Shifting responsibility: CM blames nature for Thar tragedy

Says media is blowing the issue out of proportion to defame his government

KARACHI:

The Sindh chief minister failed to live up to his promise to reveal the 'hidden hand' behind the conspiracy being hatched against his government with regards to the Thar tragedy. He, however, stated that not a single child had died of hunger. "I challenge these reports, which have created hype and defamed my government," he said.

CM Qaim Ali Shah made these remarks in response to the allegations leveled by the opposition members who claimed that 'incompetency', 'mismanagement' and 'corruption' were the prime causes of the 175 deaths of children in Thar district.



Addressing the Sindh Assembly session on Tuesday, Shah said, "Children have died in Thar, not because of the government's negligence. It is not the error of doctors, but the fault of the weather." He added that severe cold and pneumonia were the major causes of the deaths.

According to the chief minister, the area was hit by drought after every three to four years, but no one had ever highlighted the issue before now. "Around 193 children died in 2013 during the tenure of the caretaker government, but all media houses were tight-lipped and no one criticised them. Now, however, some section of the media has created hype against my government."

The chief minister explained that Tharparkar district was spread over 22,000 square kilometres and women preferred to give birth to children at home. The mothers preferred going to quacks and traditional midwives rather than travel to cities to be attended by doctors. "People rush to Mithi hospital after their child's health has deteriorated. Under these circumstances, it is difficult for doctors to save their lives," he contended.  "If it was hunger, people above the age of 10 years would have died too.  Not a single adult male or female has fallen prey to the calamity," Shah informed the house.

The CM, while endorsing the reports of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said that the Tharparkar district was already the worst-hit area in terms of child mortality ratio. His government, however, will now take measures to ensure that doctors are available at every basic health centre. "We have identified 259,000 households and have distributed wheat among them. Only 20,000 families are left who will also get the relief within a couple of days," he said.

"I promise the people of Thar that this government will make drastic changes over the five years to improve their living standards," he announced.

Earlier, lawmakers belonging to the opposition and treasury benches delivered brief speeches on the Thar tragedy.  Syed Sardar Ahmed of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, said, "Media is presenting the true picture. The bureaucracy is responsible for the whole tragedy.  I want to ask why no preventive measures were taken, given the lack of rainfall."

Most of the lawmakers stressed the need to have a permanent solution for Thar. "I have visited the areas. The government's relief activities are limited from the deputy commissioner's office to Mithi hospital," said Jam Madad Ali of Pakistan Muslim League - Functional.

During the session, all agenda was deferred to discuss the Thar issue. The thin attendance, however, was a testament to how serious the lawmakers were. Those who were present, were busy talking to each other. The speaker warned the members to go back to their seats, but hardly anyone heeded to him. The speaker finally announced: "The US consul-general, Michael Dodman, is visiting the assembly today. You should all make sure you keep the house in order." The members subsequently took their seats and maintained the decorum of the House. Soon after the arrival of the American delegation, the parliamentary leader of each party welcomed them on behalf of their party.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2014.