When selling eggs takes precedence over education

DIR: Young Bilal and his neighbour Hasnain holding a container full of boiled eggs run after each vehicle that stops for registration at the checking and clearance point at Lowari Tunnel in the hope to sell eggs.

They seem unaware of their health due to burden of earning a livelihood for their families as they don’t pay any attention to their health as their hands and ears have become reddish owing to 12-degree Celsius temperature. However, their pathetic situation is enough to catch the attention of the state institutions working for the welfare of children. They said that they were studying in grade-II in a government school, adding that they wished they could get quality education but poverty was the big hurdle in the way of their wish. They said they wanted to give a helping hand to their families in earning the livelihood.

The two minors said that they had the eight and 11-member families, respectively, and their fathers were poor and could not support them. Hasnain and Bilal said that they earned up to 150 to 200 rupees daily by selling boiled eggs. They say they cannot spare time to do the homework because they were so tired after work and they went straight to bed after having dinner. They said their families also compelled them to sell eggs rather than getting education.

The Lowari Tunnel is a busy route through which people of every walks of life including officers, educationists, civil society activists, NGOs employees, elected representatives and others pass. And they might purchase the boiled eggs to satisfy their hunger. However, none of them has ever paid any attention towards their plight. Sharif Ahmad, a resident of Chitral, said that the condition of these children was very miserable as they had to work in the tough weather condition.

Hundreds of children in Upper Dir are working in workshops, hotels, tailors’ shops, furniture industry, and other places which is a very alarming. Bahram Khan, a social activist, said that instead of organising seminars and workshops the child rights organisations should build schools and vocational centres to impart education and skills to these children.