Upcountry floods bring hope for tail-enders
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Jan Khaskheli
Karachi
Heavy rains and floods which wreaked havoc in upper areas of the country, have brought hope for those living in tail-end areas, who derive their livelihood from the Indus at Jamshoro, downstream Kotri, as water flow downstream Kotri crossed more than 90,000 cusecs on Friday.
Kotri gauge station operators reveal that the water flow has been increasing with the passage of each day since the beginning of monsoon in the upper parts of the country.
Last year, the water flow could not cross 80,000 cusecs downstream Kotri and the flow remained only for 15 days. However, the flow has already crossed the maximum flow level of last year and more water is expected as the high flood in the Indus is likely to reach Jamshoro within a few days, the station operators said.
One elderly man, Allah Jurio, said that it was a joy to see such high level of water in the Indus after several months. He said that shrimps are coming to upstream after the River water falls in to the sea in Thatta district. Some youths sitting at the river bank were using traditional trolling ropes to catch fish who claimed that they were catching enough fish for their use. Hardly one week earlier, the youths said, the water released downstream Kotri was 5,000 cusec and it is increasing after every day. Moreover, officials say that this year the river may receive heavy flood and inundate more katcha area.
The capacity of the Jamshoro Bridge is 750,000 cusecs, but during the devastating floods in 1956 the water passed under the bridge was measured 950,000 cusecs. Moreover, in 1996 when 500,000 cusecs streamed under the bridge, that was the last time when water flew downstream Kotri in such a large quantity. After that water flow had been less and this, as many local activists and NGOs believe, caused depletion of natural resources and forest and created livelihood issues for people relying on fishing, cultivation and livestock grazing.
Meanwhile, communities living in the Indus Delta region, at lakes, wetlands and famous Ramsar sites are getting more water through their natural feeding canals. The Manchar Lake in Dadu district a wide area of which had dried and fishermen had to migrate due to this is also receiving 5,000 cusec water only from the River Indus
One Ayoub Mallah from Phulail Villager at Baqar Lake, Sanghar District, told The News that the lake has received sufficient water and rains have recharged wells, water ponds and flooded grazing fields near the sandy mountains. The rain water has created hope for the local herdsmen.
The traditional lake, which is called the Chotiari Reservoir now, had touched dead level few months back. However, locals say that the lake is now receiving water through Nara canal and other natural feeding resources after heavy downpours.
Moreover, the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) activists in the Indus Delta celebrated the arrival of water by throwing rose petals. They expressed hope that water would help sustain their lives and sources of livelihood. A PFF spokesman said that according to information they received from people living near several water bodies in the province the fishermen, farmers and herdsmen have rejoiced after the increase of water in the Indus.
The farmers are preparing their harvesting tools, fishermen their fishing nets and shepherds heading their herds towards grazing fields.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Scheme for low-cost sanitary napkins to rural girls approved
By Aarti Dhar
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Tuesday approved a scheme for providing highly subsidised sanitary napkins to adolescent girls in the rural areas to promote menstrual hygiene. The scheme, to be launched in 150 districts across the country in the first phase, will cost Rs.150 crore for the current financial year.
Approved by the Mission Steering Group – the highest decision-making body – of the National Rural Health Mission, at its sixth meeting here, the scheme envisages covering 1.5-crore girls in the age group of 10-19 years every month. Of this, the approximate number of APL girls is 105 lakh while that of the BPL category is 45 lakh. The napkins will be supplied to the below poverty line (BPL) girls at a nominal cost of Re.1 per pack of six while those girls living above poverty line (APL) will have to pay Rs.5 per pack.
Limited access
In India, menstruation and menstrual practices are clouded by taboos and socio-cultural restrictions for women as well as adolescent girls. Limited access to safe sanitary products and facilities is believed to be one of the reasons for constrained school attendance, high dropout rates and ill health due to infection.
Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan and Puducherry have already taken similar initiatives to promote menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.
The 150 districts identified in the first phase include 30 from the four southern States, Maharashtra and Gujarat and 120 from northern, central and the north-eastern States. In the first year, the Centre will procure the napkins and supply these to the States that will in turn send these to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in the districts for distribution on a monthly basis or to the schools which will become distribution points for students.
As an incentive, ASHA will get one pack free every month in addition to Rs.50 per meeting she holds on a Sunday for creating awareness regarding menstrual hygiene among girls. Subsequently, States can choose to involve self-help groups for manufacturing and marketing sanitary napkins. At least 50 districts with a strong network of SHGs will be involved in the manufacture of napkins in the first phase itself. The ASHAs will procure sanitary napkins from the sub-centre for which she will be given Rs.300 from the untied fund. Each month, ASHA will replenish the imprest fund with the amount collected through the sale of napkins.
Safe disposal
For safe disposal of the napkins at the community level, deep-pit burial or burning are the options being considered. Due environmental clearance has to be obtained from the States for this. Installing incinerators in schools that can be manually operated is another option. Consultations are on with the Ministry of Environment and Forests for use of environment-friendly raw material and disposal mechanism.
States have been given the option of leveraging funds for incinerators through the Total Sanitation Campaign of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
The scheme will be expanded to other districts after the outcome of the first phase is evaluated. In that case, the States will be asked to contribute 15 per cent of the cost. The scheme can also be transferred to the Ministries of Women and Child Development and Rural Development at a later stage for self-financing and self-sustaining that will reduce the budgetary support.
