Bandra resident Mohan More*, 25, has been super busy for the past 10 days. More, who works as a delivery boy for a prominent courier company has taken two weeks off, to help a particular political party with the campaigning for the upcoming October 15 state elections. The job is yielding him Rs800 a day, apart from two fixed meals. More couldn't be happier; by the end of the elections, he would be earning a big, fat Diwali bonus.
"Our company gives us a Diwali bonus, but that barely suffices for all that we would want to do in Diwali. For the past three years, I couldn't buy new clothes for my family, but this year, I hope to buy them something," said More.
Like More, many others are thronging daily to any political party's office for jobs. They are mostly employed in four to five hours and there are usually two shifts in a day. The jobs includes participating in the campaign rallies, distributing party pamphlets, and other clerical jobs such as preparing voter slips and distributing them among residents. With Diwali approaching, most of them have taken up both the shifts, just to earn more. What's interesting is that money increases as the poll day approaches. It could go up to around Rs2,000 a day.
Mohan Kelkar *, 30, also a delivery boy, is working back-to-back for both the shifts. The Tardeo resident makes Rs8,000 a month. Kelkar's wife works as a domestic help and he has two children.
"Our total salaries does not cross Rs12,000 a month. So, this extra money we hope to earn means a lot to us. Not only, it will take care of the family's Diwali expenses, we can also save. Both my wife and I, are working for a party in our area. I am working for consecutive two shifts, my wife is working for a single shift," said Kelkar, who has taken leave for a fortnight from his regular job.
Kelkar's wife, Janki said, "Crackers are so expensive. I have never been able to buy them for my children. This year, hopefully we can, and our children can participate in the neighbourhood celebrations. I will also use a portion of the money to make Diwali sweets and savouries."
Janki, like many other domestic helps and other people from unorganised sectors, expect some goodies from the party they work for. "Some of my friends and relatives had got sarees and crockery sets during the April polls. I, too, hope to get some gifts for the hours I am putting in."
Kelkar grinned, "I am not bothered about which party would come to power. They are all the same. I am only concerned about the Diwali bonus."
Likewise, many unemployed youths have also chipped in to help the political parties. "Who minds making an extra buck during festivals, when you have all the time?" asked Ketan Parab, the 23-year-old from a Goregaon chawl, who graduated last year.
Homemakers, too, don't mind joining the bandwagon, in order to make some money, but they admit that Diwali is the only driving factor for them to step out for work. For instance, Sharda Parmar from Kandivli, said, "I don't usually step out of my home for work, but I'm doing it only for Diwali. I have to take out only three hours a day, for which I am getting Rs600. I don't mind making some quick buck."
In any case, who would?
* Names have been changed
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