Kolkata: For more than 50 years, Lakshmi Maity, 102, has been selling vegetable to meet her family's basic needs.
Every day Maity buys vegetables in bulk at Kolaghat as early as 4 in the morning and goes to the local market to sell the stock. She is a resident of Jogiberh village in Purba Medinipur district.
"After my husband died some 48 years ago, we had to go without food for days. To keep the house running, I took to vegetable selling. My son was only 16 years' old at the time," she said.
"Back then, some days would get really difficult, especially when I fell ill. I, however, always tried my best to meet the needs of my family," she added.
Over the last decade, Maity's fortunes have improved due to the backing of NGO HelpAge India, which has floated ESHG (elderly self-help group) scheme for women like her.
"Our situation changed for better eight years ago when the NGO provided Rs 40,000 as loan for setting up a tea-snacks vending business for my son," she explained.
Beaming with pride, Gour, Maity's 64-year-old son, said his mother is "an incarnation of Goddess Durga".
"Not only has she fed me, but also my children. She financed my daughter's marriage, got us a pucca house, and cleared her loans, too, Gour said.
Flaunting his android handset, her grandson, Subrata, 28, said, "What my father couldn't buy for me, my grandmother did. I can't be prouder."
Abhijit Sen, a senior official of HelpAge India, said women like the centenarian are an inspiration for the young and the old alike. (With PTI inputs)
