The horse-riding business in the Kashmir Valley has been badly hit since the last three months due to the ongoing unrest.
Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, a horse rider, used to earn good amount of money from tourists visiting Pahalgam, but for the past 81 days, his capacity to earn a living has come to a virtual standstill because of a separatist-backed shutdown.
"The occupation has been badly hit since the last three months. We used get some income from this occupation. No tourist has come here for the last three months. There are no jobs here," Mushtaq told ANI.
Mushtaq said tourists used to come from France, America, Delhi and Punjab, but for the last three months, no one is coming there.
"I have my father, two brothers and two sisters. We have not been able to eat anything for the last few days," he added.
Ponywallas or horse riders of Pahalgam used to make Rs. 1,500 to 2,000 per day, thus supporting their families who are mostly poor families.
More than 2,500 ponywallas or horse riders take tourists and locals to prominent tourist spots of Pahalgam, but the shutdown calls given by the separatists every now and then has affected their trade.