MITHI: Thar needs innovative development projects instead of relief measures and there is no other way except for quality education to save the future of Tharis.

Speakers expressed these views at the inauguration of a German government-funded project, organised in Kankkio near Chhachhro town on Tuesday.

Renovation and construction of 12 schools with all modern facilities, 14 solar-powered water supply schemes and one mobile water purification plant for 15 villages were launched during the event under the project titled ‘Improving living conditions of drought affec­ted communities through improving social infrastructure and renewable energy adaptation’.

It was supported by Terre Des Hommes (TDH), an international children’s rights charitable humanitarian umbrella organisation, and funded by BMZ German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development being implemented by the Association for Water, Applied Education and Renewable Energy (AWARE).

Mr Ingolf Vogel, development and cultural attaché of German Consulate in Karachi, said that solar-powered water supply systems did not need frequent service and recurring cost. The innovative project of mobile water purification plant seemed a highly promising model and photovoltaic systems for schools and computers in government schools in the villages of deep desert were a ray of hope for the people of Thar, he said.

“These are initiatives which will prove lucrative to the people of the area,” he said.

He said people in Germany were worried when media had given a huge coverage to deaths of hundreds of infants. “There is need to focus on the long-term and sustainable projects to help Tharis get out of the morass of poverty and other issues,” he added.

Ms Lena Niehaus, the representative of TDH in Germany, said water and education were among the dire needs of this region. She appreciated the efforts taken by NGOs that raised a voice for the socially isolated communities.

She said she was delighted that 90 per cent of the population of 14 villages of the two union councils now had easy access to purified drinking water at their doorstep that would save time and energy of women, who had to fetch water in earthen pitchers on their heads and had to walk miles on daily basis. She said there was a need to empower women in Thar to avoid social evils plaguing the region for decades.

Thari women, if given proper education and care by the government, were far ahead in every field, she said and vowed to help them stand on their own feet.

Abdul Salam Dharejo, country director of TDH, sharing his views said that renovation of schools, provision of computers, wash facility and solar electricity had proved better in improving learning and teaching environment in the schools which were not connected with grid electricity.

Enrolment of children in schools was up to 80pc, which showed that the government and other stakeholders should invest in sustainable projects instead of short-term relief initiatives.

Speaking on the occasion, activist Partab Shivani insisted on promoting quality education in Thar because there was no other way for Thari people to escape poverty and other social ills.

He appealed to stakeholders to visit the interventions done by NGOs for quality education promotion in the deep desert and assist other schools in having participatory approach towards change.

Writer Gotam Rathi appreciated the efforts taken under the project, but also said that the magnitude of the issue was far too great whereas the efforts taken were very slow and not sufficient to make any tangible difference in lives of people living in Thar.

Politicians did not like NGOs working in Thar, though the models set by the NGOs and social mobilisation was commendable; such work needed to be owned and replicated at a larger level, he added.

In the deep desert, government departments were not effective; they had different excuses. But some actors had reached remote desert regions and had developed their networks and were doing their job effectively, he said.

Ali Akbar Rahimoo from AWARE thanked supporters for their part in addressing the most important and basic issues of the area innovatively.

Others who also shared their views included Haji Mohammad, Lachman, Ilyas Rind and Haji Ali Akbar Rind of the community along with Iftikhar Ahmed, Farooq and Haji Jeearo from the NGOs working in the area.

They also urged the government of Sindh to replicate the sustainable models demonstrated by other stakeholders in the area instead of providing relief goods and alms.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2017