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Young World
Here’s to a helping hand
NIVEDITA GANGULY
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Check out how eight-year-old Daniel helps out his family.
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PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK
Weaving dreams: Daniel makes baskets with his mother
For eight-year-old Daniel, summer vacations are not the days when he can laze around under the shades of the trees or play marbles with his friends. The vacations are busier months for him when he has to assist his parents to earn some extra money.
He uses his time constructively to learn his family profession. The soft nimble hands work deftly with the bamboo canes as he sits under a shade with his mother to learn the skill of weaving a cane basket. They sell the baskets at Rs. 6 per piece to the fishermen and make a modest living.
Fragile lifestyle
However, with rising prices of essential commodities eating into their already fragile monthly budget, the family works extra hours to meet the requirements of their family. To make things difficult for them, the annual two-month ban on fishing also came as a big blow.
Daniel has an elder brother who also assists his father during the vacations to make baskets. “It’s difficult to sustain ourselves in such trying times.
The family condition is such that we have to give a helping hand to our parents during vacations,” says Daniel. The family manages to earn a meagre Rs.50 a day.
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