faheemraza 's Media

PDI kicks out - women land rights campgian

faheemraza — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:41:25 -0700

Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) has started a massive awareness campaign among women landless Harris (peasants) in different districts of the Sindh regarding the second phase of Sindh Government Land Distribution Program among women landless Peasants.
The provincial government of Sindh province, Pakistan announced schedule of second phase land distribution program to receive application forms from the women landless peasants. Around 50,000 acres land would be distributed by the Sindh government under the land distribution program among women landless Harris in different districts of the Sindh.
PDI Land Rights Program team including , PDI Land Distribution Program officers, Saima Hasasn, Sattar Zanjeo , Ishak Sommro and PDI Social Mobilizer , Qasim Brohi visited, Badin, Thatta, Tando Mohammad Khan and Hyderabad districts villages and held meeting with women landless community members, elders of poor women community members and informed them about the process of filling the application forms. PDI staff members distributed PDI posters in the villages in which detailed inform about the land distribution process was available , PDI Program officer Saima Hasasn visited women poor women houses and encouraged them to apply t for the land distribution program.
PDI team in informed the villagers about the Sindh government second phase land distribution program and trained them how to fill the form and encouraged them that all poor women landless peasants should attend open court ( kucthariers ) announced by the Sindh government to receive application for the land distribution . PDI staff made announcement at public places especially at hotels, sitting places of village community members about the holding of Kucthariers and later participated in different open kucthariers and also facilitated poor women land less Harris women to fill the application form.
Later PDI aired especial program on FM Radio in which PDI Director Sikander Brohi was a guest speaker along with PDI staff informed the viewers about the land distribution program of Sindh government and informed viewers about the opening of open courts ( kucthariers) and process of filing and submitting application forms for land grant . PDI is engaged in advocacy on the issue of the second phase of land distribution program.
In this regard after the field visits and observation, PDI team did correspondence to Sindh Government Secretary Land Utilization and highlighted the issues and problems being faced by poor women peasant’s applicants.

"Reclaiming our Climate" Campaign on Earth Day-PDI

faheemraza — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:01:58 -0700

Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) a non-government organization here on Thursday launched “Reclaiming our Climate” Campaign on Earth Day. The campaign was officially launched in a gathering at PDI House Karachi.

A number of civil society activists and community leaders and PDI members from Sindh and Balochistan participated in the gathering. In his campaign launching address Sikander Brohi Director PDI said that PDI object to launch Reclaiming our Climate Campaign on Earth Day to is to fight the most rampant growing effects of Climate Change in Pakistan involving all the stakeholders from planning to implementation process and to create awareness about the rapid climate change and to save the Biodiversity .

He said that in Pakistan, crop failures, reducing biodiversity, irregular rains, and severe weathers and growing natural disasters have become a common phenomenon in Pakistan. The recent climate change impactson livelihoods of urban areas peoples spread of Deunge fever in Karachi and delayed monsoon rain and sudden increase of hot and dry weather and in rural areas of interior Sindh still many peoples are being victim of malaria and skin diseases while 65% of livestock is dying of stomach diseases in Balochistan caused by no rain fall within the past two years, he added.

He added that PDI is engaged in advocacy, campaigning, community awareness, mass mobilization, participatory community development, participatory research, and networking on the local, national as well as global issues negatively affecting the lives and the livelihoods of the poor communities especially women.

He added that Reclaiming the Climate is a campaign focused on raising awareness on Climate Change, empowering minorities to take part, building alliances to fight its impacts as well as doing advocacy to make Climate Change a of part of Political decisions.

On this occasion, presentations were made and videos were screened about the climate change and its impact. In the conclusion, the each participant individually made commitment to contribute towards climate change mitigation, in his / her individual acts. While passing resolutions in the event, the participants demanded of the government to integrate climate change and disaster risk management in the development process in the country at all levels and initiate awareness and capacity building programs on climate change mitigation, adaptation and management in disaster prone areas of Pakistan.
end.

