JOIN USTroubled by severe drought in the district, residents of villages migrate to cities and towns and if they do not find jobs here they come to Bangalore and even go to bigger cities like Mumbai in search of jobs.
Literates and graduates can find jobs in cities, but others who are illiterate, semi-literate or economically backward have to remain in their village doing odd jobs. Odd jobs People from those villages which have remained isolated from agricultural and horticultural activities have to find odd jobs in urban areas. Vendors are engaged in selling of betel leaves, limestone, clay pots, flowers and toys are found in prominent streets of Chikkaballapur like B B Road, M G Road and M Visvesvaraya Stadium Road. “I could not find any job. So I started making clay items and sell them”, says Gopi of Tippenahalli. Flowers are grown and sold on a large scale in the taluk. Many people are dependent on the flower business. Maula of Chikkaballapur is one among them. “I have been selling flowers for several years now. Every evening I sell jasmine in a push cart. It is a hand-to-mouth existence for me”, says Maula. Women are also engaged in petty businesses mainly selling flowers and betel leaves at junctions of prominent roads.