Absence of local bodies delaying flood relief efforts

Flooding-induced delays in the local government elections in Sindh have led to a feeling amongst those wishing to contest that the absence of local government representatives has delayed relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The first phase of the local government polls was held in 14 districts of Sindh in June but the second phase which was to be held in July in Karachi and Hyderabad was postponed first due to Muharram and then due to the awry weather conditions.

Those who were going to contest the polls, apart from being dismayed at the delays, feel that local government office bearers are better aware of the sufferings of the people of their respective areas. One such election hopeful who subscribes to these views is Amin Khaskheli, a candidate for local body elections from the Badhni Goth area of Karachi.

“The flood victims have suffered more because their respective local governments were not in place. If elected local bodies were functional it would have helped a great deal in relief efforts,” Khaskheli opined. Similarly, Irfan Ahmed, the former town chairman of Larkana district, expanding on Khaskheli’s views, said that local body representatives have a direct relationship with the people as compared to a Member National Assembly (MNA) or Member Provincial Assembly (MPA).

“Access to ministers, MNAs, and MPAs is non-existent that is why people’s problems do not get addressed.”

Ahmed further said that there was no doubt in his mind that had local governments been formed the relief and rehabilitation work would have been more effective. It is pertinent to mention that in the absence of elected local bodies, their management is currently being run by the bureaucracy. Administrative matters at the district level are with the respective Deputy Commissioners (DC) while the administrative matters of Town Committees and Union Councils are being handled by Assistant Commissioners (AC).Qurban Rudhanani, a social activist from Dadu, commenting on the situation said that he was against the bureaucracy running the show and that local governments play a vital role in solving local problems.

“However, this principle only works if local bodies are administratively independent,” Rudhanani remarked, adding that he was sure that the suffering of flood victims would have decreased if they had autonomous representation at the grass-roots level. Provincial Minister for Local Governments, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, when asked about the absence of MNAs and MPAs along with the lack of local bodies, said that formation of government at the grass-root level had been delayed due to the flooding otherwise they would be functional by now. “However, all members of National and Provincial assemblies from Sindh are on the ground right now and making every effort to rehabilitate victims as soon as possible,” Shah informed The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2022.