Weddings are out, lensmen turn butchers, welders

Weddings are out, lensmen turn butchers, welders

Devanathan.Veerappan@timesgroup.com

Madurai:  23.06.2020

The lockdown in place to contain Covid-19 has forced many wedding photographers across Madurai, who lost their livelihoods, to take up various odd jobs to feed their families during this crisis.

A Sathish Prabhu, 42, a city-based wedding photographer, who lost all his orders worth close to ₹3 lakh due to lockdown is now running his chicken shop full time, which used to be his side business. He said that he had invested close to₹20 lakh towards equipment for wedding photography and videography and has to pay ₹25, 000 towards EMI.

“My chicken shop is not doing well either. Earlier, I earned ₹25, 000 every month from it by operating only for three days in a week. I operate it throughout the week now, but hardly earn ₹15,000,” Prabhu said.

R Raja, another wedding photographer from Vilachery, has returned to his less profitable but physically demanding welding store, which he once ran.

“I have to earn something to feed my family. Apart from welding, I also paint vehicles like auto rickshaw. The work is tiresome but I do not have any other option,” he said.

M R Balakumar, another wedding photographer from Avaniyapuram said he has now taken up his father’s trade of bag making (bags issued in textile stores). The demand for bag has also come down due to low sales in stores.

“I was earning ₹25, 000 on an average in a month through photography. But now, I am finding it difficult to earn even ₹8,000 ,” he said.

It’s not just photographers who have taken to less profitable jobs but many have taken up odd jobs to keep themselves afloat during the troubled Covid times. A businessman, who plied four school vans to ferry students, is now working in an eatery. Umar Ali, a resident of Yagappa Nagar, said that he employed four drivers to run his vehicles. But due to lockdown, there is no income. He spent all his savings to pay salaries to his drivers.

“I am taking up all sorts of jobs coming on my way like loading and unloading vegetables at markets and serving food at an eatery. I would need more than ₹1 lakh to get my vehicles ready to get fitness certificate and to pay insurance, without which I cannot move the vehicle after lockdown is eased,” he said.

LOCKDOWN EFFECT: R Raja, a wedding photographer from Vilachery is doing welding work and painting vehicles, as bookings for functions have been cancelled