They reach mandi at 3 am to keep your home stocked with fresh veggies

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 23

When almost the entire world is confined indoors, there are some warriors who are leaving no stone unturned to extend help to the needy.

Among them is Chaurasiya (47), a vegetable vendor, who gets up early and is at the sabzi mandi at 3 am sharp. While those at home get vegetables on their doorstep, it takes a gruelling 3 am to 5 pm schedule and a lot of courage for Chaurasiya to keep the refrigerators stocked with fresh veggies.

Chaurasiya, who has been selling vegetables in the city for the last 17 years, says, “Bahut saal ho gaye kaam karte, par aisa time kabhi nahi dekha” (It’s been many years since I am working, but I have never seen such a time.”

He is the only earning member for the family and has three children and wife to look after. Originally from Gorakhpur, UP, he has been in Jalandhar for the last 17 years. When asked if the lockdown has affected his work, his answer is yes.

“Earlier, we could buy anything. The market was open and everything was freely available. But now demands have changed during the lockdown so some vegetables supplies have been affected, “ he adds.

He further said,”I start from home as early as possible to be at the mandi by 3 am. We stay at the mandi till 11 am. After this I go home at 12 noon and eat. Later, I sell veggies door-to-door and come back home at 5 pm,” he says.

Protecting himself with a three-layered black mask, he also keeps a sanitiser handy at the mandi and maintain a 3-ft distance from other vendors. He says, “Earlier, I would be home by 4 am after procuring vegetables. But now things have changed. On certain days, the queue starts from the Maqsudan mandi stretch and continues till Workshop chowk (over a km away). “

“Many fellow vendors have stopped selling veggies. I am continuing until now. The administration is also very co-operative,” he said.

Ask him if he is not scared of contracting the virus, he says, “Parmatma sab dekhega. (God will watch over me.”