Case Studies

Rano Bheel, 55, is a resident of village Abdul Salam Junejo, union council Syed Sibghatullah Shah, Taluka Sinjhoro, district Sanghar, and supports a family of 09 members. We, encounter different situations every day on account of various problems which included admission/entry of births into union council record. One such problem was faced by my brother. He was supposed to visit the relatives in India. He applied for passport at passport office of Nawab Shah (new Benazirabad). When the official of passport office, asked to furnish birth certificate of his 12 years son, he got puzzled because his son’s name was not available with union council’s record. He met a friend and asked him what to do!? He suggested that why don’t you meet Mr Majeed Mangrio of Sustainable Development Foundation and seek his help and guidance. We met Mr Majeed who helped and guided him in getting a birth certificate issued. Eventually, he succeeded in visiting the relatives in India along with his family. It will not be out of place to quote another example. Mr Bhoro Bheel died and left behind heir. And his parents (both mother and father) possessed NICs made on older pattern. The parents grew older and died. With the passage of time the hut caught fire in which both cards were burned. When he reached 18 years of age he applied for CNIC. NADRA staff demanded that produce NICs of parents which he could not furnish. The next option was to obtain a birth certificate from union council office. Since his name was not included in the birth register he could not obtain the birth certificate. Consequently, he left with no choice except to acquire a CNIC another man of the village and shown him as his father. Thus he acquired a CNIC on the basis of particulars of another person of village. Although it is an illegal practice but circumstances compel to try such options. In short people face in getting CNICs and other necessary documents prepared. SDF team guided us about entire process of getting the names of new births dully entered into relevant record. Now we realise that above problem shall not occur again as we are going to take timely initiatives of getting the names of new borne entered into birth registers. The children whose names are entered into record can easily get admissions in the schools. The school children are entitled to every government service meant for students. There are various facilities which the children can avail.  

Mai Khairan wife of Abdullah Mangrio, aged 38 years, lives in village Wanhiyal Mangrio, union council Shah Sikanderabad, Taluka & District Sanghar. “We are settled here since many generations, our village is situated in remote area of the district that is deprived of basic services such as health, education, electricity and gas. Since cooking is done on fire wood the women folk is obliged to go out to the wilderness for collecting wood sticks for producing fire for cooking. We carry the children along. Sometimes, we walk up for many kilometres to collect fire wood along with children. Wood cutting and collecting is a singular exercise but we are obliged to do multiple works. We fetch drinking water, water the animals, milk the cows, prepare food, look after children and provide fodder to the animals. So, little time was left over for doing other chores. This is why our life was quiet challenging and troublesome. When we carried the children along in the wilderness there was every probability of scorpion and snake bite, attack by jackals so, we had to ensure that children are safe from thorns, scorpion, snake and jackals. Fortunately, an NGO named Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF) took an initiative for getting a bio gas plant installed in our village. Twelve women of village were training for producing fire on cow dung and properly operating and managing the bio gas plant. I was included among the women who received training. Now we are successfully managing this facility. The fire produced by bio gas plant fulfils the requirement of providing fuel for cooking food in seventeen families having a population of 175 souls including 43 men, 47 women, 48 boys and 38 girls. After the installation of bio gas plant the women and children feel comfortable and do not go out for collecting fire wood. And thus we are safe from various dangers. Bio gas plant helped us save our precious time and energies. The left over time is utilised in looking after children and engaging ourselves in preparing Rilli and embroidery. So a singular facility has resolved many problems and brought a healthy change in a closed and remote society in the wetland area. Prior to the introduction of bio gas plant women were obliged to fetch the water and collect wood during rains and even in pregnancy and ailment, utensils do not get blacken as before and considerable time is saved. Now women of 17 families are able to cook food and provide it to their family members in time .Resultantly we are now relieved of these troubles