PDI raised two large nurseries of Mangroves

faheemraza — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:01:40 -0700

Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) has raised two large nurseries of mangroves in the surroundings of Malh Creek, about one lac fifty thousand mangroves plants have planted in nurseries aims to save biodiversity of the coastal belt of Arabian Sea at Kharo Chan Taluka of Thatta district. PDI Program officer Community Based Natural Resource Management Project, Syed Shahzad Shah expressed these views in a consultative meeting of PDI and WFF held at PDI Kharo Chan office on 11 March 2010. WWF consultant Safia Shafiq, Manager WWF Partnership Fund, Aftab Akhund, PDI staff and COs representatives of creeks participated in the meeting. In the meeting PDI Program officer in detailed brief the WWF officials about the target achieved by PDI under the project.
Briefing the WWF officials, PDI Program officer on Community Based Natural Resource, described the activities done by the PDI under the said project for the betterment of areas people to achieve major goals to plant mangroves nurseries in the area as well as made watch dog committees consisted on elders of area for better protection of mangroves plants.
He added that PDI held advocacy meetings with elders of area and influential people for setting mangroves nurseries and made community peoples aware about its benefits for the coastal environment and livelihood of communities inhabited in creeks areas. He added that PDI also setup Fishermen Cooperative Society in in the area and helped the local men including women to make their national identity cards and highlighted their issues in the media facing by them. He added that it was PDI effort that it setup Fishermen Cooperative Society in the area released local fishermen, who were held by Indian authorities. He added that PDI did correspondent with high officials of the government and highlighted fishermen case in the local and national media.
He added that PDI female mobilizers, held successful meetings with community female members and made them aware them about the benefits of establishing mangroves nurseries in the creek and also convinced female to make their national identity cards. Community members shared their views with WWF officials about PDI successful tools of training imparted to their female members and also them about safety tools of handling fishing.
They added that PDI provided fishermen platform establishing FCS at grass root level and now they mostly resolve their petty issues as well as discuss different issues of fishermen communities under PDI setup FCS. PDI program officer added that communities living in creek areas are below the poverty line and thus relying heavily on the environment. He added that PDI philosophy is to develop a strong notion of a self-reliance, sustainability and active participation in the village development process through close coordination with the local communities.

PDI is waging struggle for women land rights

faheemraza — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:44:36 -0700

The second phase of Sindh Government’s Land Distribution Programme would start in mid-April 2010 to distribute official lands among the poor specially women as part of the government’s efforts to empower the women, said the Programme’s Project Director, Faisal Ukili. In order to make the land distribution process more transparent, the government has decided to include the representatives of civil society in it.
He expressed these views in a consultative workshop jointly organized by PDI and Oxfam GB held at a local hotel on 31 March 2010 here. Former provincial secretary Hashim Leghari, agriculture expert, Nazeer Memon, President Sindh Porhiat Harri Council Punahial Sahrio, Zulfiqar Halepoto of TRDP, Sadarudian Jatoi of UNDP , senior journalist Ishaq Mangrio, Shaheena Ramzan of Bhundar Hari Sangat and a large number of women land grantees from the different districts and others participated in the workshop. The problems being faced by women land grantees like litigation, illegal occupation, lack of proper demarcation, non-provision of promised agriculture input and non-transparent distribution of land came under deliberations in different sessions.
Some of the women complained that the government has not adopted a uniform policy for distribution of lands as certain women got announced 25 acres per women while others were granted four to eight acres. An idea was floated during the deliberations that the land distribution should take place at an open and easily accessible public place instead of Otaq (meeting place) or residences of influential personalities.
This was deemed necessary as complaints have emerged that the influential personalities allegedly allot the lands to their favourite persons. It was also complained during the workshop that certain political activists and their families belonging to ruling coalition parties were being given preferences in case of allotment of lands instead of following solely criteria of poverty. It was stressed that the poor widow women should be included in possible beneficiaries of the land distribution. It was recommended to set up ‘watchdog body’ comprising representatives of civil society, members of opposition political parties and treasury to monitor the issues arising out of the land distribution and post-land distribution problems. Welcoming the healthy and positive criticism on the government’s land policy, Mr. Ukili disclosed that the government cancelled the allotted lands in sea intrusion-affected areas of Thatta district following the study jointly carried out by the PDI and Oxfam GB. The women who were allotted land especially in Thatta districts shared their problems. The PDI Director Sikander Brohi also spoke.
End.

