By: Bushra Aslam, Research Associate – SUCCESS Programme, RSPN
Nadia from the village of Noshair, is an active member of the organisations formed under the European Union funded SUCCESS programme in the district of Kamber. Along with assisting women to get their CNICs made and creating awareness on girls’ education, Nadia has been successful in negotiating with the government officials to grant her right to zakat. In an interview with a researcher from SUCCESS, Nadia shared that she found about the zakat department through the Social Organiser of SRSO. On founding out that she is eligible to the fund, she went and talked to the Chairman of Zakat in her district. She has been successful in getting her account made and is expecting her first payment by the end of this month. However, she said that if their right to zakat is denied, she will go to the higher authorities.
Other than this, Nadia has been successful in resolving a case of child marriage in her village. A seven year old girl was being married off to a five year old child under the local tradition of ‘watta satta’. On finding out this, Nadia took a few members of her village to the families involved. However, despite her persistent effort, the families ignored her plea, on which she threatened them by informing the police. The families found themselves in trouble as they found out that the act of child marriage is punishable under the law. Hence, called off the marriage.
Nadia’s story is just a glance of ways in which women have been mobilised and empowered under EU funded SUCCESS programme and are working towards the betterment of their villages