Orange season in winter has always provided an opportunity for students to earn some cash. About 30 students in Samdrup Jongkhar are packing oranges in one of Samdrup Jongkhar’s depot. Most of them are female students from Wangphu and Gomdar.
They pack oranges until late into the night. This has been their daily schedule from the past two weeks.
13-year- old Chimmi Yuden from Wangphu is a class six student. This is her first temporary job. She says her parents alone, would not have to bear the burden, to put her through the school. She says she can pay for the school stationeries and other items she earns from the temporary job.
The students stay at the depot. The orange exporter provides them three meals a day. The Orange Exporter SonamDorji, said the cost of the rice is deducted from the wages the students earn. He said the students bring vegetables from their village.
Chimmi and her friends earn 10 ngultrum for every box of oranges they pack. Each of them can pack 36 boxes a day
