25 September 2004	Saturday	09 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 24: A provincial conference on issues and problems being faced by elected women representatives of local government bodies on Friday called for ensuring protection to women councillors.

Participants demanded the provincial and district governments to take stern and immediate action against elements, involved in torture and violence against women councillors.

The conference on "Experiences of Women Councillors in Local Government" was organised by local NGOs at a local hotel. Women councillors from all districts of Sindh participated in the conference and shared their experiences of the last three years in local government institutions.

The meeting demanded provision of a conducive environment so that women councillors could play their role in an effective and befitting way and could take part in the political process in a free manner.

Lady councillors including Tahira Kokab, Falak Naz, Tara Khatoon and others highlighted the achievements of women in development and welfare in their respective areas.

However, they complained about the uncooperative attitude on the part of district and taluqa nazims, saying the latter deprived them of development funds. They added that in the beginning of the local bodies' system, they had been helpless in carrying out any development scheme since no funds were released by the upper hierarchy.

Participants deplored that women councillors at the UC and taluqa levels had not been paid any honorarium so far despite the fact that it was being given at the city and district levels.

It was recommended that 50 per cent attendance of lady councillors should be made part of the quorum, adding that the presence of males representing women was a violation of law and defied the 33 per cent representation of women in these institutions.

It called for 50 per cent representation of women in the masalihati committees, as most family and matrimonial disputes were directly related to women. Rural mohalla councils should also be formed immediately, which too should ensure 33 per cent representation of women in these committees. While 50 per cent representation was also sought in bait-ul-maal, ushar, zakat and other welfare committees.

Other recommendations adopted at the conference included 33 per cent development budget for lady councillors, 33 per cent projects of women under community citizens boards, provision of honorarium and travelling allowances, representation in public safety commissions, and insaf committees etc, and launching of special courses for representatives of local bodies, having equal participation of both men and women.

The Additional Chief Secretary, Local Government, Salim Khan, urged upon the lady councillors to involve themselves in development projects with special focus on women education and health sector.

"As far as funds for these projects are concerned, a huge amount is laying with the government solely for development schemes of women councillors, adding "about Rs350 million each for last year and current year are still to be utilized by women councillors."

He suggested that these development projects should be carried out through CCBs; some 80 per cent would be contributed through these and the rest would be provided by community.

In reply to a query about the unavailability of 20 per cent funds in the districts of Sindh, gripped in abject poverty, he said the government could relax conditions in special cases and a proposal had been submitted with the NRB in this regard.

Naib Nazim, Karachi Tariq Hasan said the experience of women councillors in Karachi remained very beneficial, as a number of development works were completed by them. They have been given adequate representation in all schemes and committees of the City District Government Karachi.

Terming the devolution plan a good system, he opined that despite it, there were some flaws, which were needed to be rectified in order to delivered in a better way. On the honorarium issue, Tariq Hassan said that all members of the City Council Karachi were being given honorarium including women councillors.

"If there is any hurdle for women councillors of interior Sindh, they should approach higher authorities and struggle for it like the Karachi councillors did; who had to wait for three years for receiving the same." He urged upon women representatives to work aggressively so that their presence and work could be felt by all. - PPI