This painter switches trade, sells cold drinks to support a family of 6

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Gurbaxpuri

Tarn Taran, June 15

The lockdown has forced small workers to switch to other jobs to eke out a living. Jaspal Singh (40) of Shahabpur Dial village here was a painter by profession. However, he was aware of the fact that this job won’t help him earn livelihood anytime soon post the lockdown. He started selling cold drinks when relaxations were given in the lockdown 4.0 so that he could repay debt taken from his neighbours.

Jaspal said it had become difficult to meet daily expenditures in the lockdown and he had to seek help from his neighbours. Even when relaxations were announced, there was hardly any painting work. With the family of six to support, it was a challenge to make both ends meet.

“My wife Manjit Kaur suggested me to switch to some other work. In view of summer, I decided to sell cold drinks. I managed to erect a tent under a bridge in front of the District Administration complex. My wife also joined me. Now we sell sugarcane juice and cold drinks,” he said.

He said since many offices were situated on the route, his new business was doing well. He has managed to pay back some of the borrowed amount within a few days. He said the job was little tough as he had to travel to Amritsar daily to procure sugarcane.