Mangaluru: 2 Vijayapura families running funfairs stuck in city since 6 months

Bajpe: Two families that had come to Mangaluru from Vijayapura to organise a funfair in the Perar festival have been stuck here since the beginning of the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

Both the families, a total of 13 members, are from Vijayapura’s Indi taluk. Their main source of income is operating amusement facilities such as toy trains, Ferris wheels, carousel etc.

However, since the beginning of the lockdown, the families have been living a staggered existence at Paduperar along with their unpacked amusement items.

Since the end of March, the families have been living on an open ground at the Paduperar village supported by the Perara temple administration, Paduperar gram panchayat and donations from villagers.

Akkubai, one of the amusement operators, stated that many of their equipments have started to rust due to the rains. There are almost three truckloads of items. Travel expenses on each truck is Rs 30,000 totalling to Rs 90,000. We do not have so much money hence we have stayed put.

“Somehow we found temporary income through a few daily wage jobs. We have purchased all these amusement items on loan. If there were fairs and festivals we would have been able to repay the loans. However, now there is not enough money to even eat full stomach,” Akkubai adds.

Another member from the family, Sakkubai, complemented that there are good people in these villages, they have taken good care of us all these days.