For these doll-makers, COVID-19 has taken away their enterprise, but not their hope

S. Mukesh, a fourth-year-engineering pupil and his teenager sister S Vibeshini, a second-year medical imaging expertise pupil, who hail from a mud doll-making household, deftly paint the contours of a mud doll at their home in Sallavanpet, Vellore. However, the standard pleasure is lacking from their faces. Since COVID-19 has impacted their household enterprise, they’ve not been capable of pay charges, and had been not capable of take their semester exams this yr.

“I was not able to appear for the semester exams in August as I could not pay the fees. The college management asked me to take a loan and pay the fees, but my father T. Senthil Kumar has also already borrowed to purchase raw materials to make the dolls,” stated Ms. Vibeshini.

Ms. Vibeshini and her brother now work with their father as most of their employees have left in the hunt for different jobs. “We have been in this trade for the past five generations. We used to have 20 staff members to make dolls and paint them. Every year we make around 10,000 dolls, ranging from three inches tall to 3 feet, and sell them during Navaratri, Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chathurthi. But this year, our business has plummeted and I am not sure how we will even eat next year,” stated Mr. Senthil Kumar who runs the doll-making firm.

Breaking into tears he stated that although he’s pleased to see his kids participate in their conventional work, he’s very upset at their lacking their examinations resulting from his lack of ability to pay charges. “I have no other go as my staff members have left as I was not able to pay their wages. So my children are helping me now to complete the dolls. But I want them to study well and do well in life,” stated Mr. Senthil Kumar.

Ms. Vibeshini nevertheless is hopeful. “I used to make dolls and paint them when I was a child. So I am happy to help my father. I know things will turn around soon,” she says.