Elderly Shoe Shinner Preaches Dignity of labour

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: Though unemployment is increasing across the country including Meghalaya, there is a need for them to find ways and means to come up with employment solution. Through hard work and dedication and by not discriminating on the type of job on hand youths can definitely tackle unemployment on their own. Here is an instance of an elderly person demonstrating dignity of labour.

Hailing from Smit, East Khasi Hills District, he has taken up the job of shoe shining at Iewduh market since has since 1980 He has thus been earning his living and also becoming the source of income for his household.

B Kharjana told The Sentinel, "As I needed to provide for my family and because I'm not that skilled in other forms of work I took up shoe shining as a profession to earn a living."

Informing that in the past there were many others who had taken up this business, he said, "There used to be more of us but now I'm the only one left shoe shining at Iewduh market." Kharjana however said that he has never contemplated on changing his trade.

"Many youths nowadays are mostly educated unlike during my days. But, employment is hard to come by. Despite this, they are shy to take up small jobs or businesses like the one I'm engaged in at present because they are afraid of what society might say about them," he said.

Kharjana added, "The youths should not think about what others might say to them. They must have dignity of labour." On his daily schedule, Kharjana said daily for the last 40 years he has been catching a bus from Smit to Iewduh market. He sets up his business early in the morning to catch the early customers.

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