Poverty-stricken Ghor children involved in hard labour

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): Some children in western Ghor province forced to hard labour said they had no other option for earning livelihood for their families.

Mohammad Hassan, one of these children, is washing car along-side his elder brother on the bank of Hariroad River in harsh winter.

He said: “Work earn 100 to 200 afs daily on which we purchase essential items.” Now was the time for him and his brother to get education but due to economic problems they have to work, he added.

Hassan said: “It is very difficult to get into cold water, we know it is hazardous for our health but we have no other option, if we got to school then we cannot work and if we get education we will have no food in our house.”

Nisar Ahmad is another Ghor child, working at a shop against 100 afs. “From the past four year I work against 100 afs, I did not go to school from the past two years because our economic condition is not well.”

There are other children in Gho who carry out hard labour.

Abdul Rauf, 15, is working in a metal shop and gets 100 afs daily for his work. “I do metalwork from the past two years, did not go to school. If I go to school my sister and brothers will die from hunger.”

He said: “I bought bread, sugar and tea from the wages I get daily.”

Rozuddin, 12, is another teenage working in a metal shop like Rozuddin. He earn little amount of money daily on which he purchase bread, tea and other essentials.

Mullah Nasrullah Ansari, Ghor Social Affairs and Work Department head, said: “We had meetings with NGOs and trying to help children engaged in hard labour. We talked to governor and urged him to do something for children busy in hard labour.”

The number of teenage boys involved in hard labour had surged in Ferozkoh recently. This also included some teenage girls begging in the city.

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