Daily Times

Is this the life, they are really struggling for? These indigenous women have been facing the music for decades because they are weak, voiceless and hopeless.

Women with veiled faces, whose elbows full of white and silver bangles and water pitchers on heads are known as Thari women. We often see such women smiling in pictures but in reality, they are the most mistreated and ignored women on earth.

Thar’s sustainability lies in empowering women too. Besides negligence of government entities, apathy of local men is another most significant factor which restricts Thari women to lead an honourable life.

The doctrine of illogical social and religious boundaries is only for women here in this remote part of Pakistan, whereas men are free to carry on what they want and it feels they are born to dominate voiceless women.

Unfortunately, they have no role model to follow. There isn’t any feminine MPA, MNA or even a famous feminine personality in the whole region who can be the voice of these deprived women. They suffer from rough treatment by their men because they believe they have no options.

Literacy rate is next to nil among Hindu women. According to some estimates, women literacy rate in rural regions of Thar is about five percent

The women of Thar have no authority to ask men about anything. They don’t even take names of their men publicly because it comes in the context of insulting men and a sin; according to their beliefs.

If these Thari women belonged to Muslim families then they might have got education up to primary level but not in all cases. Literacy rate of Hindu women is next to nil, or zero percent in rural regions. Generally, women literacy rate in rural regions of Thar is 5 percent.

Rearing and caring livestock, collecting fodder for livestock, collecting wood for cooking purposes and most importantly giving birth to a baby every year are some regular responsibilities that have been carried out by Thari women for centuries.

Local men think that their women are of no use and they are only born to serve them but such kind of unfortunate and discriminatory mentality and unkind approach must be diverted so that Thari women can also live a life of justice.

Education is undoubtedly a national concern but in such upsetting conditions, acquiring education for women in Thar becomes almost impossible. Moreover, unavailability of skill development programmes and centres at village level for women makes the situation even worse.

If bills can be passed in Provincial Assemblies regarding matters like the conservation of threatened fish species why are Thari women are being neglected? Does this happens only because there is no one to raise their voice or they are unheard? Do we really believe that they are worthless akin to Thari men’s mindset?

Firstly it is understood that education must be given to Thari men regarding taking care of their women and facilitating them so that women in their community are treated with justice.

Moreover, provision of small loans to indigenous women for enhancing livelihood resources can also be programmed so that they at least can become self-sufficient which could not only foster their income opportunities but also help to uplift their social status.

Microfinance sector has also been able to reach out to the deserving people in Tharparkar.

The government as well as NGOs working for women empowerment must realise this matter is of great concern because Thari women’s rights are no different than the rights of any other Pakistani woman.

The writer is a freelance writer from Badin and can be reached at abbaskhaskheli@hotmail.com

Published in Daily Times, October 18^th 2017.