New Delhi, Dec 5 (IANS): The ongoing farmers protest at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border has brought a ray of hope to the family of a fruit seller that was reeling under losses amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ever since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Akram and his wife Tabassum were facing losses in their business and their daily earnings dropped to less than Rs 100.

The couple who used to sell fruits on their 'thela' near Max Hospital at Ghazipur border has now discovered a new source of revenue by collecting empty food cartons to sell.

The farmers protest near Ghazipur border that has led to thousands of farmers camping there seems to have changed their fortunes for at least some time.

The couple now collects the empty cartons emptied out by farmers in which their food packets and fruits are packed.

The couple collects the cartons and sells it for anything between Rs 200 and Rs 500 every day.

"The cartons are left behind by farmers after they take their stock from that. We collect those cartons and sell them to the local garbage dealer which pays us between Rs 200 to 500," said Aslam.

He is hopeful that in the next few days he will have enough money to buy some fruits and resume his fruit shop business near the hospital.

Aslam said, "At least we are earning something by selling these cartons. I had been suffering losses in the fruit business due to low demand."

Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand have been agitating at the Delhi-UP Ghazipur border for last 10 days demanding repealing of three agri laws. The farmers have been receiving packed food packets from the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee and several other non-profit organisations.

On Saturday, several food-laden vehicles from Gurudwara Bangla Sahib arrived as volunteers served food to hundreds of farmers at the Ghazipur border.

Balvinder Singh, who brought the food-laden vehicle at Ghazipur told IANS, "We have been bringing the food for the last 10 days and we are trying our best to serve all farmers here."

The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has also a team of doctors at the protest site to look after the well-being of farmers.