Flood relief: Favourites getting fertiliser, say poor farmers

Protesters blocked the road for more than two hours.

SUKKUR:

Hundreds of peasants and political activists staged a protest and sit-in at the Thull-Kandhkot road on Tuesday, saying that they had been passed over when the government was distributing seed and fertiliser to flood-hit farmers.

The farmers were accompanied by the activists of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaaz, Sindh National Front, Sindh National Party, among others. They blocked the road for more than two hours.

They complained that the relief goods, Watan cards, seed and fertiliser was being distributed to favourites and family. Support from influential men meant that no one was taking action against the officials. Besides the Sindh government, many NGOs were also distributing rations, seed and fertiliser but even in this case favouritism prevailed. Elected representatives were accused of hoarding seed and fertiliser in their godowns. These very same farm inputs are later sold in the open market where the very same poor peasants have to buy them.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2011.