“This is a beginning of a new life for me where I don’t have to depend on anyone to support me”.
Those were the words of the 46-year-old Umesh Chand of Jittu Estate Raiwaqa who has been begging on the streets for the last 12 years
Chand said he could not believe it when the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar visited his home and gave him a new bean cart worth $300 and $200 worth of ingredients to make sweets to start up his own business.
Chand used to work as a laborer at the Labasa sugar mill.
He started begging after he got paralyzed 12 years ago.
Chand highlights that he will be able to sell sweets using the new cart and earn income for himself and his family.
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