Daijiworld Media Network - Vijayapur (MS)

Vijayapur, Dec 2: A mother and her son risk their lives to feed their sheep. On the bike that the son has, they transport nearly 100 kg of grass in one trip. Mother sits above the heap of grass on the bike while the son rides it.

The youth who takes this risk is Santhosh Shiroora and his mother who gives him company in this work is Mayavva Shiroora. This scene can be witnessed between Muttagi Cross-Gonala on NH 50 that connects Vijayapur with Hospet in the district.

The duo leaves their house every day at 7 am and return to their home in Gonala at around 11 am with 100 kg of grass. As the rains were heavy this year, the grass has grown too long. Every day they commute 16 km in this manner to gather grass to feed their sheep.

Mayavva and Santhosh have 60 sheep with them and 30 lambs. The milk-fed by the mother is not enough for the lambs. The grass helps them to grow strong. That is why the mother and son bring the grass from 16 km away. They need a litre of petrol every day. If the same amount of grass needs to be purchased from the market, they need to pay around Rs 500 to 600. But the mother and son save Rs 400 to 500 by taking a risk in this manner.

Both mother and son say that they are not scared about the danger of riding with a huge heap of grass on a bike. They say that farmers are born to take risks especially when it comes to feeding their animals.