AHMEDABAD: When Fakir Mohammed, a class IX student, saw a burning garbage mound in Pirana he had absolutely no idea that it would help him in paying his hostel fee. Fakir, who studies in Surat, had joined his friends on a trip to Ahmedabad a few days before Diwali.“We were passing near the Pirana landfill site in a bus, when I saw a garbage mountain and the smoke billowing from it. I had read about the burning Pirana mound so sought more details about it from my friends. I was told that 1,000-odd rag-pickers work at mount Pirana from dawn to dusk, gathering plastics, iron, schoolbags, clothes, bottles among others,” said Fakir.Suddenly, it struck me that I too can earn some money here and pay my hostel fee. “Since I don’t have parents to take care of my hostel and school fees, the school is kind enough to reduce my total fee from Rs 18,000 to Rs 5,000, which I try to earn by working at a tea stall in Surat,” Fakir said.The next day when some boys from Chandola lake were going to Pirana, Fakir too joined them. “They told me that there is no restriction, anyone can go there and collect things. I wore gloves and decided to collect iron and backpacks as these two items have the highest values in the scrap market. On the first day, I collected about 6kg of schoolbags and backpacks and sold them at Rs 120 per kg. So far, have earned about Rs 3,000,” said Fakir.He plans to work till November 20 at the Pirana landfill site and earn Rs 5,000 which will help him in paying his hostel and school fees. “I will come here again during my summer vacation. My board exam is next year and I want to earn more money so that my study continues unhindered,” he added.

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