Daily News

The life of Ghioz, the driver

Ghioz works for our project as driver. Previously, before the collapse of the Soviet Union he used to work as geographer. At the beginning of the independence of Tajikistan, during the civil war he was unemployed and led the livestock to the pastures as shepherd. After the disturbances he headed to Russia during summer to work as labourer on construction sites.
Since some months he works for CARITAS as driver. He definitely overqualified for this job but it is by far one of the best jobs in town. Compared to a salary from a Teacher with 30 USD, which is by far not enough to support one’s family, the 180 USD Ghioz earns, is quiet good. Regular salary and paid holidays is what many people dreams about.


Country development

The prices for fuel, firewood, meat and wheat are heavily increasing at the moment. The prices for fuel wood increased from 5 TJS per m3, six years ago to 35 TJS per m3 today. Prices for diesel increased from 2.5 TJS to 3.2 TJS in a week. The cost of one 50kg bag of wheat, which satisfies the demand of one family in a month, has risen to 150 TJS.
Considering the lack of know-how in the field of agriculture, reduced possibilities to irrigate fields, very expensive fertilizers, and the resulting decline of wheat yields, Tajikistan faces several difficulties on its development path.
The forests get denuded with increasing speed, due to restricted electricity supply, prohibitively high prices for fuel and the lack of alternative energy sources for heating.
Examples like these are not hard to find. Similar development can be observed in the health service, in the water sector and so on.
I’m not sure where the development trend of Tajikistan points. It seems that a lot of commitment is required to change the present situation.
If not, the poverty trap will continuously dominate the picture. For me it is very difficult to say where this will lead.