The daily wage earner Mistry

For Balkande, 31, missing a day of work would mean missing a day’s food. This is the driving force that he never missed his work and religiously work to feed his beloved family.

Balkande works as a Mistry (master craftsman) at different construction sites to support his family. His wife too helps in running the family by working in Kachra Kabadi factory (Junkyard) to segregate various types of waste. She also works as daily wage earner to provide for her family and take care of their two innocent children.

The family lived a perfectly normal life though they had minor set-backs they always found a way out of it. Everything was going on the right track when Balkande’s health gave him a major set-back, in the form of urinary bladder control.

Being a neurological issue where an individual loses control of his/her urinary bladder.

Being ashamed and embarrassed about his condition and he stopped going for work, and later underwent an operation when his condition worsened but it did not completely treat his condition. When the family was still coping with the health crisis, the sudden announcement of the outbreak of Covid-19 intensified the worries of the family.

With him, at home, his wife the only working individual from the family also ceased to earn for the family. 

During the lockdown Balkande and his wife at times starved for days so that they could feed their children. “We have to make a forced choice between food, medicines or children education”, says Balkande remarking on his situation. 

It was an important breakthrough when HCL Foundation supported Caritas India to reduce the community transmission and hunger through food, hygiene and PPE kits. HCL Foundation in many critical occasions has come forward to assist Caritas India to provide humanitarian assistance. Caritas India assessed the situation with the help of its partner Nagpur Multipurpose Society Service Society and identified the most marginalised families for humanitarian aid. 

Balkande’s family was selected through the assessment for food support. These arrangements are of huge assistance for the marginalised people who have lost their livelihood during this lockdown. The relief provision can help the family to withstand a few more days without trouble. While receiving the food kits, Balkande had a smile that was hidden under his face mask but the gratitude glittered through his eyes.