ISLAMABAD: Welfare funds under the Ministry of Human Rights are underutilised, the Senate Committee on Human Rights said during a meeting on Wednesday.

The committee observed that the Diyat, Arsh and Daman Fund for prisoners in jail because they cannot afford to pay fines or compensation, the Women in Distress and Detention Fund and the Human Rights Reforms Fund, for people whose civil liberties have been violated – including torture and murder victims – have money available, but no beneficiaries.

PML-N Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq also noted that the money in these funds, which were set up in the 1990s, is insufficient in times of financial hardship and inflation today.

The Senate body met for a briefing from the ministry on services and funds established under it that are meant to assist vulnerable groups.

Ministry of Human Rights Director General Mohammad Arshad told senators that the Diyat, Arsh and Daman Fund cannot lapse, and holds around Rs45 million. Only two prisoners who met the criteria for aid from the fund were provided assistance in the last year, he said.

“The ministry has lowered the age limit to 40 years to enable more prisoners across the country to avail financial assistance,” Mr Arshad said. Previously, prisoners over the age of 60 were eligible.

The Women in Distress and Detention Fund, which holds around Rs66m, also cannot lapse.

Unutilised money in the fund only came into operation last week, Mr Arshad said. The fund was set up in 1996 and had not been operational for various reasons, because of which its 19-member board of governors could not meet.

He said the number of members have been reduced to nine to make the fund effective.

Committee members said that there were beneficiaries across the country who were unable to avail assistance from the government.

Senator Farooq also noted that the Diyat, Arsh and Daman Fund had must just six times since it was set up 20 years ago, even though it is supposed to meet four times a year.

Senators also said that applicants eligible for the Human Rights Reforms Fund can only avail between Rs10,000 and Rs20,000, a limit that was set 20 years ago when the fund was established.

They directed the ministry to revise and increase the limit according to present day, taking into consideration the cost of living.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2019