“Two years ago, I did not know my rights”
—Kavita Devi, 35, a domestic worker and active member of Delhi Gharelu Kaamgar Union
Everyday Locavores
“We feel sad when they’re taken; we’ve raised them from birth. If they have kids, you’re constantly reminded of the loss”
—Jagdamba Dhuliya, who runs a goat farm in Jagatpur village
“Everything is so expensive now. Even tomatoes cost ₹100/kg. It’s not easy, but we manage”
—Janabi and Samir, a couple running a gaddo in Goa
“I love this job, and work hard for this money—why should I hide it?”
—Chandrakant Pant, who sells hilly edibles from his mini-truck
“Now there’s not even a drop in the cold rooms; it’s all dry”
—Sagar Hamav, worker at the Versova Ice Factory, Mumbai
“The BMC, police, courts, don’t belong to us; we only have each other”
—Naveen Yadav, a street vendor and activist in Mumbai, to whom running his stall is a political act.
“You should’ve come when we get bombil. It is beautiful, every surface of Mandav is covered with it”
—Leela Solanki, who dries fish at Versova village in Mumbai
“After my father’s passing, we took over the cart, but did not touch his special dabeli masala recipe”
—Dipesh Rajgor, who has been working at his father’s esteemed Mohan Dabeli Stall in Bhuj, Gujarat
“It’s the only way of life”
—Brijesh Kashyap, whose family has been making malai makkhan in Lucknow’s Gol Darwaza for three generations dating back to the 1940s.