KOCHI: Dinesia Yesudas, a girl studying in fourth standard sells pickles in a cart as street vendor to feed her family. Ten year old Dinesia does this to look after her sick father and blind mother. She is the only daughter of Yesudas and Jesse of Palluruthy Mary Cottage. The cart has been on Palluruthy ESI Road for a year.

Dinesia doesn't have a home of her own but has a lot of dreams. "From a young age, my mother could not see or hear. Doctors said she could see if she had surgery. My father had three holes in his spine. Pus comes out from that. My father used to go for painting work, but he is unable to work now. Although we sell lottery, the income is too less. That's how pickle sales started. " , says Dinesia.

The pickle is served by her father's friends. There are many types of pickles, such as fish, garlic, ginger, mango and lemon. Rs 90 for fish pickle and Rs. 50 for others. If you sell a pickle, half the money goes to Dinesia. The rest should be given to those who give it. Teachers and friends buy pickles. Her father sits in the shop when she goes for class. She arrives at 5 pm and stays till 7 pm. Then goes home and studies until nine. Now Dinesia stays in shop full time. She studies at Our Lady Convent Girls LP School, Thopumpady. The three live in a small room in their father's younger brother's house.

"By selling pickles, we get money for food. It is a great help to my father. I want to study and become a Malayalam teacher. Then I have to look after my father and mother." says the girl.