'No time for campaigning, need to sell fish'; Meet Manju, BJP candidate in Panayam

KOLLAM: While other candidates are busy campaigning for local body polls, Manju, the BJP candidate from Panayam ward in Kollam, is selling fish. Manju cannot opt for campaigning instead of selling fish, considering the health of her ailing husband.

Manju goes to work at a nearby house early in the morning. She comes home in the afternoon and takes care of her husband, who is suffering from a stroke. She goes to Kanjiramkuzhi junction to sell fish from 3 pm. On many days, the fish is sold out by 9 pm. Manju's party workers offered her financial help, but she generously refused it.

Manju has now decided to reduce her work time and focus a little on campaigning. She is also planning to request the owners of the house where she works as domestic maid to allow her time to attend campaigning.

Manju started to go to work when her husband, Sivaraman, a daily wage earner, became bedridden two and a half years ago. Working as a domestic maid alone would not be sufficient to clear off the debt incurred for her husband's treatment. That led to her starting to sell fish seven months ago. Her two daughters are married.