Marginalised?: Minorities worried about efficacy of allocated funds

Say promises made earlier were never honoured, money siphoned off.


Hidayat Khan June 18, 2013
"Rs150,000 was announced for a shamshan ghats in Nowshera two years ago, but it is yet to materialises," Senior Sikh leader Charanjeet Singh. PHOTO: FILE

PESHAWAR: Adherents of Hinduism and Sikhism in the city appreciated the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) budget, but termed the allocation for their welfare ‘insufficient’. Representatives of the two communities said minorities need special attention.

Belonging to the most impoverished segments of the society, Hindu and Sikh representatives lauded the new government for allocating Rs106 million under the head of ‘Auqaf, Hajj & Minority Affairs’, but said strict checks and balances should be in place to ensure authorities do not misuse the money.

In the past, similar financial pledges were made, but minority representatives claimed not a single penny was spent on improving the lives of different religious minorities.

“Every religious building of the province is in desperate need of repair and reconstruction,” said All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement Chairman Haroon Sarbdiyal. “We are the minority among minorities in the province,” he lamented.

Sarbdiyal argued Rs5 million was allotted for his community in the previous budget, but due to massive corruption, the money never reached those in need. “The total minority faith followers in K-P comprise 47,000 Hindus, 5,000 Sikhs, 4,500 Kalash, 120,000 Christians – all of them living in extreme poverty.”



He said there are no shamshan ghats – platforms designed for cremation of bodies by Hindus and Sikhs – in Peshawar. Sarbdiyal maintained money should be allocated for their construction, adding: “We should also receive a dowry fund for our girls.”

The government needs to pledge a special education package for followers of other religions as K-P does have a “hefty budget for education,” he said. This should include an allocation for technical and vocational training so that non-Muslims can improve their standard of living, urged Sarbdiyal.

“Rs150,000 was announced for a shamshan ghat in Nowshera two years ago, but it is yet to materialise. So how are we expected to believe the promised budget would actually be spent on minorities? And spent judiciously?” questioned Charanjeet Singh, a senior Sikh leader in Peshawar.



According to Charanjeet, Sikhs are hopeful the new government would ensure them their due rights as citizens of the country. He stressed on the provision of special scholarships and stipends in all educational institutions of the province.

According to the provincial budget, the Rs106 million promised would be spent on stipends, construction of colonies and places of worship, along with providing school uniforms and tuition fees. The provincial government also announced a special package for the Kalash community of Chitral.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2013.

COMMENTS (2)

Naz | 10 years ago | Reply Why do you need shamshan ghats... isnt the taliban sending you into flames offire wiht the bombs.......what will u get to burn in these ghats
Singh | 10 years ago | Reply

Hello ET. (Please don't publish this) Can you find contact # of S.Charanjeet Singh, a Sikh leader in Peshawar. So I may help/contribute to build shamshan ghat in Nowshera. You may forward email to him. Singh

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