Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, Jun 15: Though the authorities have eased out the Covid restrictions following the decline in the positive cases, the economic cycle is showing hardly any pace, according to the trade bodies.
After facing three back to back lockdowns, among the worst sufferers is the transport department who has been on the receiving end.
Ejaz, who had purchased a commercial vehicle after selling some piece of land which he had inherited from his parents, is now lying defunct at home.
“I am not in a position to pay the charges and fee on papers. Even if I do the paperwork of my vehicle, the validity of my vehicle is already over as per the government order, because it is a 2004 manufacturing model,” he said.
“My vehicle had an active life two years back, but for that entire period my vehicle was off the road because of successive lockdowns. Who will compensate me. I am not rich. I don’t have any option but to sell my vehicle in the junkyard,” he said.
Ejaz, who sells the readymade garments in a rented van and on a folding cart, said that to start this work, his wife had to sell her ear rings.
“I earn between Rs 500 to Rs 300 in a day. On many occasions, I come home without any sale,” he said.
Ejaz said the people like him have received no support from the Government.
“Nobody came to support me. And it is not only me, there are hundreds of transporters who are going through this trauma,” he said. “I have kids, I have to manage their fee. I don’t want my children to go through all these miseries which I am facing right now. I will fight it out for the survival of my family”, Ejaz said with a tearful and choked voice.
