The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : These flowers don’t spread fragrance

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Monday, May 19, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

These flowers don’t spread fragrance

Amutha Kannan

PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

Life goes on: Devamani, flower vendor. –

For Devamani, 38, the quintessential “pookaramma,” flowers are a way of life. But it has never been a bed of roses. Married at just 14, she has two sons aged 23 and 22.

Since her marriage, her husband and she, and now her children are all into flower vending.

While her family strings garlands, her husband sells them to temples and companies in the morning. Rest of the time he sells “mozhams” of “malli” at a small shop.

Devamani and her sons venture out in the evening time and sell flowers in front of department stores and other chosen venues.

Even though it may seem like four adults working, the family of Devamani easily falls into the urban poor category.

With a monthly income of Rs. 7,500, there is barely anything left to save, thanks to the inflation.

“Earlier, we used to buy 10 kg of jasmine at a maximum of Rs. 30 a kg. Now it is Rs. 100 a kg. For the Rs. 1,000 worth of flowers we buy, we try to sell for Rs. 1,500 in the form of garlands and strung flowers to wear on the head. After the tying and stringing charges we pay to helpers, the family is able to save approximately Rs. 250 a day,” says Devamani.

Devamani, in earlier days when inflation was not a thing to reckon with, managed to save some money to buy herself a moped which she uses to take her flowers and basket to the department store in front of which she sells in the evening.

Today, her expenses include Rs. 2,000 for house rent, approximately Rs. 3,500 for food and miscellany. With great restraint she manages to save some money for the wedding of her sons (both of whom are not educated).

“We did not realise the importance of education those days,” Devamani adds, who has studied up to Standard VI.

Even though the prices of all commodities have risen, the price increase in flowers has affected her family adversely.

This is not only because of inflation, but also because of not being able to sell enough to make profit.

“Many people do not buy. The market for strung flowers is very negligible. Unless there is an important need for flowers, women do not voluntarily buy these. They do not want to spend money on these. Even if they decide to buy, they haggle on the price,” she laments.

There are days when they do not even have enough money to buy the minimum 10 kg flowers from the market.

On these days the money comes from the pawn broker where Devamani pawns her jewellery.

“Sometimes I feel like quitting the business. But, we do not know to do anything else. We have to somehow continue to exist,” she laments.

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