HYDERABAD: The rising prices of vegetables have also hit small-time vendors, who used to get fresh vegetables from wholesalers for unloading their vehicles at Bowenpally vegetable market. Their everyday earnings are a paltry Rs 200. These vendors were originally daily-wage labourers at construction sites and sand mills. They cannot find work anymore as they claim that they have been replaced by machines.
"My family has six adults but none of us has a PAN or labour card. In the absence of these we cannot enjoy the benefits of any welfare scheme of the state government. My husband and I have voter ID-cards, but what is the point when only two family members can vote? They give us rice for free but it is too erratic. Moreover, they fail to give us all the groceries in one go, which means that we have to buy from outside. Even fair price shops sell groceries at double the cost," lamented Anjamma, a vendor.
Anjamma’s two sons and daughters-in-law are all educated. Her daughter is a widowed mother of two and works as a vegetable vendor in the market.
With the price of tomatoes going up past Rs 100 per kg, they cannot lay their hands on these vegetables as the wholesalers tend to get strict due to the prices. Many other vehicles too have turned expensive. As a result these families forgo meals for days at a stretch.
"Political leaders go on protest hunger strikes while we are forced to starve for days together as we can't afford a meal," rued Tirupatamma, a vendor.
Despite being educated, children of a few vendors like Vajralamma, are compelled to work as delivery personnel for food delivery Apps due to lack of employment opportunities befitting their qualifications. They are compelled to take up any work that comes their way in order to boost the family’s monthly budget.
