KARACHI: Hari Welfare Association (HWA) expressed great regret about the continuous monsoon rains in Sindh which has severly affected peasants and labourers.

According to a statement issued by HWA on Thursday, thousands of peasants and labourers’ houses collapsed, their crops destroyed, cattle died due to lack of fodder and diseases and daily wagers were in a state of hunger due to non-availability of work in the rainy weather. Children, women, and men were also said to be suffering from various diseases due to mosquitoes and stagnant water. The demanded that government should provide an immediate relief package to peasants and labourers.

HWA President Akram Khaskheli said that the rain has caused havoc in the province since last month, due to which, cotton crops being cultivated on millions of acres had been destroyed, the cattle were dying in Sindh, specifically in Sanghar, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushahro Feroze, Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Dadu and other districts.

“This amounts to millions of rupees of loss to the peasants and they are facing debt. The situation can lead them to further destruction and become a reason for forced labour and already, the situation of forced labour is the worst in Sindh,” he said.

He added that from 2013 to 2021, a total of 10,190 peasants and labourers had been released from the captivity of landlords and brick kiln owners through court orders. Seven years ago, the Sindh Bonded Labour System Abolition Act (SBLSAA) 2016 was passed, but its implementation is zero. The District Vigilance Committees were also not constituted in all districts to monitor the situation of bonded labour.

“Due to the non-availability of economic opportunities in the field of agriculture and livestock and non-implementation of SBLSAA, there are chances that rain-affected peasants and labourers could become victims of bonded labour, therefore, we demand that the government take concrete measures to ensure livelihood support to peasants and daily wagers. SBLSAA must be implemented in true letter and spirit,” he said and added: “Currently, it is cotton-picking season in Sindh, which provides an opportunity for livelihood to thousands of women and men, but due to the destruction of the crop, they could not find employment. They have migrated from Mithi, Umerkot, and Mirpurkhas to Sanghar, Nawabshah, Naushahro Feroze, Khairpur, Matiari and Hyderabad. Being residents of other districts, they are helpless at this time and are sitting under the sky. Every district administration should help them immediately on the basis of migrant workers.”

He also said that men, women, old people and children sleep under the open sky as their houses, traditionally made with mud, had demolished. They also lack basic facilities such as safe drinking water and toilets. Their cattle and livestock suffer from mosquitoes, waterborne disease and insects.

He further said that millions of farmers and labourers in Sindh have been pushed into poverty by the rains, but the government has not announced any assistance for them so far.

“The Sindh government should declare the entire province as flood/disaster affected and provide financial assistance to them under livestock and housing, immediately. They should be provided with tents, mosquito nets, mosquito spray, food and drink, equipment for digging drains and ensuring drainage of water from villages and crops,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2022