Juggling jobs: Bihar teacher turns food delivery rider to make ends meet

Patna (Bihar) [India], November 25 (ANI): Amit Kumar, a physical education teacher in Bihar, is struggling to sustain his family despite holding a government job. Earning a meagre monthly salary of Rs 8,000, he spends his days teaching at Babu Pur Middle School in Bhagalpur district and his nights working as a food delivery rider for a private company to make ends meet.
The 35-year-old teacher juggles two jobs, tirelessly working from 5 PM to midnight after school hours. Amit's story underscores the challenges faced by government employees with inadequate salaries and the extreme measures they take to support their families.

Speaking about his struggles, Amit told ANI, "After a long wait, I finally got a government job in 2022. My family was overjoyed. I had taken the exam in 2019, and the results came in February 2020. I scored 74 out of 100, and we were thrilled. My family thought our situation would improve. Earlier, I worked at a private school, but when COVID hit, I lost that job. After two and a half years, I got this government position, but the salary was fixed at just Rs 8,000, and I was labelled a part-time employee, meaning I wasn't required to stay long hours at school. Initially, we worked full-time and encouraged students to participate in sports."
"The students showed interest and even won medals. But even after two and a half years, the government hasn't increased our salary or conducted eligibility exams. Life has become difficult. Senior teachers here receive Rs 42,000 as salary, while we get only Rs 8,000," he added.

The challenges don't end there. Amit revealed that he didn't receive his salary for four months earlier this year, forcing him to seek alternative income sources. "After February, I didn't receive my salary for four months. I had to borrow money from friends, and the debt kept piling up. On my wife's suggestion, I searched online and found I could work as a food delivery rider. There was no time restriction, so I created an ID and started working. After school, from 5 PM to 1 AM, I deliver food.
"With Rs 8,000 as my salary, I can't even think about expanding my family. I wonder how I can provide for the next generation when I'm struggling to feed myself. I got married two and a half years ago when I got the job. I'm the eldest son and need to stay at home to care for my elderly mother, which is why I am compelled to take up this additional work," Amit explained. (ANI)