Tribal%20daily%20wage%20labourer%u2019s%20lifestyle%20vlog%20earns%20him%20lakhs%20from%20YouTube

The story of how digital media can transform lives is long and winded. But from now, it will feature a chapter on Isak Munda, a tribal daily wage labourer from Sambalpur in Odisha, who went from struggling to earn his daily bread to earning Rs 3,000 per day running a food channel on YouTube.

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In March of 2020, when work dried up due to the lockdown imposed to stem the spread of COVID-19, Munda was at a loss about how to run his household. It was then, that he got inspired by food bloggers posting videos on YouTube.

Munda decided to post a video of himself eating just boiled rice and curry. The video became an instant hit on the platform having garnered over half a million views till date.

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The video shows the 35-year-old using his hands to eat a plate of rice, sambar, green chillies and a tomato.

But before making the video, Munda had to take a loan of Rs 3,000 to buy his first smartphone. %u201CI make videos about life in my poor household and village, showing what and how we eat. I am happy my videos are received so well by many. I am making a decent income now,” Munda said.

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Munda%u2019s channel %u2018Isak Munda Eating%u2019 has 700,000 subscribers on YouTube today. His videos feature local flavours and regional cuisine.

%u201CIn August 2020, I received Rs 5 lakh income from YouTube,%u201D Munda told a regional television channel adding: “I have built a house with the money and bailed out my family from the financial crisis. I have also decided to extend help to needy people as per my capacity.%u201D

Munda%u2019s purpose in life is not just to earn money. He sees his popularity as an opportunity to raise awareness among people about local food habits and their relationship with culture.