Daily Times

Sir: The area of drought-hit Thar is the ninth largest desert in the world. The people of this area depend upon natural rain, which is only possible once in the whole year. Unfortunately, there has not been adequate rain for the last four to five years. As a consequence of this, the famine situation has affected not only the routine life of the people but also countless numbers of animals and birds, which have died during this short time. The Thar people cultivate their land for crops in the rainy season, otherwise they depend on livestock, which has been the only way to survive in this desert area for centuries. Radio is the only source of communication because it is cheap and accessible in the absence of electricity and lack of financial strength.

The district’s single government hospital, which is situated in the district headquarter of Mithi, is facing a shortage of staff and is not reachable for the people because of the geographical position of that headquarter. It is also a fact that there are lots of primary schools in the government’s record books but there are only a few in existence — children have been deprived of the basic right of education. In this area, people are unable to provide two meals a day to their children, then how can they arrange education for them? This is an alarming question and it needs the government’s attention.

I salute the electronic and print media for highlighting the sorrows of the Thar people in this critical time, suggesting the way to Thar for not only non governmental organisations (NGOs) but also our leaders in order to help the people of this deprived area. It is high time steps are taken in order to change the lifestyle of the people on a permanent basis, establish temporary medical camps, supply bags of wheat and hold emergency meetings; all these remedies are still not sufficient to change the life of the people in this drought-hit area. We need consistent initiatives in the fields of health, education, safe drinking water and especially the utilisation of natural resources. This can open doors for jobs for the people of this area in order for them to earn money for their livelihood.

MOHSIN ALI RAHIMOON

Karachi