THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: P Raju, a middle-aged man, has never been dismayed by his own disability. He has very well taken care of his family despite his physical shortcomings. But the past two weeks have been really hard times for Raju.This weak-looking man with his twig-thin limbs has already shuttled between his tiny shop at the eastern gate of the Museum and the nearby Museum police station more than eight times so far. Raju is being called frequently to the station with reference to a complaint that has been filed against him.The police have reportedly told Raju that he has been selling snacks and mineral water at his shop, which is strictly against law and that the police have even received a complaint on the issue.The reason why his sale of snacks becomes ‘illegal’, according to the complaint, is that Raju sells these articles at what once used to be a public telephone booth.On further inquiry, Raju has come to learn that the complaint has been filed by one among the abled, healthy shopkeepers who run a similar business on the Museum premises.Earlier, Raju had been forced to shut down his phone booth due to poor returns. He had earned his living selling recharge coupons, moving from one shop to another on his paddle cart since then. Raju reopened his shop following a Government Order permitting the sale of mineral water, snacks items, lottery tickets, newspapers and magazines at phone booths owned by disabled men.The order was issued on January 17 this year by the Social Welfare Department in response to the continuous appeals of the disabled phone booth owners after they had been left jobless by the foray of mobile phones."I opened the shop only after we got the order from the Social Welfare Department. The order clearly allows us to sell mineral water and snacks in our shops. The sale of these items is only restricted in shops run by the disabled people within the hospital premises. When I have not done anything against the law, why should I be called frequently to the police station,’’ he asks.Raju says that although he has explained his innocence to the police, they have not been heedful and have always called him repeatedly to the police station. "I have even brought up the matter before the Kerala State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation (KSHPWC). Nobody is willing to help’’.Resultantly, Raju is left to deal with two issues; the police case and the debts he has so far incurred during his lean patch."I opened this shop hoping that I could clear off my debts soon. However, I need to sort out this case before I can concentrate on my business,’’ he says.
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