Development needed - Sakhra: a neglected town in Swat crying for help
Sakhra remains completely neglected by authorities despite the impact of militancy and floods.
SWAT:
Sakhra, having a population of more than 20,000, is situated 52 kilometres from Mingora and 28 kilometres from Matta. An area famous for its beautiful orchards, vegetation, and the famous Lalku Valley, it remains completely neglected by the authorities despite the impact of militancy and the floods.
Bakht-i-Karam, a resident of Landai Village of Sakhra, told The Express Tribune, “The majority of the population are farmers, our apples are famous throughout the world but look at the condition of the roads.”
There is no metal road between Bagh Darie and Lalku. The incomplete road precludes the farmers from getting to the market in time. “[This is why] our revenue from the orchards and vegetables is next to nothing,” Karam said.
He added, “The real tragedy is that the road has been like this for the past 15 years. No government cared about this road after it was installed by the late Wali of Swat.”
But it is not like a road will do much good. Amir Ali, a farmer, said, “When we take our crops and apples to the market, they purchase it on very low prices. So instead of taking our crops directly over there we are forced to sell to the middlemen.”
The farmers and orchard-owners in this village are poor. They have inadequate resources, which allow the middlemen to purchase fruits and vegetables from them at dirt cheap prices. That is not the only trouble eating away at the poor peasantry.
“The floods have washed away my apples orchard. Nobody has helped us yet.” said Mian Gul Farosh, a farmer in Sakhra.
Badshah Qayum, another resident of Lalku said, “We suffered for three consecutive years because neither could we take our crops to the market nor would dealers dare come here. Now that everything is normal the NGOs that are coming to assist farmers by giving them fertilizer and seeds are going to the elite or to the people who have access to the elite class, because without their consent no NGO can work here. So the poor farmers get nothing.”
The miseries of this little village do not end here, as the only high school in Sakhra is understaffed and missing other necessities.
Bakth Subhan, a teacher, told The Express Tribune, “For five years, there has been no principal in the Boys High School while the number of teaching staff is not enough for the students, and for high school students there are no qualified teachers, only primary teachers.”
The provincial minister for science and technology, Ayub Asharey, belongs to the Sakhra. When questioned about the rehabilitation of the area, he said, “Soon the provincial and federal government will initiate the rehabilitation process and we appeal to the international community to extend their assistance to us as well.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2010.
Sakhra, having a population of more than 20,000, is situated 52 kilometres from Mingora and 28 kilometres from Matta. An area famous for its beautiful orchards, vegetation, and the famous Lalku Valley, it remains completely neglected by the authorities despite the impact of militancy and the floods.
Bakht-i-Karam, a resident of Landai Village of Sakhra, told The Express Tribune, “The majority of the population are farmers, our apples are famous throughout the world but look at the condition of the roads.”
There is no metal road between Bagh Darie and Lalku. The incomplete road precludes the farmers from getting to the market in time. “[This is why] our revenue from the orchards and vegetables is next to nothing,” Karam said.
He added, “The real tragedy is that the road has been like this for the past 15 years. No government cared about this road after it was installed by the late Wali of Swat.”
But it is not like a road will do much good. Amir Ali, a farmer, said, “When we take our crops and apples to the market, they purchase it on very low prices. So instead of taking our crops directly over there we are forced to sell to the middlemen.”
The farmers and orchard-owners in this village are poor. They have inadequate resources, which allow the middlemen to purchase fruits and vegetables from them at dirt cheap prices. That is not the only trouble eating away at the poor peasantry.
“The floods have washed away my apples orchard. Nobody has helped us yet.” said Mian Gul Farosh, a farmer in Sakhra.
Badshah Qayum, another resident of Lalku said, “We suffered for three consecutive years because neither could we take our crops to the market nor would dealers dare come here. Now that everything is normal the NGOs that are coming to assist farmers by giving them fertilizer and seeds are going to the elite or to the people who have access to the elite class, because without their consent no NGO can work here. So the poor farmers get nothing.”
The miseries of this little village do not end here, as the only high school in Sakhra is understaffed and missing other necessities.
Bakth Subhan, a teacher, told The Express Tribune, “For five years, there has been no principal in the Boys High School while the number of teaching staff is not enough for the students, and for high school students there are no qualified teachers, only primary teachers.”
The provincial minister for science and technology, Ayub Asharey, belongs to the Sakhra. When questioned about the rehabilitation of the area, he said, “Soon the provincial and federal government will initiate the rehabilitation process and we appeal to the international community to extend their assistance to us as well.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2010.