Post-flood: Politicians slam rival parties at workshop

Rehabilitation of flood-affected people completely ignored.

SUKKUR: Instead of suggesting ways to rehabilitate flood-affected people, speakers at a seminar indulged in political bashing — completely ignoring the purpose of the discussion.

The seminar, titled “Response to Supreme Flood and Role of Stakeholders”, was organised by Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) to suggest ways and means to help the millions of flood-affected people in Sindh.

However, Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) chairman Riaz Chandio lashed out at the government for “its indifferent attitude” towards the flood survivors who, after losing everything to the flash floods, were compelled to live in relief camps, on river dykes and by the roadside.

Berating the Sindh chief minister, Chandio said that he was shamelessly taking pride in telling people that the flood victims are living luxuriously in relief camps and getting rich food. “The chief minister should live in the relief camp and enjoy its ‘luxury’. Sindh’s mothers are giving birth to children in relief camps with little or no medical care and he is enjoying it.”

He said that after giving flood-affected people meagre amounts of Rs20,000, the chief minister believes the government has done enough.

Chandio demanded the government distribute fertilisers and seeds among the growers free of charge.

Meanwhile, Ghulam Mustafa Mangi, the Pakistan Peoples Party president of  Garhi Yasin taluka, instead of suggesting ways to help people, highlighted the services provided to the flood-affected people by his party.

He said his government had done a lot for the people and is planning to do more for their welfare. He claimed that more than 90 per cent of the flood survivors in his taluka have been given Watan cards, while the remaining will get them soon.

“More than 3,500 growers have been provided seeds and fertiliser free of charge. When the survivors were leaving relief camps, they were given rations for two months.”

A comprehensive survey is under way to assess the needs of flood-affected people, he said.

Published in in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2010.