I stopped while on my way to work, to greet Mr Srinivasan, who is a trained mason, but has got himself trained recently to tap rubber trees during this season. For about six months, the daily work he was used to as a mason has been through a rough patch...following demonetisation and more so after the recent floods. The income from his daily work is his only source of support. Having a large family to care for, he decided to train himself to do an additional work.
He begins the day around 5 am and and has about 200 trees to tap which he can finish by 8 am or so and go to work as a mason for the rest of the day on those days he has work. Otherwise he still has an income, although it would be only one third of what he would get from his regular job.
He choked when he talked about not having a regular job. He feels that the policies of the government do not favour those who are semi-skilled workers.
The price for rubber products is low because for which many planters do not tap the tree. The cost of production is high and the benefit is not good enough. So that too is distressing for the tappers and the planters.
As Mr Srinivasan kept talking about his family, work, job, and life in general I sensed a nostalgia in his recollection of earlier days which were better and peaceful. He still values his family and finds his source of encouragement in being a family with good relationships. The hardship of life has kept them even more closer. His wife is now looking into skilling herself in knitting and stitching.
As I meet to greet yet one more person, who contributes to the wellness of others, I am becoming aware that his wellness is at risk!
While on the way to the hospital after this early morning conversation, I realised that every person I meet has a story of his or her own ! They are not just parents of children who need some medical help alone. Many of them live in adverse circumstances!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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