Leading an independent life at the age of 92

MYSORE: For this nonagenarian, carrying a basket of fruits and walking long-distance is regular routine. She travels miles together selling fruits in parts of city just to eke out a simple living.
Meet Puttamma, who hails from Rammanahalli, which is 10 km away from the city. Even at the age of 92, this lone woman is alive and kicking and living independently.Her husband passed away a few years back and daughters are living separately in the same village.
For Puttamma the day begins at 4 am. She purchases fruits worth Rs 250 every day and starts the business carrying a weight of minimum 10 kg daily. By evening, she finishes selling fruits like orange, banana and mosambi in areas like Yadavagiri, Gokulam, Jayalakshmipuram and other surroundings places.
The lady says her customers include businessman and bureaucrats. Kannada poet Kuvempu was once her regular customer. Recalling the days of yore, Puttamama says the poet used to treat her politely and was supportive to her business for some years. Of late, she is finding it difficult to invest in the business.
Even today Puttamma does not travel in city buses because she finds it inconvenient. Everyday she earns a profit of Rs 50-100 from her business. She is a well known name among the residents of the localities and finds time to chitchat with some of the homemakers too.
However, she grieves that government's delay in handing out old age pension is making her life more difficult. Puttamma says that once in three to five months she gets pension. Though one of her daughters is ready to help her, Puttamma wants to lead life independently.