September 28, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 27, 1429

MITHI, Sept 27: Despite clear-cut directives from the Sindh food department to sell wheat flour at Rs23.50 per kg, chakki-owners are charging Rs28 a kg to Rs30 a kg in various villages and towns of Thar allegedly with the connivance of food department officials.

A survey conducted by this scribe revealed that the food department supplied wheat to the chakki-owners at Rs18.75 per kg to be subsequently sold at Rs23.50 per kg. However, instead of complying with government’s orders, chakki-owners are reportedly selling wheat flour at Rs28 per kg in the towns and at Rs30 a kg in the villages of Thar.

It is worth mentioning that the food department procures wheat at Rs625 per 40kg from the growers and earns a profit of Rs125 by selling it for Rs750 per 40 kg to the chakkis.

According to some chakki-owners, the food department provided them with only ten bags of wheat weighing 100 kg each — a week’s quota — that was grinded and sold at Rs23.50 per kg. In order to meet the demand, they said, they procure wheat from the open market at the rate of Rs25 per kilo and the flour was then sold at Rs28 per kg.

It would be pertinent to mention here that the former DCO of the Tharparkar had written to the high-ups of the food department to sanction 21,000 wheat bags of 100 kg as the monthly quota for Thar.

As a vast area of the district is facing a drought-like situation, the government has been urged to devise an effective policy to ensure adequate supply of wheat to this non-wheat growing district.

60 bonded labourers freed

District and Sessions Judge Mirpurkhas Abdul Rasheed Soomro on Saturday ordered to set free 60 bonded labourers, including women and children recovered from two brick kilns in raids.

Reports said that Aachar Oad had submitted a written application to the court of district and sessions Judge Mirpurkhas stating that about 21 bonded labours, including women and children were working at Liaquat Brick Kiln at Mirwah Road under strict vigilance as they were not allowed to go outside the brick kiln.

District and Sessions Judge Mirpurkhas ordered SHO taluka police station Ghulam Nabi Shar to conduct a raid. A raid was carried out wherein 21 bonded labourers were freed who then were kept in taluka police station.

Similarly, one Bagh Oad had submitted application to the court of district and sessions judge Mirpurkhas stating that forced labour was being taken from about 39 bonded labourers, including women and children at Haji Dal Brick Kiln on Tando Adam Road near village Ghulam Rasool Lakho.

He further said that the labourers were also not allowed to move outside the brick kiln by armed men.

Sessions Judge ordered the SHO Old Mirpur police station, Bhoromal Khatri to conduct a raid and get released the bonded labours from illegal confinement.

The SHO Old Mirpur conducted a raid on Friday at the brick kiln and got released 39 bonded labourers.

Both the SHOs produced 60 liberated labours, all by caste Oad, before the sessions court Mirpurkhas on Saturday. After recording their statements, the court set them free to live at the place of their choice.