BHADRAK – Sixty-three-year-old Pama Tibetan has been suffering from paralysis for the last six years.
But that does not stop him from travelling all the way from Mysore to Bhadrak, every winter, to sell warm clothes. He is incapacitated on the right side.
A Tibetan refugee, Pama, left his country and came to India in 1959 during the China-Tibet war.
With livelihood options very few for refugees he depends on the profits from the winter garments sale. Though he has none to look after him, he does not find the ailment, a handicap. His wife left him after knowing about the ailment.
He says ‘‘this keeps me moving ahead without thinking about the challenges that life has thrown at me.’’
He is one of the 17 others, who have made Bhadrak their winter home for the last 15 years. From October to January, they lead life in makeshift stalls and make whatever profits they can.
‘‘Bhadrak is where I earn my living. I am grateful to India as the country provided shelter’’, said Pama in a stammering voice. He can’t speak clearly either due to paralysis.
Bargain is a big no at these stalls. ‘‘We have no money for business we procure these winter garments on credit from Ludhiana mandies and repay after the season is over,’’ he says.
But, it’s the quality product and affordable price which helps them do a good business here.
‘‘People do not bargain much as they are aware we give them the best at the right price. We make a business of around Rs 40,000 each every winter of which Rs 20,000 is profit,’’ he adds.
Pama shares his profits with another young boy of Sikkim, Bijay Tamang. A Plus Two student, he comes to help Pama and goes with Rs 5,000 as his share. We lead an entire year with the profits earned here, Pama says.
But, as winter garments are not a perishable products, the sales have been dwindling over the years, said Bijay adding ladies items are more in demand here and the customers primarily belong to rural areas.
Pama and his group have made an agreement with Bhadrak Club, which provides place to put up makeshift tents here. They charge Rs 50 per tent.
