Sujatha paid a bribe for ration

Sujatha (name changed) looked vulnerable. The apartment people told her not to come because of the pandemic. She used to work as a maid in three houses before COVID 19 shattered her plans. A ‘madam’ provided Rs 2000 for her to survive these two months. She had a family to look after. Her husband, an irresponsible man busy chasing alcohol did not help her case either. When she heard the TS government is providing free ration to BPL households, she thought “This is a blessing. I can survive for the next two months without worrying the expenses.”

Next day morning, she visited the shop. There was an unexpected twist. The ration shop owner in his nonchalant voice asked Sujatha for a bribe of Rs 100.

“I am just taking a small amount. You should understand,” he must have said. But for Sujatha, it is not a small amount. She is surviving without a job and now forced to pay an extra amount to get what is her basic right. “It happened with me last year too. That was during Bathukamma free saree distribution by the government. The government has announced the odd-even system for shops to open. But some policemen are asking bribe to let these shops open." Sujatha has resumed her work. She was waiting for that moment because she has no one else to depend but herself. Sujatha is not a name and this story is not a fiction!