Miseries of poverty, marginalization

Price-hike, Poverty and Police are adding to the miseries of the poor while price-hike and poverty hit the poor hard, the police is not even behind as in the name of security check up, they humiliate the labourers, complains Wali Muhammad Khan, a semi skilled worker in late 40s.

“Every day, I have to face tough time or sort of humiliation rather mockery of my poverty at the hands of police posted at too many check posts on way to Islamabad where I go to earn my livelihood by repairing pressure cookers and other small household gadgets,” said Wali.

Wali Khan who hails from Rahim Yar Khan has been doing this job for the last nine years and sending whatever meager amount he earns to his family back home. He is a street service vendor who have to travel 60-80 kilometer on his bicycle in search of his livelihoods, no matter there is rain, hot or cold.

While passing through streets, his pre-recorded voice tells potential customers of his services. He starts at 7am and ends up late in the evening and earns hardly Rs 300 a day. He pays Rs 80 per day as rent for a bed he hires at a Raja Bazar ‘sarai’ (small hotel.

Wali Khan told INFN though he leads a very tough life in hard work, even then he feels he is living a better life than beggars who have to compromise on their integrity even.

Father of three children, Wali Khan hardly has enough money to connect frequently to his family. He goes home every three or four months and in the mean time, the family manages to speak to him through hotel land line.

“My income is not a fixed one. Sometime I do not find any job. So I have to manage that way. I know many of the beggars even have mobile phone but I cannot afford it as have to send money back whom so that my family can eat and children get education,” said a determined Wali Khan.

He does not seem disappointed as he feels that due to his hard work his family is saved from starvation and children are not deprived of basic education. He hopes that good days will come up when his children will be grown up equipped with some level of education. At least they may think of coming out of poverty, added Wali Khan