65 years old, and differently abled,  vegetable vendor Ram Parwesh Rai , basket on his head, roams around to sell vegetables from Sabalpur to Sonpur. It is not easy, but Ram Parwesh Rai cannot bother about his age while doing his work and earning his daily bread. A son of a poor family had studied up to the 2nd class and dropped out to help his family after death of his father. That was 50 years ago. He decided to sell vegetables. He has been selling vegetables for 50 years. He doesn’t grow the vegetables, he buys them wholesale.
Ram Parwesh Rai says that he earns about Rs 150-200 rupees daily. As a father of four he says “I gave my best to  livelihood and education of my kids” but now, his sons and daughter-in-law aren’t kind to him.
He says that “I have complete family but no one lives with us”. His daughter is married, sons  live in different state, I live with my wife  in Sabalpur.
He  used to sing Ramayana in different places. He remember “shlok of Ramayana and Geeta” later on due to hearing loss, his pith did not match with others so he gave it up. He believes in God, he always carries “Hanuman chalisa” in his pocket.
He says it is  good to do hard work rather thanto beg and he is very satisfied.
Rinku Devi, a 55 years old widow , sits near the footpath of Sonpur Station. She has been selling vegetables for 3 years. She says  she earns 200-300 rupees daily depending on people who buy. She started vegetable selling after the death of her husband. She sells vegetables from ‘8 O’clock in the morning to evening 6 O’clock’.
As a mother she is very disappointed with herself she says “ I could not educate my daughter”, she says. Her daughter would help her sell vegetables but she is married now. Rinku Devi lives alone.
She said that many people taunt her but she does not look back and she is doing her work proudly and living with respect.
They are the real heroes in their life, who do not beg but  do hard work proudly and live with respect.

Neha Nidhi