Mai Aasat wife of Mohammad Ismail lives in village Tharo Khan Mangrio, Union Council Shah Sikanderabad, Taluka and District Sanghar. “We had had four children-Two Boys and Two girls. Owing to poverty and an apparent lack of resources a son and daughter died in childhood and now we have two children a boy and girl. My husband is a wage earner and undertakes laborious jobs. He gets work for hardly twenty days of the month. He spends rest of the days at home because he cannot afford to start a small business enterprise. We cannot even afford to buy a sewing machine so that I might supplement household income. My husband used to earn an income between 4000 and 4500. It was not possible for us to manage life within that income. This amount was not sufficient to fulfil requirements of food, clothes, education, health, marriages and deaths. We were unable to cater essential needs of uniform, books and daily stipend. In case of an ailment or emergency situation we were obliged to take loans and visited the doctor in the town. Due to lack of proper treatment a son and daughter died in childhood. One day a team of Sustainable Development Foundation visited our village and conducted a survey for identifying poor and poorer household in the village. They might have come to know about our miserable state through other villagers. May God bring countless blessings in the life of Brother Majeed Mangrio and his organization that enlisted me among the beneficiaries and they provided a sewing machine. The sewing machine proved a breakthrough in our lives. It considerably improved our financial conditions. I started stitching clothes of women and children in the village and earn an income from 4000 to 4500 per month. My husband also earns around 4000 per month. Now our family income is over 8000 per month. As compared to previous days we can eat better food and afford schooling of our children, can have better treatment for ailing members of our family improved financial conditions have brought a healthy change in our lives.

The people of Village Wanhiyal and surrounding villages had a few sand hills and small lakes in their possession which were spread over an area of three kilometres. The residents of these villages had raised small pastures and put fish seed into the waters of lake. Each village had segregated portions of sand and lake. The feudal lords of the area had forcibly occupied the pastures and did not permit the residents of these villages to catch fish and grow grasses. After this incident SDF visited all four villages and mobilized the inhabitants. SDF staff and volunteers facilitated community meetings and group discussions and consequently inhabitants decided to move a complaint to Jamait of Pir Pagaro. When the complaint reached their spiritual leader, the then Pir Sahib Pagaro issued directives to chief Khalifa of the Jamait to look into the case and resolve it immediately. Chief Khalifa of Jamait constituted a team of arbitrators who visited the place of dispute and heard both parties. After thorough inquiry they passed judgment in favour of aggrieved parties and gave them rights over pastures and small lakes. SDF had mobilized inhabitants of other villages settled in wetlands complex area for supporting just cause of local people.

A young boy of 13 years named Taj Mohammad son of Wali Mohammad Khaskheli lived with his parents in village Khan Mohammad Khaskheli near Jhol, Taluka Sanghar. One day a neighbouring old man Kewerro called Taj Mohammad to his house and asked to help him milk the cow. The young boy milked the cow and old man took the milk to the town saying young boy to stay and have the tea. When old man left the house his son Rafiq took the young boy to the room, closed the doors and started beating him. Then he dragged the boy to wadera’s autaq. Wadera called young boy’s father to the Otaq along with other villagers and explained that his son has illicit relations with Rafiq’s 14 years daughter. Wadera declared young boy to be “Karo” and his fine is murder. Then young boy’s father was given two options. One is to marry his daughter in Rafiq’s house or surrender his house as compensation. Then Wali Mohammad Was compelled to affix his signature on a blank stamp paper and leave the village by 10.00am the next day. The next day Wali Muhammad was packing up when wadera,s man arrived and took him to autaq. Wadera asked him where your son is. They want to kill him. Wali Muhammad said if you want to kill my son then why I should leave the Village. He left the autaq and rushed to press club jhol and met journalists who contacted secretary of child rights advocacy network Sanghar. CRAN network took Ayoob to sessions court Sanghar and filed an application for justice. In the meanwhile Rafiq also filed an application which was rejected as baseless .In a few hearings case was decided in favour of Ayoob. As a result of SDF’s intervention Rafiq agreed to withdraw his unreasonable demands and allow Ayoob and his family to peacefully live in the village.