By Aarti Dhar
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Tuesday approved a scheme for providing highly subsidised sanitary napkins to adolescent girls in the rural areas to promote menstrual hygiene. The scheme, to be launched in 150 districts across the country in the first phase, will cost Rs.150 crore for the current financial year.
Approved by the Mission Steering Group – the highest decision-making body – of the National Rural Health Mission, at its sixth meeting here, the scheme envisages covering 1.5-crore girls in the age group of 10-19 years every month. Of this, the approximate number of APL girls is 105 lakh while that of the BPL category is 45 lakh. The napkins will be supplied to the below poverty line (BPL) girls at a nominal cost of Re.1 per pack of six while those girls living above poverty line (APL) will have to pay Rs.5 per pack.
Limited access
In India, menstruation and menstrual practices are clouded by taboos and socio-cultural restrictions for women as well as adolescent girls. Limited access to safe sanitary products and facilities is believed to be one of the reasons for constrained school attendance, high dropout rates and ill health due to infection.
Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan and Puducherry have already taken similar initiatives to promote menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls.
The 150 districts identified in the first phase include 30 from the four southern States, Maharashtra and Gujarat and 120 from northern, central and the north-eastern States. In the first year, the Centre will procure the napkins and supply these to the States that will in turn send these to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in the districts for distribution on a monthly basis or to the schools which will become distribution points for students.
As an incentive, ASHA will get one pack free every month in addition to Rs.50 per meeting she holds on a Sunday for creating awareness regarding menstrual hygiene among girls. Subsequently, States can choose to involve self-help groups for manufacturing and marketing sanitary napkins. At least 50 districts with a strong network of SHGs will be involved in the manufacture of napkins in the first phase itself. The ASHAs will procure sanitary napkins from the sub-centre for which she will be given Rs.300 from the untied fund. Each month, ASHA will replenish the imprest fund with the amount collected through the sale of napkins.
Safe disposal
For safe disposal of the napkins at the community level, deep-pit burial or burning are the options being considered. Due environmental clearance has to be obtained from the States for this. Installing incinerators in schools that can be manually operated is another option. Consultations are on with the Ministry of Environment and Forests for use of environment-friendly raw material and disposal mechanism.
States have been given the option of leveraging funds for incinerators through the Total Sanitation Campaign of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
The scheme will be expanded to other districts after the outcome of the first phase is evaluated. In that case, the States will be asked to contribute 15 per cent of the cost. The scheme can also be transferred to the Ministries of Women and Child Development and Rural Development at a later stage for self-financing and self-sustaining that will reduce the budgetary support.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Statement from Loïc Fauchon, President of the World Water Council
An important milestone on the long road to access to water for all
The UN General Assembly has declared water and sanitation as a human right.
Personally, I welcome the vote of this resolution. It represents a significative step forward towards the right of each citizen of the world to have access to quality water.
For almost ten years, our Council has been campaigning in favour of the right to water as an essential element of human dignity. This right is an essential brick in the wall we want to build against ignorance, injustice, poverty, and thirst.
Without doubt, one should not limit to expressing the right. Obviously we have to clarify everyone’s obligations, starting with the States, but also those of the local communities, and all those in charge of water competence.
This is the next step. This is all the things our Council has been asking for - “drinking water before cell phones”, “taps before guns” - , in the previous World Water Fora in Kyoto in 2003, in Mexico-City in 2006, and in Istanbul in 2009.
Every child, every woman, every man on earth is entitled to water and sanitation. This is the right to water. Our duty is to say when, how, where, and how. Our duty is to implement practical measures. This is the job France, Marseille and the World Water Council have taken on in order to make this Forum, in Marseille, in 2012, the “Forum of solutions”.
Let us etch the right to water in the Constitutions, define minimal water allocations for the most deprived persons, impose the compulsory creation of water supply points and of sanitary facilities in each school, everywhere in the world. It is through hundreds, and thousands of solutions for water, that the right to water will become reality.
An important milestone on the long road to access to water for all
The UN General Assembly has declared water and sanitation as a human right.
Personally, I welcome the vote of this resolution. It represents a significative step forward towards the right of each citizen of the world to have access to quality water.
For almost ten years, our Council has been campaigning in favour of the right to water as an essential element of human dignity. This right is an essential brick in the wall we want to build against ignorance, injustice, poverty, and thirst.
Without doubt, one should not limit to expressing the right. Obviously we have to clarify everyone’s obligations, starting with the States, but also those of the local communities, and all those in charge of water competence.
This is the next step. This is all the things our Council has been asking for - “drinking water before cell phones”, “taps before guns” - , in the previous World Water Fora in Kyoto in 2003, in Mexico-City in 2006, and in Istanbul in 2009.
Every child, every woman, every man on earth is entitled to water and sanitation. This is the right to water. Our duty is to say when, how, where, and how. Our duty is to implement practical measures. This is the job France, Marseille and the World Water Council have taken on in order to make this Forum, in Marseille, in 2012, the “Forum of solutions”.
Let us etch the right to water in the Constitutions, define minimal water allocations for the most deprived persons, impose the compulsory creation of water supply points and of sanitary facilities in each school, everywhere in the world. It is through hundreds, and thousands of solutions for water, that the right to water will become reality.
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