LHWs say rights groups mute on their plight

Vow not to budge till govt accepts their demands

ISLAMABAD:

There are thousands of government and non-government entities working for women rights across the country, but no one came to support the lady health workers (LHWs) who have sitting under open sky at D-Chowk in Islamabad for their due rights, said a protestor on the third day of the sit-in.

The LHWs working under the federal government have staged a sit-in demanding pay and perks at par with their counterparts working under the provincial government. They have also demanded better service structure, health allowance and life insurance. Many women have taken the stand with their infant children. In a conservative society like Pakistan, it is a great endeavour for women to rally far from home.

"I do not curse anyone, but I curse this government from the bottom of my heart. They have deprived the poor of bread. We are sad that police were called to threaten and beat us. Do they beat the daughters and mothers of a nation, that too in public?" said a 60-year-old LHW while talking to The Express Tribune. A leader of LHWs Rukhsana Anwar said that the Special Assistant to PM (SAPM) on health Dr Faisal Sultan arrived at D-Chowk for negotiations, he also heard the demands of workers. However, she said:

“We will continue to the sit-in till our demands are met and a notification is issued." SAPM Dr Sultan visited D-Chowk, after listening to the demands of the health workers said that he has taken all the details. He informed that he has spoken with Dr Yasmeen Rashid, and he will once against speak to her. He further said that we will speak to CM Punjab Usman Ali Buzdar and will see which demands can be accepted. Rukhsana Anwar said that in fact SAPM has done nothing except babbling about him talking to this and that.

The LHWs demanded that the original shape of the national programme for family planning be restored and a unified bonus and salaries be issued to all the employees in the provinces and the federal territories besides AJK and G-B. Paying Rs20,000 to LHWs in Punjab, while those in Sindh get Rs35,000 is oppression. They demanded to make service rules after forming service structure of employees.

Moreover, they have demanded provision of security during polio vaccination drives. Meanwhile, the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) has deployed additional police to end the sit-in while additional contingents of policewomen have been called at the D-Chowk for baton charge on women protesters. Besides policewomen in riot gear, Rescue 1122 ambulances have also arrived at D-Chowk for any untoward incident. Containers and barbed wires have been placed to completely seal the D-Chowk routes leading to the parliament to contain the protesters in a limited space.