MITHI: Speakers at a conference held here on Monday said that the government’s resettlement policy benefitted coal companies at the expense of interests of locals who faced displacement from their abodes for the sake of coal exploration.

They said at the ‘Save Thar conference’ organsied by the Qaumi Awami Tehrik that the government should devise a sustainable policy for the development of Thar and not start coal exploration work before addressing Tharis’ apprehensions.

They held administrative officials accountable for the deaths of women, children and others during the ongoing drought and called for formation of a judicial commission to conduct probe into the drought and its handling.

Dr Rasool Bux, a QAT leader, said the chief minister had uttered indecent words for Thari women while making a speech at the floor of the assembly. He should therefore tender an apology to Tharis, he said.

Ali Akbar Rahoomo, a veteran social worker, said the resettlement policy had been devised to benefit coal companies at the cost of interests of locals who faced displacement from their abodes.

Future of Tharis was at stake owing to lack of ownership policy of minerals, he said.

The other speakers complained that instead of providing jobs to locals the coal companies had doled out most of the jobs to non-locals.

The conference demanded through a number of resolutions that an adequate resettlement policy be announced for residents of coal area, a campus of agriculture university be established in Thar, stern action be taken against those found involved in misappropriation of relief wheat, measures be taken to save trees and wildlife, land record of Tharparkar district be computerised, veterinary doctors be appointed in Thar on a priority basis and according to population of livestock, parents whose children died during drought be provided compensation, life, property, religious places of minorities be protected and industries be set up to provide jobs to locals, all posts of lady doctors be filled immediately, free fodder be provided for the starving livestock, eco-tourism and handicrafts be promoted, and provision of potable water in each nook and cranny of the desert region be ensured.

Arbab Nek Mohammad, advocate Vasand, Kirshan Sharma, Obhayo Junejo, Hajiani Lanjo, Bharumal Amrani, Prof Faiz Sodho, Maghno Kolhi, Khatau Jani and others also spoke at the conference.

On this occasion, a forum Voice of Thar was formed to raise voice for the rights Tharis.

Later, a rally was taken out from Karoonjhar hall to Kashmir chowk on the core issues of Thar and their solution.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2014