Karnataka: Engineering student sells flowers to make ends meet

DAVANAGERE: A 5th semester engineering student has taken to selling flowers to help his family make ends meet.
Chandrashekhar M, 20, who studies information science and engineering (IS&E) at National Institute of Engineering (NIE), Mysuru, said he returned to his home in Nittuvalli, Davanagere, after the nationwide lockdown was imposed in March. With his widowed mother struggling to eke out a living, he decided help by selling flowers.
Chandrashekar said he buys flowers worth Rs 1,000 and his mother, Karibasamma, makes garlands out of them.Initially he went around Saraswathi Extension and Shivakumaraswamy Layout on a cycle selling the garlands, but now he hires a push cart for Rs 20 a day. “It’s more comfortable and I can carry more flowers,” Chandrashekhar said.
He works from about 6am to 10am and earns a profit of about Rs 200 to Rs 300 a day. He attends online BE classes in the afternoons.
Chandrashekar said he’s an old hand at selling flowers. He began after the demise of his father when he was in SSLC. He said his earnings help his sister too. He passed SSLC and PUC with merit scores and secured admission to NIE College through CET.
He stayed in a rented room with two friends in Mysuru and worked part-time with tax-auditors. He hopes to clear UPSC civil service exams after he completes his BE course and acquire a government job.