Vulnerable mothers seek government support

KABUL (Pajhwok): The National Mother’s Day is celebrated in the country at a time when some mothers have turned to hard labour or started begging on roads and streets to learn livelihood for their children.

It is pertinent to mention that due to the past four decades of conflict in the country most families had lost their men family members and women had to shoulder the burden of their families.

Marking the National Mother’s Day — June 14 — Pajhwok Afghan News conducted interviews with some of the mothers who held the responsibilities for their families.

Dida Gul, a mother who built bakery at the corner of her house in Qala-i-Naw, the capital of northwestern Badghis province, baked tens of bread daily and support her family economically.

She told Pajhwok Afghan News that her husband was unable to work because he is physically unfit and weak.

She established the bakery from the past eight years and daily baked over 50 breads. Hailing from Qades district, this family some years back migrated to Qala-i-Naw.

Dida Gul and other women like her wanted the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ (IEA) government to support them because they were financially struggling.

Zainab, not a real name, is a young lady and mother of three children her husband was killed and now had to lead a five-member family. She now sells vegetables on a handcart in capital Kabul to support her family.

Clad in a black hijab, she asked the IEA not to stop women from work and provide greater opportunities for women because most people in Afghanistan struggled with unemployment.

Another elderly woman who lost her young son in the conflict and now held responsibility for financial needs of her family said in one of Kabul schools she worked as cleaner.

She did not want to disclose her name and told Pajhwok Afghan News: “One of my sons was martyred four years ago, my widow bride got married another man and left four children to me.”

She complained against poverty and added she got 6,000 afs monthly from her school job and the amount was not enough for their monthly expenses. She also asked the IEA to support her.

But Ferishta Hashami, a teacher in the Ahmad Shah Masoud School in Sharhr-i-Naw while congratulating Mother’s Day, said she had no economic issues, had a prosper life and the only problem was being away from her sons.

She hoped that job and education opportunity for her children are provided in the country so that all youth away from the country could return.

Shukia Shams, from the Macroryan area of Kabul also congratulated the national Mother Day, and said she was working in order to educate her children.

She said the IEA did not stop women from working in private sector and urged authorities not to halt women from working in government institutions and provide education facilities for women and girls.

Shukria said she was not faced with economic problems and due to hard work she was able to educate her children.

The IEA often reaffirmed its commitment to women education and work and pledged that women would be allow to work and get education when a suitable environment is created.

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