PDI is waging struggle for women land rights

faheemraza — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 06:04:52 -0700

PDI won case of poor woman land grantee

faheemraza — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:27:04 -0700

THATTA-Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) Legal Aid Committee has won case of a poor woman land grantee at Jati Taluka district Thatta. Suhagan w/o Siddique Jat hails from Taluka Jati district Thatta was allotted eight acres land by Sindh government under its Land Distribution Program.
She was happy when government allotted her land but soon a powerful lady Mariyam belonged to her area and tribe challenged the allotted land of a poor Suhagan in Revenue Court of Thatta district and snatched it.
PDI Legal Aid Committee which is fighting enormous post land distribution land grantee cases pledged to Suhagan to return back her allotted land and followed the said poor land grantee cases in Revenue Court of Thatta. On the behest of PDI Legal Aid Committee, Advocate Ahmed Ali Hallo appeared in the Revenue Court of Executive District Officer Thatta. After hearing the Executive District Officer, Revenue court passed order in favour of Suhagan.
PDI fulfill its pledged and she is now again the owner of eight acres land, moving towards self empowerment which is one objective of PDI missions.
END.

Needy women farmers get agri input

faheemraza — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:48:56 -0700

UMERKOT- Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) and Oxfam-GB have provided agriculture input support to those women land grantees who don’t have resources to cultivate their land and feed their family members a healthy food diet.
Shahnaz wife of Mohammad Sadiq Arisar, living in village Kamaludin Arisar UC Shah Mardan Shah taluka Pithoro district Umerkot was allotted 5 acres of land by Sindh government under the scheme of land distribution program. Forty-year old woman Shahnaz has two daughters, sons and living along with her spouse in her mother's home. She was worried as she did not have enough resources to start cultivation of her land (given by government).
The PDI officials met her and provided her seed, fertilizer and gave her money to rent a tractor to start cultivation. PDI not only provided agricultural input support, but also gifted her three goats. The PDI officials are visiting her land site regularly and communicate with her for achieving better crops of wheat.
PDI and Oxfam-GB agriculture input support proved blessing for such women who mostly depend on others for nutrition of foods for their family. She said that after receiving support from the PDI she has become self sufficient in producing milk and using milk as healthy food diet in dinner for their family.
She further said that she is no more dependent on others to buy wheat flour others, saying that her wheat crop is ready for harvest and she will soon start reaping fruit of her crop. She said that she would store wheat for whole year requirement of her family and also earn money by selling surplus wheat.
She added that the PDI’s support proved a blessing for her. Government only allotted land to me but neither provided money nor agri-inputs to start cultivation. PDI official informed Shahnaz that this is our mission to serve people and open door for their economic empowerment, especially women like (Shahnaz) living in rural areas of Pakistan. Shahnaz said that after getting guidance by PDI staff, she would cultivate seasonal crops like sunflower, vegetable crops in her land to generate revenue for her family and also contribute in securing food security for their remote village where majority of the inhabitants are deprived of basic food security and are forced to lead life under poverty line.
Manna, another woman land grantee, who hails from village Sahirari Sar, UC Pathro 1 taluka Pithoro district Umerkot was allotted four acres land by Sindh Government. She, however, was not provided any agriculture input support by Govt to do any cultivation on her allotted land.
Manna and her poor spouse mostly do labour on others farming land for their survival and to get diet to her family. PDI with support of Oxfam-GB gave her three goats and met her all requirements to cultivate crops on her allotted land.
She said that after getting goats by PDI and Oxfam-GB, she was using milk as diet for her family members. She said that she was able to cultivate wheat crop on her own land. She shared her grievances with PDI staff saying that she had mostly visited far-flung areas for doing labour on others land and earned not more than 80 rupees per day which was not enough to provide healthy food to her family members. She said: 'I salute the PDI and Oxfam-GB administration for enabling me to do hard work for my own land and to get rid of sordid labor
End.

