Srinagar: Mumtaza, a 12-year-old nomad girl from Pahalgam, South Kashmir’s Anantnag district earns her livelihood with the help of her adorable pet rabbit.
Bright and capable 5th-grade student, Mumtaza had to start looking for avenues of income when most of the children of her age are playing with toys. In order to support and create a better life for her family, Mumtaza has domesticated two pet rabbits for capturing photos/selfies with tourists.
Mumtaza earns 10 rupees per picture, posed with her rabbit, which is very less, but enough for this little girl to refuse to let the ability to dream die.
Taking pictures with pet Rabbits at the world-famous tourist spot Pahalgam is the only means of income Mumtaza has to escape the cycle of poverty.
Talking to ETV Bharat Mumtaza said that she wants to study and become a doctor or an engineer, but poverty deprives her of educational opportunities.
‘My father was a labourer in Pahalgam village. He was earning decently to suffice the needs of our family, but unfortunately, his failing health, from last seven years didn’t allow him to continue his work’’, said Mumtaza.
As a result, Mumtaza had to take the lead and be the breadwinner for the family at such a tender age.
Mumtaza has two younger brothers and four sisters. She is the eldest daughter of her family, studying in a government middle school at Pahalgam.
Mumtaza’s father Abdul Majeed Awana is suffering from TB (tuberculosis) for several years.
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While she earns Rs 200 per day, 'but it’s not that easy either', said Mumtaza. Mumtaza grabs her rabbit in the morning, rambles around the Pahalgam Park, in search of potential tourists, who can click selfies with her pet.
At 12 Mumtaza, wants to earn more money to construct a comfortable house for her family.
Mumtaza lives with her family in a mud house at Pahalgam.
‘The struggle associated with my work has become a part and parcel of my life. These rabbits are the only means of income for my family and there is nothing except this I can look forward to. It’s not easy to make ends meet with a big family, but somehow we manage,’’ said Mumtaza gloomily.
Razia, the younger sister of Mumtaza, who wants to become a police officer said, "limited sources and meagre income challenges maybe insurmountable, at the moment." So she is ready to jump on the bandwagon to support her sister in her concerted efforts in creating a better life for her family.
