Widows, single mothers find income and support system at Koyambedu

Each day at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex begins with trucks following each other like ants dropping off perishables for sale. This 295-acre wide community provides livelihood for thousands but more importantly, dignity and safety for many women vendors who are single, separated or widowed. The vibrancy of the bustling, colourful marketplace makes them forget domestic troubles — they treat each day as a new beginning.

For Seethalakshmi, a fruit vendor, the market is the centre of her existence. The 46-year-old says, “My late husband ran a stall here but after his demise, I took over. Not only did it create a secure occupation and stable income for me, but also a comfortable future for my children too.”

Her daughter aged 24 is working at an accountant’s office and son, 29, works with a food delivery app. “I want to get both of them married into nice families and I’m proud to say that by selling fruits, I have managed to save enough with a little help from my children,” she says.

While the women who work in the wholesale market mostly operate between 10 pm and 10 am when the demand is highest, retail vendors work from 10 am to 10 pm. In between customers, Seethalakshmi along with many other others, share stories of home, the previous day’s business, a funny or rude customer, what transpired in a Tamil serial and more. “I miss Radhika Sarathkumar’s Vaani Raani — the show ended and now I don’t know what to watch,” giggles Rathna V, a 34-year-old single mother.

Small talk and gossip keeps her from thinking of all her troubles at home. “I left my husband four years ago because he didn’t know how to respect me. I have been selling greens at the Koyambedu market since 2012 and spend nearly eight-to-ten hours a day to make around Rs 300. He would beat me to give him money to drink,” she says.

Not just Rathna, several other women at the market face domestic abuse nearly every day but she took the bold step of leaving her husband. “My family supported my decision so I took my son and walked out. My father recommended that I find an occupation for myself and that’s how I became a vegetable vendor. The money isn’t great, but I wake up and sleep a happy person every day. I’m free from my husband’s torture and I have all these people (other vendors) to cheer me up,” she says.

Being in Koyambedu market’s vibrant setting helps such women overcome loneliness, despair and poverty. Velammal, a septuagenarian, says that she has seen many women find solace in the lanes of this market after undergoing turmoil. “I have been associated with the complex for the past 40 years and have seen it give life to those in need. Yes, the stench of rotting perishables is unbearable and everyone’s yelling all the time — but even those who have gone through really tough times have found a purpose here,” says the old lady as she sits by her son, who manages their vegetable shop.

Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex directly or indirectly provides livelihood to over nine lakh people across Tamil Nadu. “This includes several destitute women, orphans, widows, divorcees and so on. A few weeks ago, I saw an elderly lady selling cucumber from a wicker basket in the market. She could barely stand and the sun was beating down on her but I was proud of the fact that she was supporting herself financially instead of resorting to begging,” recalls V R Soundararajan All Vegetable Markets’ Association Advisor.

“These days, even transgender people and scheduled tribes get government aid but no one knows how many women without familial support are trying to make ends meet in the fruit, flower and vegetable markets. We would be grateful if the government helps those struggling alone in whatever way possible,” concludes Flower Wholesale Marchant Association Present MD Arul Visuvasam.