“I’ve been a coconut vendor for the last 40 years. Originally, I’m from Krishnalanka in Vijayawada, but I moved to Hyderabad to earn a better living. People often ask me why I haven’t stopped working at my age, but I genuinely like my job.

I work from 8AM to 7PM throughout the week, but I never get bored.. at least that was the case before the lockdown. This locality at ECIL – Cherlapally Road has a large number of factories and offices around so I thought I would have a better chance at selling more. Everybody in the neighbourhood knows me quite well and I consider them my friends, so I greet them all when they pass by my stall. There’s been no greetings over the last few months, I just end up waiting all day.

Prior to the lockdown, I would earn Rs. 500-600 a day, but now, the earnings have dropped to a meagre Rs.150-200. People are not out and about like they used to be, and my business has taken a really bad hit. I sit here waiting all day but end up selling ten coconuts, sometimes fifteen on a good day.

I can sense so much fear among the people. I understand why they are avoiding the roadside stalls, but I wish someone would consider our livelihood too!”

#COVID19 #Business #Impact #life #supportsmallbusiness #CoronaVirusPandemic #Street #Indiaeveryday #Coconuts #Lifeisstreet #Family #Struggle #Daily #Employment #Loss #Streetvendors #Hardwork #Hope #Future #Hyderabad #HumansofHyderabad