Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SS)

Mangaluru, Jul 15: Families have lost their homes due to the devastating floods arising due to the heavy rainfall. The lives and livelihood of people have been hit due to the rains and the floods. But, there are some families who have turned the flood situation to their advantage and eked out a living and built their lives positively.

Yes, in the coastal districts heavy rains result in large-scale devastation due to floods. While many suffer due to the flood situation and flock to safer locations, there are some others who earn a living during the monsoon.

In the Dakshina Kannada district where coconuts and areca nut are grown in abundance, rainwater gushes into the agricultural fields and one can see puddles of water. The coconuts and areca nuts that fall on the field get washed away in the rainwater.

The huge coconuts and areca nut stocks that gather in large pits formed due to accumulation of rainwater are meticulously and precariously lifted during the monsoon which is a common sight in many places of Dakshina Kannada. Families are engaged in lifting these stocks that get stuck in the pits.

On an average when the flood waters flow families manage to catch 300 coconuts a day. Some of the coconuts are used for their household cooking and other requirements while the remaining coconut produce is sold in the market. During the monsoon, most of the coconuts that are available in the market are caught in this manner. Such families who live on the coconuts are also engaged in labour work during the other days for their livelihood.

Amidst the heavy rainfall, it is quite a challenging task to catch the coconuts. Be it rain or sunshine or floods it has been shown and proved that the way to make a living is in itself an art or a habit for some families.