Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Aug 28: Two families which are entirely dependent on the income generated by the giant wheels they operate, have been living in the field of a Daivasthana here as they do not have money to return home.

These families had come from Solapur, Maharashtra, to operate a giant wheel at the Kanappadithaya Daivasthana in Kallige village annual festival. They have been staying here as they cannot return. A total of 11 persons who yearn to return home are forced to live here.

These people used to install giant wheels at the field in front of the said Daivasthana during the annual festival every year. This time the families came here on March 10 after which the festival was held from March 14. They were about to leave for Polali for installing their giant wheel there, when a corona lockdown was imposed from March 21 onward. The families have not been able to go back with their equipment since the last five months, and hence are living in a tent pitched in the field.

A few among them have returned home, and some others are living near Mudipu. For sleeping at night, they use a room outside the Daivasthana. The men in the families work as coolies in plantations here. When they witness agricultural operations they go to the farmers, requesting for a job. For returning home with equipment, they need to pay about Rs 15,000 as transportation charges and they are broke now.

A member of the family, Srinath, says that they would need four trucks to transport these heavy items. As they do not have money, he feels they may have to wait till the next season. He says till then they will depend on daily wages by working here and there.