Blacksmiths suffer amid lockdown in Deoghar, request govt for help

Struggling to find any source of income amid lockdown, blacksmiths of Jharkhand have appealed to the government to help them with food and relief items.

Deoghar (Jharkhand): In view of the nationwide lockdown migrant and poor workers, including blacksmiths are suffering due to lack of food in Jharkhand. With unemployment and starvation looming over their heads, at least 70 blacksmith families in Patardih village are not getting proper meals.

Blacksmiths of this village used to manage their livelihood by making handmade iron utensils but now due to lockdown they are not able to sell their utensils. Markets are shut and these poor people are left with no source of income.

Struggling to find the money for his survival, artisan Sikandar Sharma said, "Every year we used to sell utensils during Shravani fair and make money. But this year, due to lockdown we were not able to do anything and now, even our savings have ended. Our moneylender has also denied to help us. We now expect the government to help us in such a crisis".

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Blacksmith Meera Devi said, "We are struggling to survive in such a difficult situation. How are we going to feed our kids now?"

Upset about the loss in business, Mahajan Gopal Parsad Kesari said, "We are not earning anything because we are dependent on them. We are also helpless due to lockdown. It's not in my hands to help these artisans".

These blacksmiths have made an appeal to the government to help them with food and necessary materials during this lockdown so that they can feed their families.