Lalee Bheel, 22 years lived with his husband Maroo in Siranwari, Tehsil Sanghar. One day Maroo took his wife Lalee to his brother’s home in Chak number 3, near Gujri, Tehsil Sanghar. When they reached the house Maroo’s brother Chano was not present. Maroo seeing no one around choked his new born son’s neck and killed him on the cart. Then he dragged his wife to hand pump and started torturing her by cutting her nose, ears and chest. He blamed his wife that she had illicit relations with someone and the boy was an illegitimate son. I would kill the boy and punish you. When she started screaming and crying the villagers rushed to the spot where women was lying on ground. After committing this heinous crime Maroo fled. The villagers took the injured women to the hospital for medical treatment. The Patel of the Bheel community visited the hospital and tried to pacify and motivate the aggrieved party not to lodge F.I.R and they will get justice through brotherly system. As soon as the news reached human rights activist they rushed to the hospital and called the journalists. They interviewed the injured women and Maroo’s brother. Human Rights activists highlighted the issue. The higher authorities took notice of this crime and directed the police to immediately lodge an FIR against Maroo. Resultantly police started investigation and detected him and put up the case before concerned court for judicial proceedings. After hearing the case the Court sent the accused to jail and directed the police to provide security to the injured women. As a result of Human rights activists’ efforts, Sanghar and Karachi based organizations and influential persons made arrangements for immediate treatment and required surgeries of injuries. Consequently Lalee was taken to Karachi for plastic surgery and further medical treatment. The trial is still continuing and Maroo is detained and appears on hearings.

Before the intervention of Safer School Project teachers and students can’t aware from the different concept of Disaster Risk Reduction –DRR. After intervention of the Safer School Project and formation of Student Representative Council-SRCs in each school and conduct orientation sessions, mock drills and training of SSC and school based sessions. Miss Batool Fatima Khaskheli took an interest. First time she has presented very informative, attractive speech on first School Safety Day on 16th May-2014 then she has elected as Chairperson of SRC of her school. She has taken sessions about DRR of other students and now she has passed the class 5th and she is leading students of High Schools and she take part in every educational program in the area and presented good speech. Miss Batool Fatima is working as ambassador/ change agent about the DRR and climate change. She is well aware from child rights.

Wzeeran : Government Girls Primary Ahmed Dahri School permanently closed since Many years after intervention of Safer School Project volunteer teacher of the Village Ms. Wazeeran Dahri started teaching the children and Mobilized the villagers for students enrolment now 90 students are getting the education one Government teacher also appointed from February-2015.

SDF has informed the Education Department as well as Deputy Commissioner Sanghar Mr. Sikander Ali Khushk. DC Sanghar has visited the school and appreciated SDF intervention and struggle of volunteer teacher. SDF has recommended /nominated the name of Ms. Wazeeran for “Maee Sukhaan Award” Ms. Wazeeran has got award of “Maee Sukhaan Award” from AWARE NGO on International Women Day at national level program by the hand of Senator Mr. Ajiz Damrah. Mr. Aiiz Damrah appreciated the commitment of Ms. Wazeeran Dahri and Announced that he will take efforts for providing Government job of teacher to Ms. Wazeeran Dahri.

