Over 1,500 service providers like caterers, tent house owners, musicians and photographers, all of whom are essential elements of wedding celebrations, held an exhibition of their wares here on Wednesday, demanding that the government withdraw attendance curbs on social functions.
The 90-minute protest exhibition, with counters set up on the stretch between Randhir Verma Chowk and SSLNT Women’s College on Luby Circular Road from 10am, displayed articles used by such service providers to drive home the point that these had been rendered useless for the last six months. The only way to revive the fortunes of these service providers was to lift the curbs on social gatherings and allow participation of 300 or more people.
On display were utensils like cauldrons, trays, crockery and cutlery, flowerpots, cameras, lens, drums, trumpets and generators, all laid out in organised fashion with participants wearing masks and gloves and adhering to social distancing.
Florists at the protest exhibition in Dhanbad on Wednesday Gautam Dey
Some protestors held placards bearing slogans in Hindi like, “Sabhi gharo me khushiyan dene wale aaj ho gaye hain berojgar,” “Vivah samaroh me pachas vyakti se adhik hone ka swikriti pradan kare sarkar” and “Berozgari ki maar, hamari bhi sune sarkar, ham ho gaye berojgar,hamare pariwar ke baare me bhi soche Sarkar”.
Later they handed over a memorandum to the district administration.
The protest was held in accordance with a decision taken on September 15 at the executive committee meeting of Dhanbad Zila Decorator Association, an umbrella organisation of decorators, tent house owners, caterers, florists and musicians.
Vinod Rawani (42), a decorator of Godhar area of Dhanbad, said, “I am in this trade since the last 12 years. But never have I faced such a situation. I am unable to pay an EMI of Rs 22,000 for a loan wroth Rs 10 lakh which I took t start my business.”
A protester holds up a banner highlighting his state of unemployment in Dhanbad on Wednesday Gautam Dey
He said the last six months have been terrible as he found it extremely difficult to take care of his family.
“The last marriage function for which we worked was in Baseria on March 11. Since then I have earned nothing. I can only hope that the government provide some relaxation in norms so that we can also earn our livelihood,” said Rawani.
Navin Kumar Gupta, a photographer of Hirapur, said he used to earn around Rs 30,000 per month on an average, working on assignments ranging from weddings to anniversaries and birthdays. “Now, my income is almost zero. And I have to pay a studio rent of Rs 2,500 per month, along with an EMI of Rs 3,000 per month for my mirrorless camera,” he said.
Gupta appealed to the government to provide some relief. “Otherwise, we will be compelled to sell our articles and leave our profession,” he said.
