A glitch in the system: Seven children die amid complaints of bias in relief
Protestors claim discrimination is affecting Tharparkar relief effort.
Protestors claim discrimination is affecting Tharparkar relief effort. PHOTO: EXPRESS
HYDERABAD:
Amid complaints of discrimination in the process of distributing subsidised wheat and other relief goods among those affected by the drought in Tharparkar, seven more children have died in five talukas of the district. Health officials confirmed only two of these deaths.
Two children died in Chachro and Islamkot talukas while there was one casualty each in Mithi, Nangarparkar and Diplo. The youngest was seven days old. Three-year-old Papeeta Meghwadh’s father, Leemo, told reporters in Islamkot that his daughter was physically weak and suffered from pneumonia. “I took my daughter to the government hospital but the doctors refused to admit her because there was no space,” he said. She passed away on Friday.
So far 146 children have reportedly died in the district since December, 2013, although some unofficial accounts put the figure at over 200. The health department has confirmed 72 deaths and associated them with illnesses such as pneumonia, dysentery and blood infection.
“The families bring their children to the hospital only after receiving treatment for weeks and months from quacks and once they reach critical stage,” said Dr Aneel Kumar of Civil Hospital Mithi’s paediatrics ward. According to the district health office, 45 more children were admitted in Tharparkar’s government hospitals with 21 admitted to Mithi’s Civil Hospital.
Additionally, a lady doctor, Rani Maheshwari, has been suspended for regularly avoiding duty. She was posted at District Health Office in 2009.
Distribution of relief goods
Protests broke out in dozens of towns and villages in Tharparkar with locals complaining of being neglected or discriminated against in the provision of relief goods. In Chachro taluka, supporters of the influential Arbab family and Ghausia Jamaat of MNA Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi held separate protests, condemning the discrimination in distribution of goods.
District Tharparkar’s former nazim Arbab Anwar Jabbar alleged that the Pakistan Peoples Party’s jiyalas (workers) have been given control of the distribution of wheat. “Those poor people who support the Arbabs, Ghausia Jamaat or Pir Pagaro are being denied food,” he said. He complained that MPA Dr Mahesh Malani and MPA Dost Muhammad Rahimoon are allowing political influence to determine the relief work.
Protests were held in several villages in Islamkot and outside the town’s press club. “There are over 60 families in our village of Kakheenhar but we haven’t received any food aid,” said Paro Kolhi, who was protesting along with her villagers outside the press club.
The former nazim of Karachi Naimatullah Khan visited Tharparkar on Friday and said the chief minister and other ministers and advisers responsible should tender their resignations for their inability to address the situation. “An independent commission should be formed to investigate and ascertain responsibility,” he said.
According to Sindh Food Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar, the government will provide subsidised wheat to 126,000 families in Tharparkar. “There are five wheat warehouses working 24 hours a day to supply wheat. We are also arranging additional staff at these depots,” he said. The wheat distribution across an area of 22,000 square kilometers required time, Dahar added.
The Sindh High Court’s monitoring team, led by Tharparkar’s senior civil judge Mian Fayyaz Rabbani, raided depots in Islamkot and Diplo, and deemed the distribution process slow. The judge said the media should inform his team of reports of negligence or corruption by government servants involved in the relief process.
While tacitly acknowledging hitches in the relief process, Sindh Chief Minister’s Coordinator on Relief Taj Haider said there is a need to expedite distribution. Speaking at a meeting on Friday, he said the distribution of relief goods should be carried out in an organized fashion and in consultation with elected representatives in the area.
Mirpurkhas Divisional Commissioner Sajid Jamal Abro said central subsidised wheat distribution points at a taluka level are being established where locals will be required to provide information about their families as well as their thumb impressions.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2014.
Amid complaints of discrimination in the process of distributing subsidised wheat and other relief goods among those affected by the drought in Tharparkar, seven more children have died in five talukas of the district. Health officials confirmed only two of these deaths.
Two children died in Chachro and Islamkot talukas while there was one casualty each in Mithi, Nangarparkar and Diplo. The youngest was seven days old. Three-year-old Papeeta Meghwadh’s father, Leemo, told reporters in Islamkot that his daughter was physically weak and suffered from pneumonia. “I took my daughter to the government hospital but the doctors refused to admit her because there was no space,” he said. She passed away on Friday.
So far 146 children have reportedly died in the district since December, 2013, although some unofficial accounts put the figure at over 200. The health department has confirmed 72 deaths and associated them with illnesses such as pneumonia, dysentery and blood infection.
“The families bring their children to the hospital only after receiving treatment for weeks and months from quacks and once they reach critical stage,” said Dr Aneel Kumar of Civil Hospital Mithi’s paediatrics ward. According to the district health office, 45 more children were admitted in Tharparkar’s government hospitals with 21 admitted to Mithi’s Civil Hospital.
Additionally, a lady doctor, Rani Maheshwari, has been suspended for regularly avoiding duty. She was posted at District Health Office in 2009.
Distribution of relief goods
Protests broke out in dozens of towns and villages in Tharparkar with locals complaining of being neglected or discriminated against in the provision of relief goods. In Chachro taluka, supporters of the influential Arbab family and Ghausia Jamaat of MNA Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi held separate protests, condemning the discrimination in distribution of goods.
District Tharparkar’s former nazim Arbab Anwar Jabbar alleged that the Pakistan Peoples Party’s jiyalas (workers) have been given control of the distribution of wheat. “Those poor people who support the Arbabs, Ghausia Jamaat or Pir Pagaro are being denied food,” he said. He complained that MPA Dr Mahesh Malani and MPA Dost Muhammad Rahimoon are allowing political influence to determine the relief work.
Protests were held in several villages in Islamkot and outside the town’s press club. “There are over 60 families in our village of Kakheenhar but we haven’t received any food aid,” said Paro Kolhi, who was protesting along with her villagers outside the press club.
The former nazim of Karachi Naimatullah Khan visited Tharparkar on Friday and said the chief minister and other ministers and advisers responsible should tender their resignations for their inability to address the situation. “An independent commission should be formed to investigate and ascertain responsibility,” he said.
According to Sindh Food Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar, the government will provide subsidised wheat to 126,000 families in Tharparkar. “There are five wheat warehouses working 24 hours a day to supply wheat. We are also arranging additional staff at these depots,” he said. The wheat distribution across an area of 22,000 square kilometers required time, Dahar added.
The Sindh High Court’s monitoring team, led by Tharparkar’s senior civil judge Mian Fayyaz Rabbani, raided depots in Islamkot and Diplo, and deemed the distribution process slow. The judge said the media should inform his team of reports of negligence or corruption by government servants involved in the relief process.
While tacitly acknowledging hitches in the relief process, Sindh Chief Minister’s Coordinator on Relief Taj Haider said there is a need to expedite distribution. Speaking at a meeting on Friday, he said the distribution of relief goods should be carried out in an organized fashion and in consultation with elected representatives in the area.
Mirpurkhas Divisional Commissioner Sajid Jamal Abro said central subsidised wheat distribution points at a taluka level are being established where locals will be required to provide information about their families as well as their thumb impressions.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2014.