Mullagori tribesmen to boycott vaccination drive over power cuts

Polio transit teams in Peshawar protest over non-payment of salaries.

PESHAWAR/ JAMRUD:

Mullagori tribesmen warned they will boycott polio vaccination drives if the government fails to take notice of prolonged power outages and the misappropriation of zakat funds.

The tribesmen protested on Shalman Road, Jamrud tehsil in Khyber Agency, blocking it for an hour on Monday. The protestors included a large number of schoolchildren and elders of the area. They were led by Jamaat-e-Islami local leader Sabz Ali Khan.



Addressing demonstrators, Khan said they have informed both the political administration and Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) authorities of 20-hour-long power outages.

“Despite our repeated appeals, the authorities are not serious about fixing the problem,” he added.

Tribesman and elder Haji Mushtaq Ahmad argued their share of electricity is being diverted to the Mullagori marble industrial area by Tesco, making their lives miserable.

If their demands are not fulfilled immediately, they will boycott the upcoming polio vaccination drive, and the political administration and Tesco authorities will be responsible, stated Ahmad.

An official of the Jamrud political administration said a jirga will be convened on Tuesday to hold talks with the protesting tribesmen.

Unpaid but on the job

Members of polio transit teams protested against the non-payment of three months salaries outside the Peshawar Press Club on Monday. Around 220 workers have not been paid.

Leading the demonstration, polio team supervisor Samiuddin said, “Workers are being paid a meagre wage of Rs250 per day as opposed to a minimum salary of Rs10,000 as promised by the government.” Supervisors are paid Rs470.



Multiple polio teams participated in the demonstration. Transit teams stand at exit and entry points of the city to vaccinate children against polio; each team consists of two people.

When the DHO was contacted, the office maintained the senior DHO official has not yet signed off on their bills, claimed Samiuddin. However, when World Health Organization (WHO) officials were approached, they said they have not received a work report from the DHO.

“All polio workers are performing duties under challenging conditions but in spite of worsening security, polio workers remain on the job – with complete dedication – at all transit points of the city,” said Jameel Khan, the supervisor of another polio team. Workers are also not paid on public holidays, he shared.

Teams perform their duties in two shifts, while the supervisor works throughout both shifts in their area of assignment.

Due to the inefficiency of DHO and WHO officials, the system has been destroyed, claimed Jameel. He demanded the provincial health minister intervene and take action against officials. He also urged the government to find a permanent solution to the problem.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2013.