With all major public and private events being cancelled in the wake of the unprecedented floods in Kerala, small entrepreneurs in sound-and-light business, many of whom had made available their service free of charge at relief camps, are now in dire straights. Business has nosedived to a third of what it was earlier, say entrepreneurs.
The crisis has also affected hundreds of technicians who work closely with small-scale investors. Mike operators are hardly in demand, and so are those involved in stage and light arrangements. Since most of them have been earning their living from this field for years now, they are at a loss to find an alternative to temporarily manage the situation.
“There are 22 persons, including technicians and associated workers, to manage my light-and-sound company. With frequent cancellation of events, we are struggling a lot. We used to get good returns during this season,” says O.K. Abdul Naseeb, who runs a shop at Mukkom. Celebrations could be organised in such a way so as to support relief work, but many are afraid of facing public criticism, he adds.
Mr. Naseeb has been engaged in the trade since his school days. He had invested around ₹50 lakh to purchase equipment for the venture. Like him, there are over 3,000 such entrepreneurs working under the Light and Sound Welfare Association of Kerala in Kozhikode district alone, who are waiting for things to look up.
The State government’s call to postpone or give up celebrations has even affected the conduct of wedding parties. Organisations known for hosting big cultural events during festivals are now least interested in taking up such initiatives. Celebrations aimed at mobilising aid for relief purposes are also minimal.
The uncertainty over the conduct of the school arts festival has also come as a shocker for many entrepreneurs in the sector. Some are also victims of the recent floods and are struggling to find a source of income to manage the crisis.
“My shop at Kakkodi had a narrow escape from the floodwaters. As business has come to a standstill, all my workers have gone home. There is no scope for resuming business during this season,” says Rithvik Sunil, a light-and-sound entrepreneur.