PT instructor to mason to mango plucker in less than a month

KOLAR: Plucking mangoes near his village,

Narasimha

says he has several thoughts running through his mind. Any honest

work

done to earn money is honourable, feels the former PT teacher. Then again, having lost two jobs in quick succession, he has thought of ending his life, apprehensive about how he will feed the dozen-odd family members dependent on him.


It has been a horribly rough ride for the 37-year-old, who until recently was PT teacher--cum-coordinator at Vardhi Public

School

at Mallanayakanahalli village, about 110km from Bengaluru. A graduate who received an honorary doctorate for his achievements in folk arts, Narasimha is currently out of work as the school is closed for the lockdown, and receives only part of his salary.

Narasimha says he worked with various art troupes but it paid little so he joined the school. He became a mason soon after the school shut, and made about Rs 450 a day, working with a contractor in his village, Dommasandra village in

Mulbagal

taluk. After a fortnight, though, the construction work was stopped and that earning dried up too. He now plucks mangoes for a daily wage of Rs 300. “My aged parents and some 14 family members are dependent on me,” says the father of two.