What could be more pleasurable than having a long winter vacation for students where they can remain completely detached from books and studies, and indulge in recreational activities? But, this is not the case for some students who hail from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
For them, it is an opportunity to earn some extra cash to meet their educational expenses for the upcoming academic session. In Phuentshogling, some school children from Pasakha are selling fruits, mainly oranges, along the highway at Ramitey and Rinchending. “We wake up 3 in the morning and reach here by 6. It is not easy to bring fruits from far distance. But we are enduring the hardship so that whatever little we earn can be spent for buying school uniform and other things,” said Bir Maya Tamang.
Another student, Krishna Kumari is also selling fruits to reduce financial burden on her parents.
Students said, since they buy fruits from farmers and then sell it to the customers, profit is meagre. Nevertheless, they are happy with whatever little they earn. A dozen of oranges is being sold at Nu 152.
