Slumped by COVID lockdown, India street vendors see hope in festive season

Record ID: 1634241

  • Title: Slumped by COVID lockdown, India street vendors see hope in festive season
  • Date: 30th August 2021
  • Summary: GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA (AUGUST 30, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF CROWD IN MARKET VARIOUS OF STREET AMARJEET KUMAR VENDOR ARRANGING ITEMS FOR SALE ON HIS STALL (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) STREET VENDOR, AMARJEET KUMAR, SAYING: "There is no sale at all. I get 200-400 rupees ($2.75-5.5) a day. I am just able to earn for food somehow, that's it. Festive season is coming soon, but I don't know what will happen, there are barely any customers in the market, I hope they start coming. Last year, the festive season was washed away by coronavirus, it looks like a repeat this year." STREET VENDOR MANOJ ARRANGING ITEMS FOR SALE AT HIS STALL / WOMAN SITTING HOLDING BALLOONS FOR SALE (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) STREET VENDOR, MANOJ, SAYING: "Festive season is coming up, I am hopeful of things picking up. Let's see if the market is open or shut. If there is another lockdown then it will be disastrous for us. It has been two years, we will die (of lack of business). I won't be able to eat, how will I earn? Nobody has money because of lockdown." VARIOUS OF SUGARCANE JUICE VENDORS
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2021 16:55
  • Keywords: COVID-19 India coronavirus festival lockdown season street vendors
  • Location: GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA
  • City: GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA001ESH15QN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:COVID-19 brought difficult times for many, especially the lower economic section of the society, including street vendors who are hit by the lack of business.
    India locked down most parts last year when coronavirus infections were in its early phase. Reopening of economy in a hurry, invited a deadly second wave that killed more than 150,000 within a span of 8-10 weeks.
    This prompted the authorities to re-impose restrictions leaving street vendors without much hope. Now with festive season coming soon, vendors are hopeful of things picking up again, however, a lingering doubt of restrictions is also hitting them.
    "Festive season is coming up, I am hopeful of things picking up. Let's see if the market is open or shut. If there is another lockdown then it will be disastrous for us," said a street vendor of India's eastern Guwahati city, Manoj on Monday (August 30).
    India reported 42,909 new COVID-19 cases for the past 24 hours, a government statement said on Monday, taking the total to 32.74 million. Deaths rose by 380 to 438,210.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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