Last week, India has witnessed the pros of social media after Baba Ka Dhaba went viral on the internet. From political leaders to celebrities, the Dhaba received an immense amount of support. Moreover, Zomato India has added them to their list of restaurants for food delivery.
The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) also took to Instagram to share a video that shows one of their representatives communicating with Kanta Prasad and his wife, Badami Devi.
After the paramount support that Baba Ka Dhaba has received, people are voicing for Vocal For Locals. Till now, several heart-wrenching stories have been shared on social media where local vendors have been pushed to the edge during the coronavirus pandemic.
In this episode, Agra’s ‘Roti Wali Amma’ videos are doing rounds on the internet. The 80-year-old Bhagvan Devi aka Amma prepares ‘rotis’ on the roadside near St Jones Road in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra. She feed people for Rs 20. Her business has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic similar to other vendors, a Hindi news portal reported.
Amma’s sons kicked her out after her husband’s demise. She has been running her small business for 15 years now.
According to Amma, her business is not doing well these days. Pre-coronavirus she would earn Rs 200-400 every day. However, during coronavirus, it is hard to earn even Rs 100.
In the present scenario when the whole world has to stay at home, these vendors on road are among the groups that are worst affected, without the luxury of work-from-home, the livelihood of the majority is critically hit, a handful of these street vendors are still playing their part as the last link in the supply chain, making sure essentials like vegetables and fruits are still accessible, albeit this also entails being at the frontline of the risk.
Local Kirana shops, vegetable vendors, milkmen, street food vendors, and so on are the lifeline of the Indian community. Let’s help them and make this world a better place.
