By Khimchand Sanjho
Ms. Razia Panhwar, 36, lives in Tanju Panhwar, a small village located in UC Allahabad of District Dadu. After completing her intermediate level education, she married her cousin. Now, she is the mother of six school-going children. Despite of her own household’s difficult circumstances, she has always been a helping hand for the needy and poor women of her village. Due to her friendly nature, the women of her village find inspiration in her personality. She helps them in their household chores and stands with them through their hard times.
Six month ago, a team of Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP) came to their and held a dialogue with the community, introducing the European Union funded SUCCESS Programme. They urged the women of the village to form their own community organisations.
The TRDP team succeeded in convincing the women to form their community organisation.
Community leader Razia Panhwar
“I was also part of the meeting. Their message impressed us. After two dialogues, we formed a community organisation, calling it Kanwal (Urdu word for Lotus)”, said Razia.
“I found the community organisation as a platform where all the households of the area represented. It helps me to work for the women in a more organised manner”, said Razia, who is a member of CO Kanwal.
In 2010, when a huge super flood hit Sindh, a large number of people were displaced due to inundation of settlements and destruction of houses. The cost of the disaster was beyond financial losses. The fabric of the society was shaken.
“During the floods we had faced many difficulties. Women and children were affected the most”, recounted Razia. “The major issue we faced then was that most of us did not have computerized National Identity Card (CNICs). Due to the lack of identity documents, many affected people were unable to get relief items from the government and NGOs”, she added.
“Many people in our village still do not have CNICs. I got to know this while visiting different villages to conduct sessions as the Community Resource Person”, said Razia. She had been chosen as a CRP, based on her active role in the society.
The villagers had formed a federation of their COs, naming it Village Organisation “Muhammad”. As member of the VO, and as a Community Resource Person, it is Razia’s duty to regularly keep in touch with the locals, train them, and learn about their issues.
“I realised during my visits of the area that many people still did not have CNICs”, said Razia. “I made a list of the people who did not have CNICs and shared it with the CO and VO members. We agreed to resolve this issue. With help from my husband, Nazeer Ahmad, we were able to access a mobile teams of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
“After scheduling a date and time with the NADRA mobile team, we asked VO members of the various villages, like Arab Panhwar, Bahadar Panhwar, Aadm and Shah Muhammad Panhwar to gather in village Bachu Panhwar on March 24, 2017. We told the locals that the NADRA team will make CNICs for those who did not have the important official document. The team came on the scheduled time and 110 people out of the 135 listed people got their registration cards. The VO members facilitated the crowd and I arranged food for team” said Razia.
Razia learnt about the importance of CNIC and other official documents during a Leadership and Management Skills Training (LMST) conducted by TRDP.
The success in accessing NADRA and getting the task done has given the locals a lot of confidence. Previously, they did not know who to access to resolve such issues.
The active leadership of Razia was recognised by the locals, when she was selected by members of VO “Muhammad” to represent their VO at the Local Support Organisation, a third-tier institution working at the Union Council level. Razia was selected Vice President of her LSO, in view of her leadership skills.
“We are not limited to our vicinity only, anymore. Now, we work for the people of the entire area”, Razia said, with a confident smile on her face.