The cost of living is high. In such a situation, it is difficult to meet household expenses. Moreover, it is difficult to spend household expenses for those who cannot see. There is no source of income. I cannot work. And how can I avoid poverty!
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It has been more than 15 years since I lost my sight. Everything was fine at home as far as I could see. Maybe it was because of the disease that I lost my eyesight. After a while, I stopped seeing. What happened to others when the world of the main person in the house became dark!
After becoming helpless myself, problems started to arise. I had hoped to educate my son and get him higher education. If I could, my dream of becoming an engineer, if not a teacher, was shattered. Now I have to beg every day to make ends meet. My son, who had dreamed of becoming a great man, leads me around. Even though the problem is in my eyes, we have decided to beg as father and son.
Many of my ‘blind’ friends are making a living by singing songs on the streets or selling small items. I am not in that situation. Since I do not have money, I do not even have the courage to do anything. There is a small hut in Chamanpur, Brindavan-6. I am 65 years old now. I have two daughters at home: my wife Hakijan Khatun, 13-year-old Savjana and 11-year-old Nabaja. My eldest daughter Rabja got married in 2080 Falgun. I, on the other hand, walk towards Chandranigahpur Chowk begging with my 10-year-old son Sajid Ahmed. My daughters study in the village madrasa. My son also studied in the madrasa, but since there was no other way to earn an income, I have been walking with him.
My wife also feels sorry for me. Before I lost my eyesight, I used to earn a living by working as a laborer in the village. After I lost my sight, all options were closed. In my old age, it hurts my heart to have to walk around begging holding my son’s hand. I can't sleep because I worry about how I will raise my children. If my son had been able to pursue higher education, I would have made him a teacher.
The cost of living is high. In such a situation, it is difficult to meet household expenses. It is even more difficult to meet household expenses because I am blind. There is no source of income. I can't work. And how can I avoid poverty? Nowadays, the money I earn all day is not enough to eat a single meal. No one has taken the initiative to stop this cost. There is nothing to do except sit around and think that my son will earn when he grows up. The social security allowance (disability allowance) provided by the government is 2,000 rupees per month. That money is enough to buy food, medicine and clothes for a month. That is not enough to educate my children.
No one can easily give jobs to people like us. And how to manage household expenses ? I am not very educated . I am a person who reads ordinary books . How many 'blind' friends are making a living by singing songs on the streets or selling small items . I am not in that situation . Since I do not have money, I do not even have the courage to do anything .
We would be happy if we were provided with skill-based training and food at a subsidized rate . Until people like me are made financially independent, the problem of household expenses will remain . Life itself becomes dark . Don't tell me that I have said too much, this is the reality here .
Presentation: Shiv Puri
Published in Household Expenses column Also read other materials
