HYDERABAD, Jan 2: The Nazim, Kotri Taluka, Khuda Bux Joyo, has said that the participation of villagers was the sine qua non for the development of villages and the prosperity of the province and the country.

He was speaking at a seminar, organized by the Sindh Goth Sudhar Sangat, on the subject of “The role of villagers in village development” at the Goth Sain Dino Mallah of Kotri Taluka on Wednesday.

The Sangat had earlier decided to celebrate 2003 as the “year of village development” throughout the province.

These programmes will be organized in different villages throughout the year.

Mr Joyo said that vested interests were trying to sabotage the devolution plan by creating hurdles in the way of its implementation.

He said the entire devolution plan was being disrupted for want of funds.

He feared that if the situation was not rectified, no development works could be carried out in the villages.

Sangat chairman Prof Qalandar Shah Lakhiari said that it was necessary to create awareness among the villagers about their duties and rights.

He stressed the need for collective efforts to eliminate social evils from the society.

Prof Lakhiari observed that the development of rural areas would remain just a dream if the elected representatives of local councils were not given any powers.

Speaking on the occasion, the Nazim of union council Jamshoro, Naima Baloch, said that the villagers were caught in a web of many problems, and added that these problems could be resolved through phase-wise struggle.