HYDERABAD, Feb 7: At a time when weather conditions are changing drastically the world over and experts have forecast heavy rainfall during the next 12 years, the authorities here appear to be unmoved by the forecast of rainy days.

Last year’s downpour wretched lives, property, livestock and private and public infrastructure to such an extent that it would take a pretty long time to get back to normal living conditions. Despite all this, the government is not going at the speed it should’ve, making the situation bleaker for rain-devastated people, more so when monsoon is getting closer.

The planning by authorities is far too quick but its implementation always faces snags.

The government, for quick rehabilitation, decided to intervene under a nine-month long Early Recovery Framework (ERF) from Jan 2012 to September, but couldn’t. These and other reservations were expressed by members of the People’s Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF) at a press conference on Tuesday.

The PACF is an alliance of NGOs whose members included Punhal Sario, Ismail Khamnbur, Jabbar Bhatti and others.

According to them, some 55,000 people are in urgent need of help as they are still languishing in camps. Most of the children, they said, were suffering from malnutrition and lack of education.

It’s heartening to see NGOs and international humanitarian agencies failing in meeting their basic targets of providing shelter, education, healthcare, food and cash securities to rain victims.“Calamities in two consecutive years robbed thousands of people of basic living conditions. Firstly, both federal and provincial governments did not allocate reasonable amount, and afterwards couldn’t justify with whatever paltry sum came their way,” members argued.

Loss of household assets, inflation and inadequate income generation opportunities stand between the stricken and self-reliance. Over and above is the stoppage of government’s relief services since December.

However, residual relief for another six months has been granted to some projects.

Both national and provincial disaster managements have sent revised an appeal of Rs415.86 million for starting the ERF, which include provision of shelter, food, healthcare, education and public infrastructure, they said, adding that the delay was compounding misery.

They suggested extending the ERF period by three months, besides ensuring community participation to make the process transparent and self-sustainable.

Nonetheless, it is of utmost importance to resume primary healthcare at places where people have returned home. Speakers felt that more than 75 per cent families are in need of continuous medical aid while than 928,000 children require tests for different ailments.

The provincial government paid the first instalment of Rs 1,156,612 to Pakistan Card holders in December, but the payment of next instalment is still uncertain, commission members said. Every card holder is entitled to Rs20,000 in cash.

The PACF suggested “soft examinations” for children below Grade III in order to encourage them to pursue education.

Since women in this part of the world are not outgoing, the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) should honour their privacy and dignity while issuing or making modifications in national identity cards, speakers said.

The government should restore healthcare on war-footing keeping in view destruction of around 46 per cent health facilities which has worsened the situation of vulnerable and malnourished children.

They urged the stakeholders to mobilise the community in bringing back students to school, make parents and guardians understand the importance of girl education and send to schools, even those who’ve never been to schools.

It is vital to develop a village model system keeping in view the environment, social and demographic implications.