Mask selling suitable alternative for many!

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: "Noon will buy toys at this situation where most of the people are facing financial crisis. It turned out difficult for me to earn daily bread for my family, so I decided to switch over to selling masks." Ram Babu Sah, a street vendor now selling face mask in the Paltan Bazar area, said.

Switching over of profession has become the only alternative for many to earn their livelihood during the lockdown. Many low income group people are now forced to switch over to selling essential items duing the lockdown. However, facemask turning out to be the most coveted commodity around the world, many seemed to switch over to selling facemask in Guwahati as well.

Ram Babu Sah is one such example who used to sell children's toys before the lockdown and now he is selling facemask. He is the only earner to feed a family of five. Sah said, "I felt that now people will not be willing to purchase children's toys as everyone is now hit by financial crisis. I sell mask worth Rs. 500-700 and earn a profit of Rs. 100-150 per day."

The Sentinel talked to Pradip Kumar, a person from Manipuri Basti who is now selling mask in a bicycle as he can't continue his earlier profession. Pradip Kumar said, "Earlier I used to sell chana chaat, but now selling chana chaat will hardly earn me my daily bread amidst this COVID-19 fear. So, now I'm selling masks to earn my livelihood."

Besides Ram Babu Sah and Pradip Kumar, there are many who have recently shifted to other ways of earning their wage. Many have switched over to selling vegetables and fruits as well. One such example is a man who is now selling fruits nearby the DownTown Hospital in a cart was a vegetable seller earlier at Supermarket, Dispur. 

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