A ‘strong’ 85-year-old woman named Shila ghosh is doing everything to meet ends meet for her family at this age. She is working hard and selling chips on a footpath to earn money. She refused to beg

A ‘strong’ 85-year-old woman named Shila ghosh is doing everything to meet ends meet for her family at this age. She is working hard and selling chips on a footpath to earn money. She refused to beg and has chosen to live with dignity.

She is working since five years after her son died due to lung cancer. Her 30-year-old nephew is working as a mover on meagre wages.

She is working since five years after her son died due to lung cancer. Her 30-year-old nephew is working as a mover on meagre wages.

When asked if she has a problem in travelling, she weakly smiles and says “No, the bus gets me here and my health is not that bad.”

When asked if she has a problem in travelling, she weakly smiles and says “No, the bus gets me here and my health is not that bad.”

Ghosh changes two buses to reach the Exide crossing on Chowringhee Road from Bally, in Howrah, every afternoon to sell chips on the pavement outside Haldiram till the flow of the homebound-crowd ebbs

Ghosh changes two buses to reach the Exide crossing on Chowringhee Road from Bally, in Howrah, every afternoon to sell chips on the pavement outside Haldiram till the flow of the homebound-crowd ebbs.

Shila Ghosh earns Rs. 400 per day which is not enough for a family of four. Circumstances could have easily forced her to beg but her dignity and respect is everything for her, she would work till t

Shila Ghosh earns Rs. 400 per day which is not enough for a family of four. Circumstances could have easily forced her to beg but her dignity and respect is everything for her, she would work till the end of her life rather than beg on the streets.

Here’s to the spirit of Kolkata, alive and kicking in the grit of this woman who has chosen to live with dignity.

Here’s to the spirit of Kolkata, alive and kicking in the grit of this woman who has chosen to live with dignity.

The Facebook post about her went viral. College girl Sufia Khatoon didn’t know Shila’s story, but would often pause to watch her from a distance and wonder what circumstances might have forced a woma

The Facebook post about her went viral. College girl Sufia Khatoon didn’t know Shila’s story, but would often pause to watch her from a distance and wonder what circumstances might have forced a woman older than her grandmother to spend evenings working.

A Facebook post later, 22 other Samaritans converged on the busy junction around 5.30pm last Friday to surprise Shila with a small donation last year. She had accepted the Rs. 1,600 we had mobilised

A Facebook post later, 22 other Samaritans converged on the busy junction around 5.30pm last Friday to surprise Shila with a small donation last year. She had accepted the Rs. 1,600 we had mobilised for her but declined further monetary help. She told us she wanted to earn a living rather than live off donations.

