Impact Stories

Help sought for tuition fees

The negative impact of Covid-19 on earning livelihood is not over yet. Covid19 has affected everyday existence even after two years. People are still struggling to make their businesses happen. One of the worst affected industry during the Covid19 induced lockdown was the print industry. And this directly hit the newspaper vendors.

One of the newspaper vendors, Devang Chudasama explains how he is still making endeavours to recover from the losses. Residing in Vejalpur on rent, the 41- year-old stays with his two children and wife. His daughter Hetvi studies in Class -10 and his son Dhairya is in Class - 8. They study in a private school near Vasna. Hetvi is a reasonably good student in studies. Both parents don't pressurise her to study as she suffers from epilepsy. She is more keen on drawing and music. Dhairya wants to be an engineer and scores well in exams. Devang’s wife Maheshwari works as a cook. She goes for work by cycling or walking and earns Rs 16,000 per month.

He says, "We were earlier staying in a joint family in Jivraj Park area. Before the Covid strike, I used to sell around 1,500 copies of newspapers of different languages to residents, corporates, malls, shops etc. However, after Covid19 hit, many people stopped subscribing to newspapers. Many switched to online news and never returned to the humble newspaper. Thus, many shops closed down. My business has been cut down to 800 copies now."

Devang travels around 60 kms everyday day to give newspapers to his different clients. There are three other vendors working under him. He earns Rs 25,000 per month but after paying three people, petrol expenses, around Rs 12,000 comes to him. So, during morning, he distributes the newspapers while in evening he works as a gig worker on his scooter for deliveries.

With a limited income, his family has only one proper meal a day and some snacks in the evening. “We have cut down on electricity bills even in this scorching heat.” Devang explains, "We are self- reliant people. We don't like asking for help. As we are not well- educated, we can't help in our children’s education and homework. So, tuitions help them. School teachers are really helpful but tuitions can make a difference. But fees are so high that we can't afford it. We need help."

“We met the heads of the Mazdoor.Co team and it gave us hope.” He says, "Education is the future. It is the best investment for a bright future. If Dhairya and Hetvi study well, their life will be better. He won't have to struggle for money like us." The Mazdoor.Co team helped pay fees for Dhairya and Hetvi’s tuition for half a year. Mazdoor.Co’s model is that of cooperative participation. Every support is done with an equal partnership with the recipient. The buy-in allows accountability.

Devang sounds proud of his children, "My children are very supportive and understanding to their situation. They don't make unnecessary demands. My son studies hard so that I don't have to sell newspapers all my life" He finally concludes, "Help in tuition fees was a boon for them. It will help them to shape their future. Moreover, education should be made affordable. School fees are high. Then tuition fees. It is tough to sustain for a lower middle class family." We are happy that we at least have some support.