March 09, 2008	Sunday	Safar 30, 1429

LARKANA, March 8: The issue of salaries of technical labourer of rice mills further deepened when millers imported some labour and re-energised 20 mills in Shahdadkot on Saturday. Both, the labourers and the millers stuck to their guns where labourers were demanding pay rise and millers refusing. It was sixth consecutive day when work at 50 mills remained shut as 20 mills were put in operation with new labourers.

On Saturday Manzoor Kumbhar, Manthar Magsi and Fatah Markhand led a procession in Shahdadkot. Chanting slogans against mill owners they marched on main thoroughfares and assembled at ‘Koto Moto’ Chowk.

They condemned importing labourers from outside for reopening mills and announced of further protest on Sunday.

Qamaruddain Shaikh president Millers Association when contacted told ‘Dawn’ on Saturday that there seemed no hope of reconciliation as labourers were showing no flexibility in their stand. “We are bringing labourers from outside to put in operation our mills,” he said. However, the district labour officer Ms Nagina Memon met both the parties and asked them to visit the office on Monday for talks. Both the parties had agreed to sit across the board and initiate talks to resolve the issue. Qamar Shaikh said he would go to the labour office on Monday.

treat women tenderly: Discrimination against women is widespread and deep-rooted as they are often degraded and dehumanized through social practices and customs, said Dr Shahid Shaikh Head of the Department of Gynaecology Unit-II, Shaikh Zayed Hospital for Women.

Speaking on the International Women Day, she said this was a global phenomenon with South Asia a flash point. Referring to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s latest figures she said on an average 1,000 women die for ‘honour killing’ in Pakistan every year; 320 kidnapped and raped; 91 burnt to death; and 42 burnt with acid. The divorce ratio and domestic violence was usually under reported.

A seminar on the “Role of youth in ending violence against women”, was held here by Sindh Educational Development Society Larkana. Speaking as the chief guest Prof Mumtaz Ali Jonejo of Shah Abdul University said educated and positively trained youth could be instrumental in ending violence against women, therefore quality education and training of youth in institutions be enhanced so as to produce young reformers to purify society from violence. He lamented the alarmingly low literacy ratio and poor quality education.