No flood, rain worries for Benazir Basti residents
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
By Jan Khaskheli
Karachi
Standing in front of her beautiful house in the newly developed Behen Benazir Basti in the village of Bachal Jam Jokhio, Benazirabad (Nawabshah) district, 50-year-old Mai Aakulzadi told The News that she was lucky to have got the house, which saved her from floods this monsoon.
Mai Aakulzadi was among the lucky ones to have escaped the floods which have demolished a number of makeshift homes and left many people homeless in low-lying areas. “The heavy rains always destroyed our abodes in the past and we had to rebuild them on our own,” she said. “Life was harder then,” she reminisced, adding that those days now seem to be over for them.
Mai enjoyed the monsoon rains after a long time, realising that she lives in a house that is not vulnerable to flood and, by extension, devastation. “Previously, our houses were never able to survive heavy downpours,” she said. “Even during light showers, the roofs of the houses would begin to leak and we, fearing the roofs would cave in, had to live in ordinary shelters in the open.”
Like Mai, all the beneficiaries of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Housing Cell (SBBHC), in Benazirabad district, are equally pleased with living in secure houses in monsoon, said Ismail Zardari, Project Manager, Research and Development Foundation (RDF), which is implementing the low-cost housing project.
These houses have two bedrooms, a veranda, an open courtyard, a kitchen and a toilet. The PPP-led government has identified deserving women, who are being given the low-cost houses in three districts where the scheme is operational i.e. Benazirabad, Tando Allahyar and Hyderabad.
The RDF is currently working on 1,700 houses in 48 villages of the three districts; 1,100 in Benazirabad and 300 each in Tando Allahyar and Hyderabad. Building one such house costs between Rs2,25000 to Rs2,42000, depending on the requirements and expenditures of the area.
“The fact that most of beneficiaries have not been troubled by the rains this year has immensely encouraged the project management,” Ismail said.
Ziaul Islam, director of the SBBHC, claimed that they have not received a single complaint regarding any technical fault in the newly-built houses. However, he said, the rains have affected the pace of building more houses. The possession of as many as 10,000 houses, of which 6000 houses are almost complete, would be handed over to the deserving persons by the end of this year.
“We have planned a strategy to keep handing over the possession of the houses to the deserving people through EDO revenue and other relevant officials as soon as work on a small number of the houses is completed rather than waiting for all the houses to complete and then giving them to the people at once,” he said.
Meanwhile, Benazirabad Revenue EDO Rashid Zardari, who monitors the project in the district, said that work on 400 houses has been completed. The EDO hoped that new houses would bring improvement such people’s lives.
RDF Executive Director Masood Mahesar said that they have taken the suggestions of the beneficiaries while constructing the houses to avoid any possible technical fault. Male members of beneficiary families are working together with the technical staff and have contributed a lot in the building process, he said. Mahesar felt that it was an important aspect of the project.
ends
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
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 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.
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.
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