From Sandeep Sharma
GUWAHATI: Many industries and professions thrive on social events, and thereof the lack of it can cause huge losses to such industries and people.
With the Coronavirus outbreak, the entire nation has come to a standstill and with it the big fat wedding industry finds itself in a dire position. From weddings getting cancelled or postponed, and their workforce shrunk, the entire industry – caterers, wedding planners, makeup artists, designers, photographers – is going through a lean phase.
The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent restrictions put in place since the last two years have hit makeup artists, photographers, tent house owners, event managers, wedding planners hard as they are now struggling to make both ends meet due to the lack of social events.
Fear surrounding the virus and state’s restrictions on the gathering of people and public have snatched the livelihood of such workers, who used to earn through events like marriages, religious functions before the Covid-19 outbreak.
All the weddings and related events have been put to halt across the country amid the Covid-19 crisis. Hence, many events have been postponed or cancelled for the time being.
Himakshi Talukdar, who worked in Radisson Unisex Saloon at Pathsala, said, “It has been a very difficult phase. For the past two years, we have been unable to meet our basic needs. Our earnings have gone down to zero. Like me, many makeup artists are facing financial crises due to the covid restrictions.”
Photographer Parash Das, owner of JRD Hub studio said, “It is becoming difficult to manage the expenses of our families. Ban on gatherings means lack of livelihood for us,”.
“Like me, many others working in this field of photography now have to stay home due to the virus,” he added.
Chandra Roy, a tent House owner of Pathsala said, “No event has been held for the last 2 years. No gathering has been allowed. We cannot even pay our helpers, I would request the government to help us at this hour of crisis.”
Many such people and industries that once thrived are not struggling to survive amidst the new normal. Only the removal of restrictions and the disappearance of the virus or the fear attached to it can bring some respite to them.
