Dying of corona better than hunger: Kulfi seller

ABOUT 300 PEOPLE FROM AN UNNAO VILLAGE SELL KULFI IN TELANGANA BUT THEY WON’T RETURN HOME AS THEY DON’T WANT TO RELIVE THE LOCKDOWN HARDSHIP OF LAST YEAR.

LUCKNOW: Shiv Mangal, a kulfi (homemade ice-cream) seller from Pariyar village in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh plies his trade in the southern state of Telangana and is often heard saying “that he believes that it’s better to die of the coronavirus disease than hunger”.

This belief of the 29-year-oldkulfi-seller is perhaps what is stopping him and some 300 other co-villagers from returning to their home state Uttar Pradesh even when Covid-19 cases are increasing rapidly.

Shiv Mangal, who claims to be doing well as a kulfi seller in Telangana, said the hardship he faced during the lockdown and post-lockdown last year still haunt him.

“Sir garibi hamne dekhi hai (Sir, I have gone through a state of penury.) I don’t want to see it again. Neither do I want my children to face the same. I believe that it’s better to die of corona than hunger. Hence, this time we won’t be coming back as what we faced the last time still haunts me,” said Shiv Mangal, who had pedalled all the way back to Unnao, covering a distance of 1,220 km in six days during the lockdown. He had made it home on April 18, 2020.

“We were fortunate enough to reach our destination. There were many who never reached their destination. Some met with accidents, some died of hunger. And the post-lockdown blues were the most horrible when we were left with no work and no money,” he said. He said UP had less job opportunities and the remuneration, too, was low here. Hence, they were forced to work in other states to meet the financial needs of their family members, he added.

“In Telangana, the demand for ice-cream is quite high and so is the income. However, in UP, there is a lot of competition and the income is too low,” said Shiv Mangal, who has been selling ice-cream since the age of 14.

Besides, he said, “Our village head did offer us some work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), but that doesn’t suit us. I was left with no work and no money post lockdown, which reminded me of my childhood days when we were living in extreme poverty. I don’t want my family to suffer the same.”

Ram Sajeevan Pal, the village head of Pariyar, said about 300 people from his village were engaged in the kulfi business in Telangana. “Unlike last time, when Covid fear made them come back home, this time no one is returning. They say the amount they earn in the other state is far more than what others get in UP. This is the reason why they refused the offer of a job card under MNREGA, saying Rs 201 a day is too less for them to meet the family expenses,” said Pal.

The kulfi-sellers say they are well stocked with essential supplies to deal with adversities of all kinds.

Some of them have also bought 4G enabled smart phones for their family members to be in touch, at least through video calls, in times of need.