Mr CM, his daughter waits…

In the early nineties, Vasant Magdum was contended. He had a fixed income, a caring wife and two daughters he adored. The Rs 5,000 he brought home every month was enough to help his family lead a comfortable lower middle class life. But then, in 1997, Khatau Mills, where Vasant used to weave cloth, downed its shutters. And the Magdums’ world crashed.

Today, Vasant (48), wife Sheela and 24-year-old Ranjana — his elder daughter got married — are struggling to make ends meet. He has a new 9-4 job, making paper bags. At 9 am, the Magdums begin sorting the pages of old magazines — Vasant buys 10 kg from the local raddiwallah (scrap-dealer). Then, using homemade glue, the pages are stuck together. Vasant sells them at a nearby lane. And returns with the day’s earnings — Rs 80.

‘‘We are just surviving, not living,’’ says Vasant, at his one-room house in Byculla.

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Vasant’s biggest concern today is Ranjana. ‘‘She couldn’t complete her studies due to financial constraints and now I can’t get her married because I have no money.’’ If Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde lives up to his promise (see box), Vasant might get Rs 2 lakh.

It would be a big relief. Vasant took a Rs 40,000 loan for his elder daughter’s wedding. ‘‘The amount has now gone up to 50,000 with interest. If I get money from the mill, I can pay off my loan and get Ranjana married,’’ says Vasant.