Anna and I stopped at Dharmapuri by-pass on our way back from Vellore last week, for a drink of tender coconut. This lady in the picture had an interesting story to tell about her tender coconut shop.
Her husband was well employed, but she became ill with a debilitating illness and her source of income stopped suddenly. She had her two school going to children to support and a huge debt to pay.
That is when her neighbours suggested to her to start a tender coconut shop on the highway. She did this borrowing money from her neighbour, which she could pay back in one month. Now she sells about 100 tender coconuts a day and has a profit of about 500 rupees or more. She was able to pay back her debts and and is supporting her two children in the college.
She starts her sale by 9 am and returns home by 5 pm. She leaves the shop unattended at night with only a plastic cover over the left over coconut. She has found it safe. Her supply of coconuts comes every three days from a regular supplier. There are about ten such temporary shops along a stretch of one kilometre. Her income has increased in spite of competition. I suppose some people may prefer to be served by a woman!
She used to be harassed by officials of the highway for setting up a temporary shop, but they would now stop by to have a free drink and leave her to do her business.
Hers is a moving story of resilience and enterprise to find a way forward when she was caught in a trap. I am glad we stopped at her shop to listen to this story. The domestic helper who works for my mother has a similar story of becoming the bread winner of the family.
Many women lead by examples and yet we have a long journey to make as a society to affirm their worth and equality!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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