Sole female literacy initiative in G-B facing extinction

With the dissolution of the National Commission for Human Development, over 100 employees will also lose their jobs.

GILGIT:

The only female literacy initiative in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) is facing extinction with dissolution of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD). More than 100 workers working under NCHD in G-B will also lose their jobs.

The NCHD, which was created in 2002 to achieve the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), was functioning under the federal government until recently, when government transferred it to the provincial governments under the 18th Amendment. However, due to lack of funds the provincial governments refused to take the organisation, after which it was decided to abolish the institution altogether.

“We are running from pillar to post, but nothing [positive] is happening,” Ejaz Ahmed Khan, a senior NCHD official, told The Express Tribune on Saturday.

Khan said he is trying to convince the Provincial Action Committee (PAC) to launch a movement to get NCHD transferred to the G-B government.

“With the closure of NCHD, the government will lose the only initiative to spread female education in the province,” he said.

He added the commission has been actively involved in improving primary education in Pakistan. “The commission had launched a campaign in all parts of G-B to ensure all children are given primary education,” he added.

However, the government’s response after the devolution has been disappointing. “Our programme was really successful in G-B and we were expecting the government would continue it,” he explained.

“The PAC also held several meetings with the government to highlight the commission’s role in improving education. However, we have not received any positive response from them,” he said.

He added the government had reduced the number of centres in G-B from 500 to 100, and the staff members are going through a lot of stress due to the closure.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2011.