Tharparkar crisis: Where relief goods cannot reach, election material did

Court official says toxic water, malnutrition, lack of healthcare led to deaths.


Naeem Sahoutara April 08, 2014
All the election material reached each and every individual of this district so they could all cast their votes. PHOTO: INP/FILE

KARACHI:


The remote areas of Tharparkar that the relief authorities find hard-to-reach are the same locations where election material reached promptly.


A court official appointed by the Sindh High Court (SHC) to inspect the relief operations - Mian Fayyaz Rabbani, the incharge additional district and sessions judge Mithi - pointed this out in a report presented on Tuesday to an SHC bench headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar. The relief inspector also revealed that consumption of toxic water, malnutrition and a lack of healthcare facilities are responsible for the large number of deaths in Thar.

The judge observed that during the 2013 general elections there were about 515 polling stations in the area. All the election material reached each and every individual of this district so they could all cast their votes. If the polling material could reach then why can't the relief goods be taken to the drought victims in the same manner, the report questioned.

"Therefore, it is suggested that the relief goods be distributed, keeping in view the same principles adopted at the time of the elections," it stated.

Water

The report stated that a majority of the people and cattle in far-flung areas of Tharparkar are drinking rain water that they store and which has become 'toxic' over time. This leads to various diseases. The report recommended installing several reverse-osmosis water plants.

Food

The inquiry report declared that hunger and drought have the worst effect on pregnant women and children. It suggested that the government take serious steps to ensure fair distribution of relief items, including wheat, fodder for animals and property.

Highlighting the loopholes in the relief operations, the report pointed out that the government is providing 50 kilogrammes of wheat to each family but it is not including unmarried men. "Do bachelors not eat food or were they exempted from the drought?" the report asked. Rabbani suggested supplying wheat bags to all those whose names are present on the electoral rolls and after verifying their names on their CNICs.

Health

During his visits, the relief inspector also found that the government hospitals and dispensaries are not functioning in all the districts - Diplo, Chachro, Islamkot and Nangarparkar - except the headquarters, Civil hospital.

He found that seven women medical officers were working under the Memorandum of Understanding with the Sindh government. There was only one child specialist and one gynaecologist at Civil Hospital, Mithi, while a surgeon was working in the Nangarparkar's taluka hospital. There is a sufficient stock of drugs available in the hospitals but there are no medical facilities in the far-flung areas, he added.

The report suggested improving the link-road infrastructure throughout the district to make the desert areas accessible. All the medical dispensaries in the entire district should be made thoroughly functional and all medical officers and the paramedical staff must be present at all times.

Livestock

The report pointed out that livestock is a major source of livelihood for the Thari people but a large number of the animals have died due to the unavailability of treatment and diagnostic facilities. The living standards of Tharis have fallen below the poverty line due to the deaths of their animals, the report said.

CJ Baqar accepted the report and adjourned the hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2014.

COMMENTS (3)

Polpot | 9 years ago | Reply

"Tharparkar crisis: Where relief goods cannot reach, election material did" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thats why democracy is the best revenge, Of the Govt on the people.

Nkhan | 9 years ago | Reply

Shame on "Ourselves" and "Our Genius Government".......... This is the country where people celebrate on the blood of our citizen....and where "Dead People" stays alive in the name of "Philosophy".

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