eating a single green vegetable should not cost one hundred/one and a half hundred rupees . After working all week, one kilo of chicken meat needs 4/500 rupees. 25 rupees of salted rice has reached . There is no schedule to buy new clothes . If possible, they will change during Dasain, otherwise they will work in their old clothes . Sometimes I avoid to hide my shame and make a living . As there is little land, there is no need to buy paddy and wheat throughout the year .
Before I started sewing shoes and slippers, I used to go to India and wash dishes in a hotel. Since there was no good income there, I started doing this work at home . I can also make nice leather shoes if I have time . But that requires investment . Now the family is not even able to meet their daily expenses . From where to raise investment ?
If I had some money, I would rent a room somewhere and start making leather shoes . I used to add unemployed sons to it. After that, the income of the family increased . My skills would also come in handy . But now it's just a dream. I am getting old thinking about this.
Even now, it would be better if there was a proper arrangement for living on the roadside where we live. If there is too much sun, you should take the help of an umbrella . It's the same when it rains. In the dry season, it is difficult to work without a place to stay. It would be better if the government made proper arrangements for our accommodation.
presentation: Bhavani Bhatt
