Many left with minimal food, money in Pampore

PAMPORE: Non locals broom makers, residing in shack at Galendar Pampore crossing on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway have been robbed of their livelihood since the announcement of lock down due to Coronavirus spread in here.
These non locals were making their living by making and selling brooms.
There are about many families from Rajasthan residing in this area for the past six years making their erningings by making brooms and selling it across the town and many other adjacent areas on a daily basis.
They told Kashmir Reader that since the lock down they have not been able to move out and sell their merchandise to people.
“Since the lockdown was announced last month the community has difficulty managing food and many are on brink of starvation,” said Sohan lal, a native from Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan, requesting administration to come to help so that nobody dies due to starvation.
Another group of non local who are mostly in repairing of stoves and pressure cookers have also put up in the area told Kashmir Reader they too are unable to offer their services as they have to go from house to house to earn his living but since the lock down their services have stopped altogether and their meagre savings are exhausting.
“ Even though some have meagre savings they too cannot reach the market to bring the food items for the family as they earn and spend it for their families.
Another member in the community said that every day and night you could see children in the area crying because of hunger.
They told Kashmir Reader that they do not have ration cards by which they could get free ration announced for lock down period.
“We appeal to the government to arrange food items for these families so that they could survive these hard times,” said Ashwani, one of the community members.
Meanwhile, the settlers said that there has been no visit from the health officials so that positive cases of coronavirus if any could be identified or any vaccination be carried.
“We don’t know about the pandemic impact on us as no testing has been carried by any team,” said another member.

BILAL HABIB