Kandahar: Hundreds employed in Arghandab projects

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): Hundreds of people have been employed in a number of agricultural projects in the Arghandab district of southern Kandahar province, officials say, adding the move has lowered crimes and drug addiction in the district.

As many as 1,600 people have been engaged in the projects including construction of several check dams, a retaining wall, a canal and the cleaning of karez systems.

Arghandab district chief Mullah Adam Ajami told Pajhwok Afghan News the projects were being executed with financial support of the World Food Program (WFP) over the past few months.

He said engaging hundreds of people had led to a decrease in crimes and the level of drug addiction among the youth.

He said the hired persons included those who previously consumed drugs, but now they had quit the habit and were working to support their families.

Ajami said they were trying to provide work opportunities to more people in cooperation with the government and aid giving agencies in Arghandab district.

Said Shah, a social worker of the ongoing projects in Arghandab district, said 321 people were involved in construction of a 1000-meter retaining wall along the Arghandab river.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News the rest of the people were busy cleaning a canal and karez systems, building check dams and other agricultural projects.

“Each worker receives 8500 afghanis per month and they work from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Most of these people were previously jobless.”

People working in the projects were happy for being provided with work opportunity, but they said long term projects should be launched to alleviate poverty.

One of the laborers, Gulab Shah, told Pajhwok. “I am very happy to have found work after a long period of unemployment.”

He said the retaining wall’s construction along the Arghandab River enabled him and may others to support their families and the project would prevent floods as well.

Another worker Matiullah said he was a drug addict, but now he was working and had given up using drugs.

He told Pajhwok: “I quit drugs after 10 years, now I am working here to eke out a living and support my eight-member family.” He urged the government to provide people with long term jobs.

The construction of check dams, retaining walls and canals and cleaning karez systems in Arghandab district have been ongoing for the past four months and officials say they will take ten months or a year to complete.

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