It has been more than 25 years since I started sewing torn shoes and sandals sitting in the bus park. Today, people call it a small job, but I grew old in this job, my children grew up, and this has become a reliable means to feed my stomach even in my old age. I sew shoes. Age reached 72 years. The life is tired, it seems that until life ends, life is spent with the help of this needle, this thread.

I can't see as well as I used to, but I can still hold a needle with my fingers . And, I still sew shoes . This is my life, this is my karma. 

I live in Amargadhi Municipality-3 Joshina . The family was big, now the sons have separated, the daughters are also married. Now it's just me and my old lady . I eat breakfast from home before seven o'clock in the morning and leave for work . Sometimes I bring bread tied, sometimes I just leave . You have to pay 50 rupees auto fare to come from Joshina to the headquarters. Even when he returns in the evening, he will explain the same. A hundred rupees a day can be used to come and go. 

Sometimes the earnings are not at all, so I have made it a habit to bring snacks. Buspark Chhe has been my workplace for 25 years . I have laid a sack here . In it, there are other essential items such as thread, needle and thread. Customers come, some show torn shoes, some have broken shoelaces . I watch attentively, quietly put away and the customer happily pays the wages and goes on his way . Remembering the early days is amazing. I remember the first time someone gave me five rupees. Five rupees at that time was equal to 50 now. 

Many days of life have been starved and slept . The day I bring bread in the morning, I only drink tea in the afternoon . Sometimes there are days when customers are too many and earn 7/800 . On days like this, I like to eat meat, sometimes I even buy meat worth 200 rupees . We take 200 worth of meat home and eat it for the elderly . But the satisfaction of such a day is sweeter than its taste. This day doesn't come all the time, only 1/2 time in a month . Apart from this, normal food is always cooked at home . We have to wait for the festival to eat delicious food. However, if you leave work even during Chand Parva, you will not earn. 

I have three sons and two daughters. Send the daughter married, the son is busy with his household . are separate from us . They have no complaints . They just want to be able to take care of their families well. 

Sewing shoes requires a lot of materials . Thread, needle, thread etc . It costs up to 1000-1500 per month to buy goods . I can't leave work . If you don't hold a needle even for a day, it feels like life has stopped. This needle and thread is my life . 

Father and father also used to do the same thing . I didn't go to school, but this was the job. I took care of my mother, now I am taking care of myself and my wife . Sometimes not even 1 rupee is earned for the whole day . No one brings shoes to sew . I have returned home hungry these days. The body is weak, but the mind is still strong. Because I know - people should be able to be satisfied with their work . 

Even at this age, I am sitting in the bus park sewing shoes and slippers. I have always considered work as rest. I am sitting and working in this sack from 7 am to 5 pm. Some bring boots, some slippers, some shoes. I will return it completely. Sometimes they give up to 150 if they cut the boot. I get 50 rupees when I polish the shoes and return them. But earning 3/400 a day is not easy. 

How expensive is it, today earning 3/400 is not enough to buy salt, oil, soap, sugar, vegetables, rice. At such a time, the old age allowance given by the government has become a great support of life. I also understand old age allowance . If you get sick, if you have to have a check-up, the same money will be used.