Mr. Mustafa Kunbahr is active youth member of Taluka Youth Council –TYC Taluka Khipro District Sanghar. 19 years young Mustafa Kunbhar was educated youth before TYC membership but he has no knowledge about more basic rights, like right of information, rights of education, fundamental rights according Pakistani constitution. Apart from this, he has no skill of advocacy and lobbying. When he became a member of Taluka Youth Council he got orientation about fundamental rights of human according United Nations Charter of Human Declaration, as well as according Pakistani constitution. He got information about the history of constitutional amendments of the constitution of Pakistan and role of Province after the 18th Amendment, wide-awake his internal strength. After getting training and grooming he ensured his commitment internally with his mind that now he will start struggle for voice of citizen’s and keep continue this struggle. When government decrease the price of oil in overall Pakistan but local owners of pumps deny decrease the rates then he take his motorcycle and visit different pumps purchase petrol and got receipts. After receiving different receipts he has wrote an application claimed illegal more rates in the office of Assistant Commissioner Office Khipro. Assistant Commissioner Khipro conduct meeting of all owners of the local pumps and gave an order to reduce the rate according government rate. He has solved the issue with in a day with support of other youths and media pressure. There are many other case studies where he actively participate in the highlighting the local issues in different forums. Mr. Mustafa Kunbhar highlighting the local issues especially youth and children’s issue in local print/electronic media as well as in social media. He is engaging writing many articles, columns and research stories in daily newspapers and TV channels. Mr. Mustafa Kunbhar is also publishing bi-monthly Sindhi Newsletter “Mehran joon Murkoon” from most backward area of Taluka Khipro, District Sanghar. Further you read his activities on face book page through fallowing link: https://www.facebook.com/mustafa.jmk?fref=ts

Abdul Rehman Khaskheli is a graduate young of District Sanghar but before the formation of Taluka and District Taluka Youth Councils he worked on the mobile shop in Sanghar city. When SDF team meet him and oriented him about objectives of Taluka Youth Councils and brief about the project of “Enhancing the Youth’s Health in Sindh” then he agreed got membership of TYC Sanghar. After two monthly meetings of TYC he was elected as Coordinator of TYC Sanghar. He worked more actively and elected as District Coordinator of District Youth Council-DYC Sanghar. Mr. Rehman actively participates in every activity of the project and he has taken many initiates on self-help basis. He has organized many health screening camps for youth in District Sanghar with coordination and support of other organizations and officials of Health Departments. Apart from this, he has organized three cricket matches with support of Deputy Commissioner Sanghar. He has leaded the youth and conducted the meeting with Deputy Commissioner and Chief Municipal Officer Sanghar about proper drainage of the city and provision of safe drinking water to the citizens. An official has taken interest and improve the required facilities to citizens. He submit request to Deputy Commissioner Sanghar for provision of sports facilities in the High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools. After his request DC Sanghar provide the Polls of football game in Government High School Khatoon Fatima Sanghar. Apart from this, Deputy Commissioner Sanghar has established the library in Taluka Municipal Office Sanghar for youth of the District Sanghar. Mr. Abdul Rehman Khaskheli is highlighting the local issues in print/electronic media as well as in social media very actively. Further you may read his activities and highlights on fallowing links: https://www.facebook.com/rehmankk11?fref=ts https://www.facebook.com/groups/349639221856745/

Mr. Muhammad Yaseen Kapri belongs to most backward Taluka Chambar District Tando Allahyar. He is residential of rural areas. He has passed only Intermediate and after death his father he elder of his family. When he participate in the first orientation of SDF which organized about briefing the “Enhancing Youth’s Health in Sindh” and formation about the Taluka Youth Council-TYC Taluka Chamber. First time no any single female participate in the first meeting of TYC but Mr. Muhammad Yaseen became member of TYC but he elected as Coordinator of TYC and mobilize other youths male as well as females. He has success more membership from Chmaber Taluka 30 members. He actively visited the public health facilities identified gaps and conducted meetings with local Member of Provincial Assembly-MPA Mr. Imadad Ali Pitafi. After his meeting Mr. Imdad Ali Pitafi has conducted the open public gathering first time in the history of Tando Allahyar and got information about the gaps of health department. He has highlight the health issues in Sindh Assembly about vacant positions at Health facilities and provision more equipment’s and provision of free medicines. Mr. Kapri with support of other youth members has conduct meetings with local Police Officers and announced ban on drug use especially on Gutka, 21 supari kacha wine in Chamber city. He has organize many sports activities and quiz competitions among local youth. Mr. Kapri has visited assembly and conduct meetings with many provincial elected representatives about policy level changes and approval of Sindh youth policy.