"Reliance on agencies other than family members, friends, orGod as ultimate provider, is almost unknown. When the chips are down, onereaches for others in a similar plight to one’s own. Although this seemsfutile, it is what works. "At Lumbini Park, we are a community – the icecream and chivda vendors, we balloon sellers, the coconut water man – we eatand drink together, and if one is unable to attend to his duties, others take itup. A lot of give and take, borrowing and lending goes on in our lives. Wesupport each other." Shaik Baba, Lumbini Park balloon seller and my guidearound Hyderabad, describes this network of helpers. "Madad hai to uparwale ki"(If there is help, it is only from God), says Mohammed Tyab, and his sentimentsecho among the rest. "Unu hai to apan hai, unu nahin to apan nahin" (If Heis there we are there, if He isn’t we are not) , says Chandrakala. At everyplace I visit, I bring up the topic of outside help, what if the government waswilling to help in selling, and setting up a permanent shop for these toys? Thereactions are mixed. " Getting payment from the government is a long drawnprocess" says Tushar Ball of Calcutta. "Selling on the streets directlymakes better sense". Ajay, who learnt to make toys and wind jute rope from histalented father Mukandilal, who is no more, says in Agra, " If anyone offershelp, they will have high expectations too. It will become like a duty. Rightnow we have the freedom to work or not work, then we will not have even that."At several places, loans have been promised by local MLAs, or offered by a bank,but never have these come through.