“Almost 53 years ago, when I was just a teenager, I had shifted to the city from my hometown Nandikotkur to earn a living. I come from a poor agricultural family and even having one meal a day was a struggle. Increasing debts drove me to take up daily wage work to support my family.

I’ve been in this line of work for over four decades now. I leave my house at 4 a.m. At the godown, I strap a load of Mats and start my rounds to sell these mats to the customers until late in the evening. I take home about Rs. 300 – 350 a day. I had to stop my business for a while because of Covid 19. Now, I’m back to work and making up for the losses during the last two years.

I always regret never having gone to school. It has certainly made sustaining life in today’s world more difficult but unfortunately, we don’t have a choice. We just have to accept the life that has been given to us. I still chose to work so that I could take care of my wife and contribute my bit to my family. My only wish is to see my grandchildren get educated in good institutions and lead a better life.”