By Asif Iqbal Naik , Kishtwar :- On one hand side the government imposes ban on Child labor, boy on the other hand side there are so many children’s who lacks the government support and had left with no other option except to work at home or hang his boots to go for work outside. In one such real heroic effort, 12 year old Doda boy Vishal Sharma after disappearance of his father 2 years ago too left with no other option but to shouldered the responsibilities of his entire family by providing them the earning hand in the need of the hour, when everyone turns blind eye towards their sufferings.
Toiling hard, unlucky Vishal Sharma was 10 year old when his father Rattan Lal Sharma son of Kung Lal Sharma resident of Shie Doda left the house and never returns back and since then this 12 year old studying in 7thclass at a private school in Doda works hard and becomes the lone earning hand for his family by making envelopes of scrape newspapers at home and then sell them in open market to earn food for his family. Vishal not only manage food for his family, but also manages tuition fee for his elder sister studying in 8thclass and younger brother studying in 3rdclass. Earning for his family member is a compulsion for Vishal since his mother Ambreeka Devi could not do any work due her illness as she was suffering from acute Lung Infection with problem in her respiratory system.
Vishal while forgetting his comfort and to burn mid night oil by making envelopes also needs to manage money for purchasing the medicines of his allying mother.
“I wake up early in the morning and went to bed late in the evening so that I devoted more time in making envelops so as to earn money for my family.” Said Vishal Sharma.
As tears rolling down for his cheeks, Vishal said that his entire childhood dream shattered soon after his father disappeared from his house some two years ago
Living in a small room on the outskirt of Doda Town along with his allying mother, a sister and a younger brother, 12 year old Vishal Sharma said that life has become full of sorrows soon after his father disappeared in 2010.
“My father left the house to see his father, but never return— Me and my mother approach several quarters including the police, but they too fail to find any clue about him.” Said Vishal Sharma. He said that after disappearance of his father no one comes forward to help them and he had left with no other option but to collect scrape newspapers for making envelopes to earn for his family.
“I don’t want my allying mother to die who is suffering from a Lung infection with one of her respiratory vein pressed— so one day I collected scraped newspaper and started making envelopes.” Said soft spoken and stunted Vishal Sharma.
While remembering her comfortable days, Vishal’s mother Ambreeka Devi said that her missing husband shifted to Doda town for work and to give better life to his children’s, but said that the destiny has something different to offer for them. She said that the bakery business of her husband hit red tape and one day he left the house and never return. “I want to die since I don’t want to become burden on my children’s— this is his playing days age, but my little son is burning mid night oil to arrange food for family and her medicines.” Said Ambreeka Devi who has lost all hopes after seeing her children’s fighting for his survival. She said that she knocked each and every door for seeking help to trace her missing husband, but said that she fail to find whereabouts of her missing husband. She said that she use stitch clothes earlier but due to her illness, she was not able to work and hardly stitches 3-4 suits in a month for which she hardly gets Rs. 300 which is far less than the money required by her to purchase monthly medicines which costs between 1800-2000.
Vishal sister said that her brother never let her feel down and instead encourages her to devote herself towards studies. “Besides paying my tuition fee, Vishal also arrange books and other study material for me— I am a proud sister that my brother while setting all his comfort a side at a young age provides him and his family the best thing that he could effort at this young age.” Said 14 year old Vishal’s elder sister studying in 8thclass.
After making envelopes Vishal pack them in a bundle of 100 and then went to market to sell the same to the shopkeepers who paid him Rs. 10 for small size and Rs.15 for large size envelopes.
“If I purchased newspaper @. 400— I was able to earn Rs.700 and thus having the profit of Rs. 300” said Vishal Sharma. He said that in case they did not found any buyer, his family then left with no other option but to sleep empty stomach. He said that he would never shy away from bearing his responsibilities towards his family. “After finishing the work in the morning, I then went to school and after returning from school, I finish my home work and then again engage myself into the work which than continues till late in the evening.” Said Vishal Sharma.
He said that he has a love for studies and never want that either his studies or they study of his brother or sister could suffer for the want of the money. He said that he every month paid Rs. 950 tuition fee at School which includes Rs. 400 school fee for his sister and Rs. 250 for his younger brother. He said that he will continue to fight for his family till his last breath. He said that during last two years since his father disappeared, he never sleeps comfortably with the hope that one day he and his family will get united with his missing father.
ap kaha ka hon