Welcome to by lanes of real India!

Few facts about the highly romanised informal sector...

Last year I come across the same and posted on Facebook!

In Jaipur, also tried to closely observe few roaring road side food vendors making a good average sale daily!

Rough calculations resulted in sales of 20000 per day for each...

The Samosa Vendor At Bombay:

It was my regular train journey home from work. I boarded the 6:50 pm train from Church Gate.

When the train was about to leave Marine lines, a samosa vendor with an empty basket got on and took the seat next to me.

As the compartment was sparsely occupied and my destination was still far away, I got into a conversation with him.

Me: "Seems like you've sold all your samosas today."

Vendor (smiling): "Yes. By Almighty's grace, full sales today."

Me: "I really feel sorry for you people. Don't you get tired doing this tiresome job the whole day ?"

Vendor: "What to do, sir ? Only by selling samosas like this every day do we get a commission of 1 rupee for each samosa that we sell."

Me: "Oh, is that so ? How many samosas do you sell on an average each day ?"

Vendor: "On weekdays, we sell 4,000 to 5,000 samosas per day. On an average, we sell about 3,000 samosas a day."

I was speechless for a few seconds. The guy says he sells 3,000 samosas a day at 1 rupee each. He makes about 3,000 rupees daily, or 90,000 rupees a month.

That's Rs. 90,000 a month. OMG.

I intensified my questioning and this time it was not for time pass.

Me: "Do you make the samosas yourself ?"

Vendor: "No Sir. we gets the samosas through a samosa manufacturer and we just sell them. After selling we give him the money and he gives us 1 rupee for each samosa that we sell."

I was unable to speak a single word more but the vendor continued...

"But one thing, most of our earnings are spent on living expenses here at Bombay. Only with the remaining money are we able to take care of other business."

Me: "Other business ? What is that ?"

Vendor: "It is a land business. In 2007 I bought 1.5 acres in Palghar for 10 lakhs and I sold it a few months back for 80 lakhs. Now I have bought land in Umroli for 40 lakhs."

Me: "What did you do with the remaining amount ?"

Vendor: "Of the remaining amount, I have set aside 20 lakhs for my daughter's wedding. I have deposited the other 20 lakhs in the Bank, Post Office, Mutual Funds, Gold and bought Cash back Insurance."

Me: "How much schooling have you had ?"

Vendor: "I studied up to third standard. I stopped my studies when I was in the 4th standard, but I know how to read and write.

Sir, there are many people like yourself, who dress well, wear a tie and suit, wear shoes, speak english fluently and work in air-conditioned rooms. But I don't think you guys earn as much as we do wearing dirty clothes and selling samosas." informal wedding dresses

At this point, what could I reply. After all, I was talking to a True Indian Millionaire.

The train chugged into Khar station and the samosa vendor got up from his seat.

Vendor: "Sir, this is my station, have a good day."

Me: "Take care."

The questions at the back of my mind

1) Does the manufacturer pay GST ? (There are more than 10 samosa vendors on the train)

2) Am I a fool, linking my Aadhar card, Pan card, Bank account etc and paying Income Tax by way of deduction at source, buying Car on loan, House on loan, Bike on loan, TVs with emi, Apple phone with emi!

There must be few lac such outfits across India!

Welcome to the real India !!!

There ought to be an outreach program to get such business's onboard in rational manner!

Many Lower level Govt functionaries milk these vendors on regular basis...