Hubballi: A group of carpenters from Gujarat comes to Hubballi every year, earning livelihood by making and selling cricket bats for about seven months. They return to their native state during the rainy season. This has been the practice for the past 20 years for them. However, this year has been harsh on them due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
The pandemic has hampered their business. Struggling to get food, these carpenters are seeking help from the authorities to go back to their native place.
Nanakabhai Babubhai, 60, a resident of Khanjari in Kheda district, Gujarat, is one of the carpenters visiting Huballi for 20 years. He said that the fears over coronavirus affected their business before March, when the sales pick up. Every year, the carpenters from Gujarat stay in Hubballi from December to June and sell about 5,000 cricket bats, ranging from Rs 150 to Rs 300, in each shop. But this time, the makeshift shops in front of the KIMS Hospital lack enough customers. This year, 17 people came to Hubballi with raw material of over Rs 1 lakh for three shops, said Nanakabhai.
“After the sudden lockdown, we found it very difficult to get food as shops were not open. In the beginning, a few people gave us rice and other items. Sometimes, police gave us readymade food and now we are purchasing essential items from a grocery shop on credit as we don’t have money right now with us,” said Nanakabhai, who brought his son and nephew to Hubballi this time.
Nanakabhai said half of his family is in Gujarat where the condition is worsening. “I’m much concerned about my family there and want to go back to my village,” he said.
Hubballi Urban tahsildar Shashidhar Madyal said the officials will visit provide necessary help to the carpenters. “If they wish to go back to their village, their names will be registered. Till that time, they will get food kit,” he added.
The pandemic has hampered their business. Struggling to get food, these carpenters are seeking help from the authorities to go back to their native place.
Nanakabhai Babubhai, 60, a resident of Khanjari in Kheda district, Gujarat, is one of the carpenters visiting Huballi for 20 years. He said that the fears over coronavirus affected their business before March, when the sales pick up. Every year, the carpenters from Gujarat stay in Hubballi from December to June and sell about 5,000 cricket bats, ranging from Rs 150 to Rs 300, in each shop. But this time, the makeshift shops in front of the KIMS Hospital lack enough customers. This year, 17 people came to Hubballi with raw material of over Rs 1 lakh for three shops, said Nanakabhai.
“After the sudden lockdown, we found it very difficult to get food as shops were not open. In the beginning, a few people gave us rice and other items. Sometimes, police gave us readymade food and now we are purchasing essential items from a grocery shop on credit as we don’t have money right now with us,” said Nanakabhai, who brought his son and nephew to Hubballi this time.
Nanakabhai said half of his family is in Gujarat where the condition is worsening. “I’m much concerned about my family there and want to go back to my village,” he said.
Hubballi Urban tahsildar Shashidhar Madyal said the officials will visit provide necessary help to the carpenters. “If they wish to go back to their village, their names will be registered. Till that time, they will get food kit,” he added.
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