Housing schemes in Takhar to benefit helpless women

TALOQAN: Thousands of disabled, widows and helpless Afghan women would get houses in two residential colonies to be constructed in the northern Takhar province.

Thousands of women whose houses were destroyed and husbands and sons killed in 25 years of war would benefit from the projects being executed by the Women Affairs Ministry.

Women Affairs Minister Dr Masooda Jalal told Pajhwok Afghan News on Wednesday she had proposed the construction of the residential colonies in Takhar to provincial department concerned, in front of which thousands of disabled people and widows had gathered.

She said her proposal was approved by the government. The colonies would be built with financial assistance from donors and funds allocated to the Women Affairs Ministry.

Masooda Jalal, who promised that the housing schemes would have all facilities, stopped short of saying when the construction work would be launched and how much the project would cost.

The minister went on to vow the construction of a park for women in the province. Widows and needy women appreciated the project planned for their betterment.

Taloqan resident Amina (32), a mother of six whose husband died in war, said: "My minor sons sell water and polish shoes to eke out a living. They toil all day long to enable the family to pay 4,000 afghanis in rent for the house we are living in."

Fatima, whose right hand was cut off in a rocket explosion in the Taliban era, said: "I have lost a 14-year-old son, six-year-old daughter and my hand."