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Dibrugarh: In a heartwarming display of community solidarity, residents of Sivasagar have united to rebuild the shop of an octogenarian vendor, affectionately known as “Kancha da,” after his cart was evicted by the Sivasagar Municipal Board during footpath construction work.Kancha’s shop, a familiar landmark on Boarding Road in front of Natya Mandir, has served generations of students from Sivasagar Multi-Purpose Higher Secondary School and nearby primary schools. For decades, the elderly vendor, now over eighty, sold toffees, chickpeas, and other small items from his cart on the footpath.However, recent drainage construction and road widening by the municipality forced his eviction, leaving him struggling to maintain his livelihood while sitting directly on the footpath.
The situation touched the hearts of several local youths, prompting them to take action.Led by Ayush Gogoi, advocate Rishilima Sharma, entrepreneur Nilam Kakati, youth activist Abhinav Dutta, and others, the group mobilized resources to rebuild Kancha’s mobile shop. They constructed an innovative solution—a new bicycle fitted with a large flat stand for stability, frames to hold his goods, and a colorful umbrella for protection from the elements.
“Kancha da is part of our childhood memories. Seeing him struggle on the footpath after so many years of service to our community was heartbreaking. We felt it was our responsibility to help him continue his livelihood with dignity,” said Ayush Gogoi.The volunteers not only built the mobile shop but also purchased all the goods to stock it, ensuring Kancha could restart his business immediately.As the mobile shop was handed over to him on Tuesday, the elderly vendor was overwhelmed by the community’s kindness, becoming too emotional to speak as tears of gratitude rolled down his cheeks.His reinstated shop, now proudly perched on its new bicycle stand, has become a symbol of local compassion, resonating deeply across the town.
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