One lamb is eating grass while lying down. It is the youngest in the sheep flock.
Even the young one has to find its food!
But with the monsoon receding the grass would whither away in the scorching sun.
As I kept watching this scene beside a high way, I felt for the shepherds who have to find fodder for the sheep everyday. Most shepherds migrate from place to place in search of food. They stay away from their home for weeks together.
Their sheep is the source of their income.
The struggles of those who live from the proceeds of their animals is a double stress. They deny their comforts for the sake of their livelihood.
That is the story of thousands of migrant workers who come to work in the state of Kerala from West Bengal, Bihar, etc. They live away from their home!
Their livelihood needs deny them the joy of living at home!
I am not sure whether they would find local friends or families who make them feel feel valued and cared for!
I got to know of the demands of life that they go through, during conversations with some of them in their broken Hindi !
Poverty is not behind us, the poor are still with us in abundance!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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