We spend the whole day collecting plastic bottles and sleep in the temple in Ramzan at night
I was born in Mahendranagar in Dhanusha. My parents migrated to Rautahat a decade ago. Now there is a house in Gujra-8 Muslim settlement. I grew up in misery because the family's financial condition was weak. I could not read because of the problem of eating and drinking. My father used to sew clothes. We left that job and came to Gujra. After the death of father Imrain Mustaki a year ago, our family was hit harder.
I am the eldest among us three brothers . I am good at cooking different dishes. However, when looking for a job, I couldn't find it anywhere . So I am collecting plastic bottles thrown by passengers on the road. Brother Nur also walks along . Younger brother Eid works in a meat shop in Janakpur .
It is our obligation to carry big sacks and pick bottles on the east-west highway even in the heat of the afternoon. I can't say I'm tired. We walk 10 kilometers daily to collect waste bottles.
We three brothers couldn't read . Couldn't study because of the financial situation . Now I am 30 years old . I am single . Bhai Noor and I eat food with the money we collect from bottles throughout the day and give some amount to mother . If you earn a lot, it will be as much as 800 a day . For that, about 40 kg of bottles should be collected .
We collect the bottles thrown away by passengers and sell them in kilos. The moneylender gives Rs 20 per kg . Sometimes we walk to the east and sometimes to the west to collect bottles. At night we sleep in the Ramjanaki temple of Chandranigahpur. We don't have a home here . We are from a poor family. There are 5 acres of land in Mahendranagar. Now there is a plan to sell it and build a small house near Chandranigahpur. Mother Amida Khatun now lives in Gujra.
Sometimes if you don't find as many bottles as you want, you won't earn even 300 . Brothers and sisters, we are engaged in this . Brother Noor is good at cutting meat . He also wanted to work in a fresh house . No one kept . It's sad. Now it seems like this is the way to live life. Employment is not available . When walking in the hot sun, it sometimes feels like collapsing. Both of us wake up early in the morning and have dinner at the hotel. Then the search for the bottle begins . We don't have a single farm here.
We think that we are an example of how the life of the poor is. Two brothers earn 20 to 24 thousand per month. Therefore, the household expenses of the mother and themselves have been covered. We three brothers have not become citizens. Dad said he would make it later. Later the father passed away.
Now we will make citizenship in a few days . My dream of becoming a big man by studying has all been shattered . A year ago, we went to the relatives of the village asking for help. But the intention of the relatives was to torment and provoke a self-respecting person .
Even the clothes worn by the poor were commented and made fun of. Even though we were poor, we did not let our self-esteem fall. We are going here because we are not going to extend our hands to our relatives even if it is by collecting garbage. If the expectations are not met, there is a risk of people reaching the level of severe disappointment . What we expected in life, we never got it .
presentation: Shiv Puri