PDI fighting for cases of poor women

faheemraza — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:04:30 -0800

KARACHI- Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) has been provided several cases of land grantees women in February 2010 that are pending in different district courts and Revenue departments, for providing legal support to grantees to resolving their land allotted issues on their door step.
The PDI program official along with PDI legal aid committee for Land grantees visited far flung areas of Thatta and Umerkot villages where they met with different land grantees, facing post land-distribution problems.
It is the motto of PDI to highlight the cases of women land grantees in the media and to provide them justice and wage struggle for their land rights.
Believing in philosophy of empowering women segment in the society especially rural areas women, PDI staff members are raising their voices at different platforms and highlighting the land grantees issues in the media and holding meetings with other civil society groups. PDI has the honor that it’s not only waging struggle through effective advocacy but also providing legal and financial support to women land grantees and filing their cases in the courts.
PDI along with women in trouble held several protest rallies outside the press clubs of Thatta and Hyderabad to voice concern for their genuine rights. Cases were filed in courts of Hyderabad and Thatta as well as in Land Revenue official department by PDI legal aid committee along with PDI official Sattar Zanj.
In Jati district Thatta, an influential local woman belonging to a wealthy land lord family occupied the land of Porhi, a local poor woman. PDI is supporting the case of Porhi in Board Revenue Department and also providing legal support to her.
In said district Miss Raheema is also facing same scenario as her land had been occupied. An application has been field for her in Board of Revenue Department and PDI legal aid committee is fighting her case to give back her land.
end.
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Oil and gas exploration, producing companies neglecting welfare work

faheemraza — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:01:38 -0800

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=1024577&currPageNo=1&query=&search...

KARACHI (February 25 2010): Participants of conference including elected representatives, civil society activists, environmentalists and development experts on Wednesday lashed out at oil and gas exploration producing companies with connection to neglecting the development and welfare work in oil and gas producing district of Sindh.
In a provincial conference organised by Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) jointly Oxfam GB held at local hotel, participants of conference expressed deep sorrow over deteriorating conditions of local people in oil and gas producing districts saying that Sindh is producing 72 percent gas and 57 percent oil from oil and gas producing districts of Sindh.
Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Minister for Irrigation and Power was chief guest in the conference while PPP Sindh assembly lawmaker, Sikander Mindharo, Jeay Sindh Quami Mehaiz Chairman Khaliq Junejo, PDI Director Sikander Brohi, Project officer PDI on CSR, Ishak Soomro and local community leaders belonged from oil and gas producing districts the provincial conference spoke in the conference.
They added that said companies were earning Rs 10 billion monthly and largely violating the international and national laws, rules and regulations including Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), Petroleum Concession Agreement (PCA), Petroleum Exploration and Production Policy 2009, Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 and other biding laws.
Syed Murad Ali Shah defended government policies added that it was PPP government effort that oil and gas companies' bonus production would be given to provincial governments before it was part of federal government.
He added that petroleum oil companies before announcing the Petroleum Oil Policy should consult with stakeholders including non government organisations and local communities' representative's oil and gas producing districts peoples to involve their voice in decision making policies. He assured the participants of conference that in this connection he would talk to federal minister for petroleum.
PDI Director Sikander Brohi lashed out on government policies with connection to Petroleum Policy 2009 announced by the sitting government. He added that sitting government also following former military ruler Pervez Musharraf polices in oil petroleum sector and neglecting people voice in their policies. He disclosed that sitting government has given license to foreign oil companies to extract oil from the off shore sea without taking royalty of four years and termed government policy as flawless.
He added that no one Pakistani is against the development but oil and gas companies and concerned government department making policies to further increase the miseries of peoples especially in oil and gas producing districts in the Sindh.