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Damn the human
development!
Uzma Zafar
We dwell in a society where
illiteracy, poverty, leg pulling in the political arena and preference
to degree over skill are prevalent. We also live in a country where
democracy is nothing more than a fad and leaderships come, reign in
people's hearts for a while and then just become too much to handle for
the people as they start putting their own interests before the
interests of the general masses to such an extent that the latter become
victims and prisoners on the hands of the former and get entangled
within unseen nets of poverty, price hike, joblessness and frustration
that in turn leads to the ever rising lawlessness. And the current
government has also not changed this trend but has begin to shed it's
true colours by compelling National Commission of Human Development to
shutdown by stopping sufficient funding to it essential for it's
survival, sending it to acute coma and letting it breathe on artificial
respirator, seeing it die and pulling it's plug in exactly a month's
time, letting human development take a backseat, snatching careers of
80,000 individuals and yet not doing anything at all! Isn't it cruelty?
NCHD was initiated to promote human development by supporting Government
Line Departments, Non-Governmental Organizations and elected officials
at the district level in primary education, literacy and provision of
basic healthcare services. It is sad to say that NCHD was and not is
anymore, a fast-track initiative to improve social sector outcomes at
the grassroots. The goal of the Commission was to fill the
implementation gaps and improve public sector delivery mechanisms to
achieve the Millennium development goals fondly known as the MDGs. NCHD
has been working in the education and health sector since it's beginning
and has been enduring, ever since, to bring about a positive social
change in the society.
It's projects are not hidden to any. The success of the Commission could
be gauged from the fact that in 2006 UNESCO International Reading
Association Literacy Prize was rewarded to NCHD for it's National
Literacy Program. Moreover, NCHD was officially declared as the lead
agency for the spread of literacy programmes in the country by the
President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; General Pervez Musharraf.
"I am confident that NCHD, working in the right direction with
consistent zeal, will gradually achieve my vision for a progressive and
prosperous Pakistan infusing the real spirit of awakening that will make
the people carve out their destiny with their own hands", he said.
NCHD, with it's unique partnerships and door-to-door campaigns, has been
holding the potential to achieve education and health for all so that
every child goes to school and every individual has access to basic
healthcare. Had NCHD called it a day after achieving it's objectives or
had the government officially killed the organization for
non-efficiency, it was digestible but closing down the human development
organization in the current scenario is in fact, a great loss to the
entire society, not to talk of the 80,000 individuals which would be
rendered jobless from 1st September as they have already been given
notices on August 1st, yesterday, exactly 2 days after the official
announcement of it's annulment.
In fact, the saddest thing is that National Commission for Human
Development (NCHD) and Pakistan Human Development Fund (PHDF) board
members met with the current Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at
the PM House on 29th May, 2008 to apprise him of the work NCHD had been
doing at the grassroots. NCHD Chairman, Dr. Nasim Ashraf briefed the
Prime Minister on the achievements of NCHD from it's inception in 2002.
The Prime Minister assured his full support for NCHD's projects and
issued orders for an immediate release of Rs.874million to the
Commission. He also directed the Finance Ministry to include funds for
NCHD in next years budget saying that NCHD had done commendable work and
his government believed in continuity of policies.
The Prime Minister reiterated his administration's pledge to focus and
give priority to the social sector, despite budgetary constraints faced
by Pakistan. He appreciated NCHD's role in helping Pakistan achieve the
Millennium Development Goals. The Prime Minister also lauded the
valuable contribution of expatriate Pakistanis saying they were the most
effective ambassadors of Pakistan. He fondly recalled the role played by
the PAK-PAC (Pakistani Americans Public Affairs Committee) President Dr.
Nasim Ashraf in arranging his meetings with Senators and Congressmen
when he visited USA in 1996 as Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan.
But alas, it was all just a show and NCHD is very much ending it's
operations in a month's time due to non-availability of funds extended
by the Federal Government, rendering 80,000 of it's employees jobless,
as if there was not less joblessness in the country before anyway! Would
the government tell the commoners that why now, it has stopped funding
to NCHD and given a damn to the human development flourishing at
grassroots? Who provide jobs to the 80,000 employees of NCHD? Who would
be attributed to the lawless if the frustrated youth retort to it,
finding no other source of income to make both ends meet? I think the
government needs to ponder over it some more… |
