NCHD plan to rehabilitate flood-hit women
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI: The National Commission for Human Development has chalked out a programme for the rehabilitation of flood-affected women in Sindh in collaboration with the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Programme.
Speaking at a press conference at the Chief MinisterÂ’s House on Monday, NCHD chairperson Nafisa Shah said that 8,750 women aged between 18 and 35 years would be selected from 3,600 IDPs camps for specialised skills training in tailoring and stitching trade along with the continuation of the adult literacy programme.
Accompanied by Bait-ul-Maal chief Zammarud Khan and Sindh coordinator for the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Programme Karim Siddiqui during the press conference, the NCHD chairperson said that Rs165 million had been allocated for the project aimed at women empowerment through skills development.
She said that training would be imparted at the relief camps six days a week for four months. Each trainee would be paid a monthly stipend of Rs2,500 which would be subject to 85 per cent mandatory attendance, she said, adding that those having basic stitching knowledge would be selected for the training.
“Ninety per cent training will be based on practical work and 10 per cent related to theories. At the end of training, a test shall be conducted and successful candidates will be awarded with certificates and sewing machines,” she added.
Ms Shah said rural-based skillful women would be selected as tutors on a monthly salary of Rs8,000. Referring to the need for women’s empowerment, she said women were a driving force against poverty and their increased earning power raises household incomes translating into better prospects and greater well-being of children.
She said a survey showed that 2.5 million pairs of school uniforms and about two million readymade garments were annually tailored. If a pair of clothes could fetch between Rs80 and Rs120 to the skilled worker, she could earn between Rs800 and Rs1,200 by stitching 10 pairs on a daily basis, Ms Shah said.
Speaking of the rescue activities in the flood-affected areas, she said that the NCHD provided boats for evacuation of flood survivors and carried out rescue and relief work through their filed staff and 15,000 volunteers. She said that the NCHD also adopted 15 relief camps across the province where food, clothing, health facilities and other services were being provided through field offices. Besides, literacy centres and transitional schools had been established at these camps, she added.
Bait-ul-Maal
Later, Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal chief Zamarrud Khan said that the Bait-ul-Maal sent 30 truckloads of food to Thatta for distribution among flood-affected people.
While the distribution of food in Thatta started on Monday, he said that 75,000 food packages for adults and 25,000 food packages for babies were already being distributed on a daily basis across the province.
He said that a 100-bed hospital had been set up in Thatta with the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With a team of 20 doctors, the hospital was providing health facilities to the flood survivors round the clock, he added.
He said the catastrophe from the flood was so colossal that the government alone could not overcome the crisis. The government had allocated Rs200 million for relief efforts being made by the Bait-ul-Maal, he said, adding that both the president and the prime minister had assured him that there would be no financial problem to continue relief measures.
He said that his staff was also working to prepare an Eid gift package for children and women.
Source: Dawn
Date:8/31/2010
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