As lockdown has been clamped in the country to contain the spread of coronavirus, in the coastal district of Kendrapada, many people have lost their livelihoods and left to fend for themselves.
The worst affected are labourers, stitching men, ice cream sailors, pheriwalas, milkmen, roadside food vendors, potters and masons and other daily wagers.
Though the State Government has provided financial assistance and also provided food, but it is not enough for them, alleged several victims.
According to Hagura Das, a milkman, “I used to run my family by delivering milk to households in nearby towns. Now I am facing a tough time as my business is stopped."
Several milkmen are now supply milk to OMFED as they failed to supply milk in households, he added.
Along with farm labourers, masons and daily wage earners, who travelled daily to nearby towns for manual jobs, are also facing a very tough time. Several persons who generally eke out their living by working in building and road constructions have lost jobs.
The women, who have taken small loans, are anxious about how they would repay the loans. There is also a massive cash crunch in such houses. While the Government has announced to provide essentials at fixed rates, these labourers said they couldn't afford even the essential items since they had no cash in hand.
The persons, who earn their bread by tailoring or by stitching clothes, are also struggling as their shops remained closed for nearly two weeks and now they do not have money to collect grocery items.
“I used to run my family by stitching clothes, but my shop remains closed due to COVID-19 lockdown and I have no income. I have to borrow money from the local SHG to run the family expenses," said Brahmananda Sahu.
Similar is the fate of pheriwalas, ice cream sellers and snack vendors in the district. According to Rakesh Sharma, who ekes out his living by selling panipuri in the town, "I used to run my family by selling pani puri (gupchup) in the township area. But as lockdown is going on, my business is stopped and I am left with no income."