As a nation, emotionalism is more dominant in our personalities than emotions. We always remain on extreme poles. Sometimes one issue absorbs the attention of all sections of society, on other times it goes under the covers. Our highlighting tendency is like a flame. The same is the case with the Mukhtar Mai Issue.
Once it was the headline and top story of all national and international media. Meer wala near Jatoi was the center of activities of International NGOs and Top rank leaders of Government. She was the Guest of honour in many seminars debating women’s emancipation. She was cordially invited by the high officials of foreign countries. A huge amount of donation was showered to her to run various projects of serving humanity. She was labeled the brave lady of the world by global media. She even inaugurated many glorious events abroad.
Now, she is living behind the scene struggling for the survival of her own life. She is in urgent need of liver transplant which is beyond her financial capacity. Worse comes to worst when all foreign funding has been cut off and this grinding halt has caused the cataclysm effects on all her projects operating on outer backing. Her social welfare projects included:
1 Mukhtar Mai Women’s organization
2 Mukhtar Mai Girls High School Meer Wala Jatoi
3 Shelters Home
4 Mobile Units
5 Crises Resource Center
Among the above-mentioned projects, only Mukhtar Mai Girls High school is functioning. She even appealed the government to take into its safekeeping and she is willing to hand over it’s building too. Other activities of benefitting helpless women of that locality have been ceased owing to lack of capital.
Schemes running on donations usually face this doom. Nevertheless; she fought bravely for the rights of victimized women. She does not bow before the ruthless feudal lords and fascist politicians. She provided free legal aids to those who were unable to afford the expenses of the judiciary. According to her legal adviser Mr.Muhammad Irfan Arbi,
“More than 7000 women have been provided legal consultancy, legal opinion and legal aid without any charges. The almost same number of women were given protection against the cruel and barbarous treatment of society. These were vocationally trained to be able to survive independently in the social structure”.
With the closure of Protection House and Crises Resource Center, numerous female are being victimized having no hope from anywhere. The incident of acid throwing is once again in vogue in the surrounding. Recently, even her school van was attacked by some authoritarian minds just because the driver horned twice.
There exists some criticism against her that she became so rich after foreign funding. It may be true to some extent. She herself defended all allegations saying,
“I am always ready for accountability and audit of all my accounts is open for all. I am in miserable condition but my concern is only projects of women welfare and emancipation. Someone must come forward to reinforce these projects. Though I am seriously ill and my illness costs 50 million rupees which is not affordable for me”. She further says, all her dreams are being shattered before her own eyes. Even the school is taking its last breath. No one is paying attention to her cries”.
The government should become a helping hand for that lady who remained fully engaged for the uplifting and upgrading of crushed women in the area where slavery is the fate of women. Gender discrimination is on the peak. Women are treated below humanity. They are under the continuous influence of male dominating society. These are sold like animals and sacrificed in return for the guilt of their brothers.
The custom of Vanni by the so-called punchait has undermined our society. Underage marriages, physical torture, acid throwing and undue divorce are the nemeses of our unfortunate women. The champion of her rights Mukhtar Mai herself is in lugubrious and pensive condition waiting for any ray of hope. She can again become a shade for a hundred and thousand socially exploited women. She can become the voice of those who are homeless and helpless.
It is a great question mark on the organizations of human Rights ignoring such a grievous issue. They should come forward to restore all activities in Meer Wala again where the ratio of sexual harassment, forced rape and forced marriages is more than urban areas. Melancholy can be converted into mirth only by human sympathy and human resources.
The writer is a former editor of English Magazine, Dept. of English B.Z.University Multan.