Baipariguda: The COVID-19 crisis has altered many a lives. A nomadic group from Maharashtra camping in Koraput district is no different.
As many as 120 members of 15 families hailing from Udas area in Nagpur district of Maharashtra have settled at different places in Koraput district for many years. The male members used to tour villages as astrologers and made a living out of selling colourful stones believed to have astrological impact.
The female members and children used to go around villages seeking alms.
After the nationwide lockdown was imposed, they found they were up against the wall. They had to go hungry for several days.
After Odia daily ‘Dharitri’ published an article on them March 28, the district collector directed the block administration to do something for the families. As a result, they were provided cooked food for a month starting March 29. The administration stopped providing food to them after lifting of lockdown.
Finding the situation quite unfavourable to go on with what they had been doing, they started to think about alternative ways of earning.
With no option left, they started working as labourers. As of now, female members are earning Rs150 a day and the income of the male members is Rs200 a day. Thus, every family is earning something between Rs 500 and 600.
Some of them are working as farmhands as well. As there was shortage of labourers to work in paddy fields, they grabbed the opportunity.
“The pandemic disease has taught us a lesson. The trying times have showed us a way to lead a decent life. Only now are we realising the real charm of earning money by labouring hard,” a member of the nomadic family said.
PNN
