Srinagar, June 4 -- As the festival approaches, they face a familiar and daunting challenge: how to meet rising expenses on a meager income.

Basic things become tough to afford. New clothes for the family, special meals with mutton and chicken, small gifts for children carry a cost that feels heavier every year.

Prices for everyday items climb, but wages stay low. The tradition of giving Eidi, those small gifts for relatives and loved ones, adds to the pressure.

For labourers, meeting these expectations often means borrowing money they cannot afford to repay.

This borrowing creates a vicious cycle. What starts as a small loan can balloon into crushing debt. Interest rates are steep. Repayment plans stretch out. The stress of juggling ...