KOCHI: Over years, the city has proved to be the hottest pick for people who wish to test their luck, be it in service, business or in just being lucky. The growing number of lottery ticket vendors in the city only reinstate the fact. The size of the business varies from a makeshift lottery ticket stall consisting of a chair and a writing pad to spacious shops similar to departmental stores.
Growing markets in Ernakulam have lured many lottery sellers to set their business here. “Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kannur provide best market for lottery ticket sales,” said Sreeni, a Kacheripady-based ticket seller, who hails from Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He has been selling lottery tickets in Kerala for the last five years. On interacting with others vendors, we inferred that the ones who had been in this business for long have observed a considerable increase in the sales over the years. Since they provide tickets for wholesale as well as retail markets, they earn around `1200 on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, a relatively new lottery vendor may struggle to make ends meet with a moderate income of around `300 a day. There are some like Kareem, a father of three girl children and a native of Nilambur, who took up lottery ticket sales after becoming a pensioner, in an attempt to earn some extra money to support his family. “Over the years, there has been a 100 per cent increase in the lottery sales as more and more people from all classes are shedding their prejudiced ideas against lotteries and are willing to try their luck,” said C T Venkateshwara Pai, a lottery ticket agent and a native of North Ernakulam, who has been in this business since 1982. Lottery ticket sales have proved to be a reliable means of self-employment, which has helped many a downtrodden family in earning their livelihood. Most of the lottery ticket sellers around M G Road and Kacheripady areas said that they took up the business as they were not educated enough for any other job and the business helped them ensure a regular income.
Meanwhile, the abolition of interstate lotteries is considered to be one of the main reasons for huge losses in this business.
However, by introducing some daily lottery plans, the government has taken steps towards the welfare of lottery ticket sellers. The plans have possibly helped them increase their regular customer base. Such initiatives have been an assurance for the sellers who wish to continue in this business.