HYDERABAD: It is believed that people living on the roadside and at bus stops or railway stations just laze around, avoid work or get involved in crime or sex. But the homeless say that may be true in the case of a few but a majority of them look for work to earn some money, feed themselves and, if possible, save money!
Though they have a few skills, they are not given job in the organised sector for lack of identity proof. Due to this,they take up jobs in the unorganised sector.
Bhagya (name changed), who lives at a shelter home, migrated from one metro city to another but managed to find work wherever she was. She moved out of her home in Odisha after her husband died. “I had three kids. After my husband’s death, I admitted two kids to an orphanage there, took my daughter with me to different cities,” she says.
After her stay in Berhampur in Odisha and Bihar, she got into a train, not knowing the destination. “I got down at a station and learnt that it is Secunderabad. I took to begging when a woman suggested that I join a shelter home. Now, I am working in the GHMC housekeeping section.”
Harassment
Recalling her days in Mumbai where she worked as a maid, Bhagya says, “There I was pestered by a man to marry him. Unable to bear it, I left the place for Delhi where I was appointed to take care of an old-aged woman. Though I did all sorts of odd jobs, I never stopped working,” she says with a sense of pride.
Divya (name changed) deserted her husband who used to beat her regularly. “After I reached here, I resolved to take care of myself. With help of a woman, I found a roof at a shelter home,” she says.
Search for work
People who live on the streets as they cannot afford a roof said that many of them search for work everyday while some choose not to.
“We are employed as catering staff for celebrations at the homes of low and middle class families and at functions of actors and ministers. We served at actor Allu Arjun’s function too. Many of us actively look for work though the payment we get is only `60 or `70 a day. On such days, a few of us rely on having food at religious places,” says Syed Feroze who made the streets his home and now leads Nirashraya Shramika Sangatan.
Passion defies age
Raju (name changed), aged a little more than 60 years and wrapped himself in a soiled blanket and clothes, could be taken as any another person who does not have a home. But when he speaks, his words arrest listeners’ attention. Speaking in broken English, he claims that he worked as tailor for prominent fashion designers including Wendell Rodricks.
Raju lived in Goa for 20 years and worked there as a master tailor and returned to Hyderabad, his hometown. He has no compunction about admitting that he drinks to his heart’s content since he has problems to forget.
Though he spoke in a low tone, it became stern when asked what he does throughout the day.
“I constantly look for work. I have worked for designers like Wendell Rodricks and worked as a master tailor. I have come here to teach my skills,” he says.
There are many like him who are continuously looking for jobs and a source for their next meal, but there are also a few who are homeless but choose not to work.