‘Tax the rich to fund reconstruction’

Convention attended by hundreds of flood affected people, called for progressive taxation and land re-distribution.

MUZAFFARGARH: A convention attended by hundreds of flood affected people from all over the country on Tuesday called for progressive taxation and land re-distribution.

It was followed by a protest rally. The event was organised by Pattan Development Organisation (PDO) in collaboration with Tehreek Bahali-e-Sailabzadgan, SYCOP and Madni Welfare Organization. It was supported by the FES Pakistan, a German-based non governmental organisation.

PDO national coordinator Sarwar Bari said that the convention was called to launch a peaceful movement to highlight the problems faced by the people in the flood affected regions of the country. “It is a reminder,” he said, “that though the floods have passed, they have left millions of people without any means of sustenance. These people are in dire need of government assistance.” The participants expressed dissatisfaction with the relief and rehabilitation process being carried out by the federal and provincial governments.

They alleged that the distribution of Watan Cards was not being carried out in a transparent manner. Three months into the disaster, they complained, the government had not been able to provide basic shelter to all the affected people. The participants, however, thanked the aid organisations and the international community for its assistance throughout the calamity.

They stated that with the winter season approaching, a majority of the affected population was yet to receive aid sufficient to reconstruct their damaged homes. They demanded that the flood affected people who have not yet received a Watan Card should be provided with one immediately. The convention passed a list of demands and a report to be submitted to the Supreme Court for review.

These included the enforcement of Article 38 of the Constitution – which calls for limiting the concentration of wealth in a few hands.

Other speakers included Rani Waheeda Malik, Omay Kalsoom Sial, Latif Ansari, Isamail Kahskeli, Ali Hassan, Ms Nasim, Shahzad, Sadia Balouch, Mr Jameel, Ashiq Sajjid, Allah Baksh and Alia Firdos. A play titled Pattan Lok Natak was staged at the end of the convention. It was based on the destruction caused by the floods and how people were coping with it.

Convention puts forth following demands

An end to feudalism and re-distribution of land among the landless farmers, Involvement of affected communities in the relief and rehabilitation process

Legal action against landlords accused of breaching dykes

Imposition of tax on rich to fund the flood reconstruction

A 15 per cent reduction in all non-productive expenditures including Defence and non-development expenditures

Confiscation of the property of people who have got their loans written off in the past

Restoration of the old local bodies system, the distribution of aid should be made more transparent

A waiver of electricity bills of the flood affected people from July to September

Watan Card distribution should be made flawless and merit based

Details of the relief and rehabilitation be made public

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2010.