Lockdown forces Narikuravas to take up mobile grocery biz

Coimbatore: The coronavirus-induced restrictions have forced the Narikurava community (gypsies) to give up their traditional means of livelihood and venture into selling groceries, door-to-door.
For 30-year-old E Manikandan from this community, life has undergone a sea change since March, when the lockdown kicked in. Earlier, he was involved in making beaded necklaces, apart from running a small tattoo business in Annur. Even though the money was meagre, they were not dependent on others.
The lockdown bolted his business and left him penniless, with no souce of income in sight. It was then that he began selling grocery items such as cumin seeds, mustard, cloves and pulses, on their motorbikes.
Over 75% of the community from Marudur, Thudiyalur, Avinashi, Palladam and Pollachi have taken up the mobile grocery business.
With a microphone attached to his vehicle to announce that each packet costs only Rs 10, Manikandan – a resident of Marudur village near Karamadai – travels through several villages, sometimes as far as 30 km away. While some people stop him to buy grocery items, many rebuke him for entering their village during the pandemic.
After a day’s work, Manikandan stops at Metttupalayam or Karamadai to refill his stock before making his way home. Before going to bed, his entire family sits together to separate and pack grocery items in small sachets.
“From our meagre income, we shell out at least Rs 200 a day for petrol, because our business is dependent on the number of villages we travel in a day. After purchasing stock for next day’s sale, only Rs 300 to Rs 400 remains in my hand... I have to manage all my expenses in that,” he said.
Manikandan’s travails are common among other members of his community too. R Rajapriya, 41, whose husband has recently begun selling grocery items, said, “After the lockdown was imposed, we were completely dependent on assistance provided by the state government and volunteers. But at some point, we knew we will have to manage our own expenses.”
“As essential commodities are the only items that can be sold now, a lot of people have taken up the business. As three to four people visit the same village, we do not make any profit,” said G Bhagyaraj, a member of the community who has taken up the grocery business.