This Diwali, people from parched Marathwada turn to Pune city for work

Pune: Hundreds of people affected by drought in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra are now working at firecracker stalls in Pune city during the Diwali festival with a hope to earn a livelihood.

An estimated 3,000 people have found jobs at these temporary outlets set up across the city during the festive season, an association of firecracker stalls here claimed.

Maharashtra witnessed a deficient monsoon this year following which the state government recently declared drought in 151 talukas in 26 of the total 36 districts in the state.

These 26 districts include eight each in the Vidarbha and the Marathwada regions, five in North Maharashtra, four in western Maharashtra and Palghar district in the coastal Konkan region.

Santosh Bora, president of theShobhechi Daru Utpadak Kharidi Vikri Sahakari Sangh, a Pune-based umbrella body of firecracker outlets registered in 1961, said around 1,500 to 2,000 people from various parts of Marathwada come to work at these temporary shops every year.

"But this year, since the situation is bad out there (in Marathwada), over 3,000 people, including students, farmers and agri-workers, have come to Pune and are working at various firecracker stalls," he claimed.

Akash Kamble, a native of Sindala village in Latur district of Marathwada, said his father committed suicide three years ago after being unable to bear his debt burden.

Since then, Kamble has been coming to Pune during the festive season to work at firecracker shops and earn some money to take care of his mother and sister.

"The situation is grim this year due to the bad monsoon. But poor rains and lack of work opportunities have become a norm in our village. That's why I have been coming to Pune during Diwali to find work," the 22-year-old said.

Sachin Sonkamble, from Jewali village in Osmanabad district, has a similar story to tell.

"We have no farm land. My mother, brother and sister work as farm labourers. But because of the drought situation, no work is left for us in our area, prompting me and many others to turn to cities like Pune for work," he said.

Sonkamble, 25, who has been coming to the city for work since the last four-five years, said he hopes to earn around Rs 15,000 by the end of the festive season.

"This year, I have brought 10 more people from our village to work at the stalls here," he added.

Ram Hari Sartape, who hails from Sangavi village in Nilanga tehsil of Latur, is working as a salesman at a firecracker shop in Pune.

"We had sown chickpea on 1.5 acre of our land in the village, but the crop withered due to lack of rain. Since there is no work left there, I came here," Sartape said.

His cousin Ajit Sartape, who is pursuing a course at an industrial training centre in Nilanga, said he has come to Pune for the first time to work during his Diwali vacation.

"I don't want to burden my family for my education and also want to support them financially, so I am utilising this time to earn some money," he said.

Ghanshyam Khanchandani, manager of the city-based Bansiwala Fireworks, said, "We have five to six stalls and currently over 200 people from various parts of Marathawada are working there."

Besides giving jobs to these people, the objective is to help them become self-reliant, he said.

"Here, these people learn business skills like how to deal with customers, how to talk to them. This will help them if they plan to start their own business later," he said.