Chapter Notes and Summary
• Different Occupations : People in this village are involved in different professions such as blacksmiths, teachers, washer men, weavers, barbers, mechanics, shopkeepers and traders.
• Shops : Kalpattu village has a variety of small shops such as tea-shops, grocery stores, barber shops, cloth shops, tailor shops, fertilizers and seed shops.
• Life of a Woman Farmer : woman, Thulasi works in farm land of Ramalingam and does various work like transplanting paddy, weeding and harvesting. She earns 40 rupees daily. She also does household tasks like cooking, cleaning and washing clothes.
• Other Rural Families : Rural people travel to cities in search of work. farmers who own land take help of other farmers during harvest. They buy seeds and fertilizers on loans and return by selling paddy to traders.
• On Being in Debt : Farmers borrow money to fulfil basic needs of farming land. Sometimes, they are unable to return loan due to failure of monsoon, which results in debt and finally major cause of distress.
• Farmers : In Kalpattu village, there are labourers and farmers. All of them depend on farming. Big farmers cultivate their land and sell their products in market. Some people in village depend upon forest, animal husbandry, dairy produce, fishing, etc.
• Sources of Livelihood : Farming and collection of mahua, tendu leaves, honey, etc. from forest are important sources of livelihood.
• Rural Livelihood : People in rural areas earn their living in various ways. They undertake in farming or nonfarming activities. However, some people do not find work to keep them employed throughout year.
• Pudupet : People earn their living by fishing in sea in this area. Catamarans (fishing boats) are used for fishing.
They return to coast with their catch to sell in market. Fishermen usually take loans from banks to purchase catamarans, nets and engines.
• Rural : Rural areas are settlements outside towns and cities. Such areas are distinct from settled urban and suburban areas.
• Harvesting : It refers to collection a gathering of ripened crops in a season.
• Fishing : occupation of catching fish for living.
• Coastal Areas : Land next to sea; seashore.