Couple takes to selling veggies to survive with five kids

Soumitra Bose | TNN | May 5, 2020, 04:11 IST

Juglesh Mahto and his wife Renudevi

Nagpur: Juglesh Mahto, 36, and his wife Renudevi, 28, have taken to selling vegetables after the lockdown was announced, to ensure they and their five children do not starve. Luckily for them, Juglesh used to supply potatoes and onions to hotels and eateries on order earlier, so he had some experience.
Struggling with his speech, Juglesh has to take his wife Renudevi along as it is difficult for him to manage the show selling vegetables for the first time.
Juglesh, a native of Uttar Pradesh, has modified his bike to attach a cart at the back. He used to deliver potatoes and onions in this modified vehicle, and now it doubles up as a makeshift shop too.
Before lockdown, Renudevi used to help earn additional income by working as domestic help at bungalows, but this has stopped now.
Renudevi, sensing the tough days ahead, decided to join her husband in selling vegetables. However, in the process, she now needs to abandon their children, aged 11 years to five years, alone for the day as they leave home at 5am. “They eat whatever is left over from the previous day, or some NGOs spot them playing near the house in the slums and offer them food packets,” said Renudevi.
The coronavirus has perilously rocked the boat of the Mahto family, residing at Bezonbagh slums. Their source of livelihood was abruptly taken away by the announcement of lockdown. Hotels and eateries, where Juglesh supplied potato and onions, have been shut, and this has taken away his daily income of Rs400-500.
With no other option left, Juglesh contacted the brokers he knew, requesting them to give him some vegetables on credit to sell. “Earlier, I brought vegetables from Cotton Market but had to stop after it closed down, and Mominpura also was sealed,” he said.
“Then, I got some vegetables from Nara’s newly opened market and started selling them at Jaripatka on the footpath. Police evicted me as I was on the road and there used to be crowding,” said Juglesh, who has now shifted close to Kamal Chowk.
“Now, I earn Rs200-400 after waiting for the entire day,” said Juglesh. “Many times, leafy vegetables wilt in the heat and have to be discarded, leading to heavy losses. If I ever have a bad day in business, the losses are double, as most vegetables rot in this temperature and have to be thrown away,” he said.