Pallavi Sareen
Jammu, Oct 15: 57-year-old Ashok Kumar, a die-hard fan of ex-Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, who runs a Tea Kiosk in Mubarak Mandi is finding going tough.
Increasing death toll due to Covid-19 Pandemic in Jammu district coupled with positive cases being reported on a daily basis has made matters worse for Ashok. His income has hit rock bottom. So has his dream of having a home in Jammu. “I was earning good before this Pandemic struck. I had no debts but it seems, I am now left with no option but to approach either Bank or Private money lenders for carrying on my small business,” said Ashok.
“I dreamt of a home in Jammu but Covid pandemic is likely to render me homeless. Paying for my rented accommodation has now become a big hassle. My sales have dropped steeply. My tea Kiosk would be bustling with activity from 7 in the morning till 9 in the evening. But Covid fears have affected clientele. If the Covid fear does not go, I suspect, I would be under heavy debt by the time Vaccine arrives in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” Ashok says.
He knows nothing about relief package for small businesses like the one being run by him, announced by the Union Finance Ministry. “Koi Nahin Aaya Yahan Mujhay Batanay Kee Sarkar paisay dey rahi hai. Who Insurance aur domicile walay to aaye they magar Paisay dainay walay nahin aaye (No one came to tell me that the government was giving money? People did come to me for Insurance and Domicile but those who are giving money did not come),” is what Ashok said. Like Ashok, several others running small businesses across Jammu repeated almost similar lines.
“Only 10-25% street vendors have registered themselves and they are the ones who got the benefit from the package announced. It is the duty of the municipality to make others aware and get them registered but it was never done. Even under the street vendor act, there are many other facilities that need to be given but it is unfortunate that now they are starting what should have been done long back,” said Ravinder Sharma, Congress spokesperson.
Some knew about the package but had no idea how to apply for getting the relief announced by the Union Finance Ministry. Whether it was the disruption of normal life after August 5, 2019; or the Coronavirus Lockdown from March 24, 2020; Shopkeepers, Dhabawallas (Eatery Owners) and Rehri-wallas (Rehri Owners) suffered the most with no relief in sight.
In April, while the lockdown was still going on Jammu and Kashmir government had announced Rs 350 Cr package for worker class in J&K. Out of this Rs 1.05 crore was meant for Street Vendors (Rehriwalas, Phadiwalas, Thelewalas) registered with Jammu Municipal Corporation/Srinagar Municipal Corporation. For 3 months, these street vendors were to get Rs 1000 per month. Ashok pays Rs 5000 as rent, Rs 6000 to the milkman. He wishes to understand how Rs 1000 per month would have helped him get his life back on track after months of lockdown?
When asked, whether he has a bank account, he said that he has an account in the nearby Mubarak Mandi post office. “I have Rs. 700 in my account. My savings dried-up during the lockdown,” says Ashok Kumar.
Dhabawallas on Jammu-Srinagar national highway have a similar story to share. Some dhabas had been shut since March and despite J&K UT administration allowing restaurants, Dhabas and other eateries to open from July, a good number of Dhabas remain shut even today.
“We don’t earn enough to put food on our table. We are unable to pay rent. Before lockdown, I had employed two people. Now, it is just me who handles everything because the dhaba is not earning enough,” said the owner of Dogra Vaishno Dhaba. Despite the dhaba being in Panjtirthi, one of the busiest places in Jammu, the dhaba was empty.
Same stands true for the local vendors, rehri-wallas and small shop owners who are in other parts of Jammu city. A disabled man who ran a toy shop in Gandhi Nagar told Straight Line that he had admitted his children in private schools because he did not want them to live a life like his. But life had become exceptionally hard after the Covid Lockdown.
“Me and my wife both sold toys and earned our livelihood. We don’t know any other work. But now because of Covid, no one comes out with their children so who will buy the toys? No government scheme reached us and I have not heard of any package either,” said Noor-Alam.
But ensuring that these small shopkeepers are able to sustain themselves is as much a responsibility of the civil society as the government. A classic example was seen in case of ‘Baba ka Dhaba’ in Delhi where after a video of an old dhaba owner crying got viral, people flocked to the dhaba to eat. The same can’t be said for Jammu and Kashmir where local eateries remain empty as rush is seen at McDonalds and high-end restaurants.
