Begging is not a job

Paresh Chandra Barmon, 46, from Kacharipara village in Bhadai union of Lalmonirhat's Aditmari upazila doesn't consider begging to be a profession. If he did beg, he would hardly stand out because Paresh is visually impaired. Instead, he contributes to family expenses by running a humble grocery store.

“Many villagers encouraged me to beg,” says Paresh. “But I didn't listen. As I know, begging is a bad practice that can never bring mental satisfaction so I wasn't tempted.” Having previously raised cows in the household yard, six years ago he opened his small shop with business capital of just Tk 1500. He sells cigarettes and bidis, betel leaf, chocolate, chanachur Bombay mix and biscuits.

“I pay Tk 200 monthly rent for the shop,” he says, “and from selling around Tk 300 goods per day I earn a daily income of Tk 60 or so.” It's hardly enough to cover the living costs of a family of four, and his wife Fuleshwari Rani, 28, also works, earning around Tk 120 per day, as a day labourer. But while the income from Paresh's store mightn't cover the whole of the family's expenses, it's a welcome contribution.

He also receives a disability pension of Tk 500 per month which he spends on his son Pabitro Roy's education. Pabitro studies in class four at a local government primary school. The couple have another son, Goutom Roy, aged two.

“My dream is to invest around Tk 30,000 to enlarge my grocery business but I don't know if I'll ever be able to,” says Paresh.

“Paresh has been visually impaired since he was four years old,” says relative Manoranjan Barmon, 65. “He suffered typhoid and despite extended treatment never fully recovered. He can barely see but he is honest and sincere, which is the reason many villagers like to buy goods from his shop.”

Indeed the villagers aren't solely his customers. They also help Paresh when he has to buy stock from wholesalers.

“Of course I knew my husband was visually impaired when I married him twelve years ago,” says Fuleshwari, “and since our marriage I have been working as a day labourer every day. But I never regret my fate. I love my husband too much and we have a dream to educate our sons, which we are working towards.”