Cleaning & Packing Parcels at Goa Post Office: How This Single Mother Raised 4 Kids After the Sudden Passing of Her Husband

Swati Naik from Khorlim, Mapusa, had a normal, happy life like any young woman. She dreamed of marriage and family, and for a while, everything went as planned. However, life had unexpected challenges in store for her. As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention, and Swati soon found herself at a critical crossroads — one where stopping was not an option. After her husband’s untimely passing, the responsibility of raising her children fell entirely on her shoulders.

“Around 1995, I got married, and soon we had a family of four children, and life was good, with my husband supporting me. But about six years into our marriage, he passed away suddenly. It felt like my world had collapsed. I was in complete shock, unsure of how to provide for my children. I had been mostly doing housework while my husband handled finances, and now everything was left to me. I had no one to confide in, but I told myself I couldn’t lose courage — I had to ensure my children got an education,” Swati recalls.

Around that time, a well-wisher advised her to take up a job to support her children’s future. “With no other option, I took up a daily wage job sweeping and cleaning the Mapusa post office. I needed money to survive and raise my children. This was the only job I could get without influence or bribery, which was common even then. This was about 25 years ago, and things were quite different,” she adds.

Years passed, and Swati continued her humble service at the post office. Then, some well-wishers suggested she take up the job of stitching and packing parcels, as the elderly man who previously did the work had passed away. “I had no knowledge of this work, but I decided to take the plunge. I learned how to stitch and pack parcels, and soon, I set up a small table outside the Mapusa post office to help people,” she says.

Today, Swati and one other man have been stitching and packing parcels in front of the Mapusa post office for the past 15 years. “For 15 years now, through sun and rain, I arrive here at 10 am and leave by 2 pm every day, except postal holidays,” she says.

It’s not a high-paying job — just enough to make ends meet. But Swati’s dedication is admirable. She continues working as a postal employee on a daily wage while also stitching parcels, sweeping, and cleaning the post office. Though her children are still unemployed, she remains hopeful and greets everyone with a smile.

The past 30 years have been long and difficult, filled with struggles and hardships. “After I started working as a parcel stitcher, I met many people, especially foreigners, who were grateful for my service. But now, foreign tourists are gone, and only Indian tourists use this service,” she explains.

The postal system has also undergone dramatic changes. Many village post offices in Bardez now offer parcel packing services, reducing the number of people coming to Mapusa. Additionally, with online and private parcel services increasing, Swati’s customer base has dwindled.

“People sending parcels have reduced. First, because foreigners have decreased. Second, because village post offices now provide the service, people don’t travel to Mapusa. Business has dropped, but I am still managing somehow,” she says.

Swati also notes that changes in postal regulations have made her job harder. “Earlier, the materials required for packing were minimal. But now, postal rules mandate that parcels be wrapped in plastic, cloth, and made completely airtight. This means I need more materials, which has cut into my profit margin. It’s a double blow—on one hand, I must follow these guidelines, and on the other, the cost of materials has skyrocketed.

If I increase my prices, people won’t come to me, so I’ve kept my rates the same,” she explains.

“Some days, I don’t earn anything at all. I sit all day without a single customer and return home empty-handed. Other days, there are enough customers to make it through. It’s an unpredictable income, but I have managed all these years and raised my children with this work,” she says.

Despite the challenges, Swati has remained a pillar of strength. Many tourists and customers have expressed gratitude for her services, especially since she charges reasonably. Her only dream is to see her children secure stable jobs and a good life.

March 8 marked International Women’s Day—a reminder that women have always played a crucial role in society. “Naari Shakti” or women’s power is a formidable force, and this story highlights one such woman who has been the backbone of her family despite overwhelming challenges.

Raising four children on a meagre income has been an uphill battle, but Swati stands as a courageous woman who has dedicated 25 years of her life to the Indian postal service. Through her hard work, she has helped countless people send parcels to their loved ones, ensuring their connections remain strong despite the distance.

News