With a 12-member family and an earning of just about Rs 200 per day, 47-year-old Suresh Mehtar leads a hand to mouth existence. He sells bamboo baskets (soop and daura) in Araria, the northeastern district of Bihar but is hopeful of a better future.
Suresh and his family are involved in making soop (flat bamboo utensil) and daura (round bamboo basket). It is their only source of income and if the going is good, then the family earns around Rs 300. But on most of the days it is between Rs 150 to 200.
Two of his sons are married and his daughter-in-laws also lend their hand in making the items which are used in almost all Bihari homes. His daughter is the youngest and studies in class 7 in a government school. His youngest son is also studying in class 10 and aims to become a government servant.
The demand increases manifolds during Chhath, the most prominent festival of Bihar. But even during Chhath Suresh says he is unable to earn more as people have more bargaining power and refuse to buy if he increases the price.
A soop normally sells for around Rs 10 while he charged Rs 25 for a daura. There is no fixed place where Suresh sells his wares. Since he cannot afford a permanent shop so he sits near the roadside to do business.
When asked if his economic condition has changed over the years, Suresh says only marginally and that too because his son and daughter get mid-day meal in the school which saves some food for others in the house. Except for his youngest children, no one in his family is literate.
But the biggest change in his thatched two room hut is an electric bulb. He says he got the electricity connection after witnessing the improved condition of power supply in Araria. “There is at least 20 hours of power supply now. Till three years back it used to be hardly 7-8 hours in day. But things have improved and now I have a bulb. We can work in the night and are able to make 3-4 extra soops and dauras. My children can also study in the night,” says Suresh.
He is also politically aware and claims his family never fails to cast the vote. Although he is not aware of the candidates contesting from Araria, but he says the fight is between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While refusing to reveal his preference, Suresh says he will vote to ensure a better future for his children. “All leaders talk a lot. You should carry our message to them. It will be of great help if they can give us some money. Everyone says Modiji promised Rs 15 lakh to everyone last time. If I can get such a huge amount, then it will change our fortune. We are very poor. The village will decide whom to vote for collectively,” he says.
He also has an advice for the leaders crisscrossing the state on helicopters. “They should keep in mind poor people like us. They are powerful people and can do a lot for us if they want to. Maybe they fly too high and cannot see us but it is our vote that ensures that they can use helicopters,” he adds.
Araria will vote in the fifth and final phase on November 5 along with 56 other seats. The constituency is witnessing a four-cornered fight between Congress candidate Abidur Rahman, Communist Party of India's Dr Captain Sudhir Ranjan Jha, Haider Yasin of Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) and Ajay Kumar Jha of Lok Janshakti Party.
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