Prasnant at a park in Sector 7, Panchkula ( Photo By: Jaipal Singh)

WHEN 19-YEAR-OLD Prashant Prajapati came to Panchkula from his native Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh two months ago, he left behind his parents, but brought with him his ailing wife and a suitcase with little else but hope.

His two sisters and a younger brother, who already lived here in Sector 6, told him that his hopes would not be displaced.

All Prashant knew was some farming, which he had learnt from his father, who works in others’ fields at Baba Ghuisarnath Dham village in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh. Few days after coming here, he set out looking for work.

After being removed from a helper’s job at a shop within the first few days because the owner did not like his work, Prashant now works as a gardener at four places, including a Sector 7 public park, and studies in the evening sometimes. At each place, he is paid Rs 7,00 to Rs 1,000, and he manages to earn Rs 4,500 a month, out of which Rs 1,000 goes as rent for his shanty in Old Panchkula, and Rs 1,000 for wife’s treatment.

A student of BA final year at Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Pratapgarh, Prashant, called ‘Tinku’ by his sisters, studies Hindi, geography and political science in his degree course that he is pursuing through correspondence. With 50 per cent marks in the last year’s examination, he is confident of passing the final-year exam too.

There are over thousands of migrants from Uttar Pradesh who come to Panchkula every year in search of work to earn a living. Prashant’s elder sisters have been living here for several years, and they help relatives and friends find work and settle down. Most of them live in Indira Colony, Rajiv Colony and Old Panchkula.

It is through this network of relatives and friends that Prashant managed to find work. “I did not know anything about gardening, but one starts learning while earning. You should know which plant requires what kind of environment because people ask these questions when they give you work,” he says.

“It is tough to leave ageing parents at home, but one has to earn his own living. Ab shaadi bhi ho gayi hai, to kharcha-paani to chalaana padega khud hi (Now that he has got married, he has to take care of his family),” says Prashant’s sister Mamta with whom he stayed for some days before finding his own place.

Prashant got married to Sadhna a year ago. Her illness was another reason for him to leave Pratapgarh. “She often has unbearable headache. She underwent some medical tests, but the ailment has not been diagnosed. Health facilities are better here, these are cheaper too, unlike government hospitals back home where conditions are not so good. We spent over Rs 9,000 in the last four months in her treatment back home, and realised that we could not afford it anymore, and then decided to move,” says Prashant. She is now getting treatment in Sector 6 General Hospital.

“Kaam karna to zaruri hai (It is mandatory to work). Panchkula is a nice place, there are so many people from our native place here, so we do not feel alienated,” says Prashant.

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