“I lost my father when I was 8 years old in a major road accident. I started earning from then on. We are 3 siblings at home and earning two meals a day was a burden. So, five years ago, I took the train to Secunderabad, leaving behind my mother and younger sisters at our village in Muzaffarpur district in Bihar. One of our family friends, who works here, brought me along with him.

I pay Rs. 1000 per month to stay in a lodge at Nampally Road with 4 other men from Bihar. I have tied up with a small trader to do this business and ever since I have been selling handmade bamboo flutes and toys to earn a living. My work starts at 8 a.m. I carry the stand laden with toys and walk about 15 kilometres daily around the city, calling out to people. I sell the big flutes for Rs.60 and the smaller ones for Rs.20.

Every day, I make business for Rs. 300 – 400 and earn around Rs. 8,000 a month and of which I send home Rs. 4,000.

I am 21 years old and have only studied till class 6. But I am happy that back home, my younger sisters are getting an education.

In the last 18 months, I have not gone back home even once. I am saving to visit my family this December. I have even managed to pick up a little Telugu having stayed here for the last 4 years. Selling toys during Covid times is a difficult task as people are avoiding the non-essentials. However, I try my best to convince the parents and watching the little kids smile when they hold these toys make me happy too.

Considering that I am also a youngster, some people are kind enough to give me a few extra rupees. But some others bargain a lot as well. However, I sell for whatever minimum profit that could fetch me two meals a day.”