DF Bi Monthly Meeting In Abbottabad Regional office
The Sungi Development Foundation conducted a district bi-monthly meeting on the 7th of September in Abbottabad and Sheikhupura. The meeting was held under the supervision of the district officer of social welfare and project coordinator. Several participants, including government officials, lawyers, and members of civil society, attended the meeting.
The objectives of the meeting included the increasing exclusion of priority groups from the DF structure, with the help of DF members and village forums, and to develop the proposal of a strategy for action plan. During the meeting, issues like the ramps for PWDs, under-utilization of funds, drug abuse among transgender people, and lack of job quota implementation for minorities were discussed.
Sungi’s team discussed three children’s cases as well. A Christian boy was denied admission to a special school in Abbottabad due to his physical disability. Another one was also a Christian student, who was subjected to corporal punishment at FG School in Abbottabad after a librarian began beating a student and the last one was a 7-year-old boy from Khan Pur who was sexually assaulted.
During the meeting, the issue of more inclusion of excluded groups in the District Forum structure was discussed. The DF also agreed to increase the representation of priority groups, including women, transgender people, people with disabilities, and minorities, to address their concerns and develop solutions. PWDs and transgender people will have their own special interest groups. The group discussed issues such as minority job quota implementation, drug addiction, begging, and minority kid domicile formation. Zulfiqar Ahmed, the regional election commissioner, welcomed the DF’s support and emphasized the availability of postal voting facilities for people with disabilities, a 5% reservation of seats for women, and a complaint desk for gender issues. The ECP also urged the SDF to hold seminars on transgender rights, voter education, and voting rights for those with disabilities.
DF Bi-Monthly Meeting In Sheikhupura Regional office
The Sungi Development Foundation also organized an Aawaz II District Forum meeting in the Social Welfare Department of Sheikhupura. Representatives from the Police Tahafuz Center, attorneys, civil society, minority leaders, transgender representatives, and focal people of village forums established under Aawaz ll attended the meeting, which was presided over by Social Welfare Officer Mr. Faiz Ahmed.
During the meeting, the Aawaz ll initiative, which aims to reduce gender-based violence, foster social cohesion, and prevent early marriage in 48 villages of Sheikhupura, was presented.
The team discussed many events. Shabbo, a transgender individual, confirmed receiving six ID cards for her community members, including herself. Along with that, during a meeting, the PWD Certificate issue was discussed, with the Social Welfare Officer providing registration dates and the DF Member providing information on the online registration portal.
During the Muslims-Christians riots, a video of a Christian man was received from Sheikhupura in which he asked for help. An immediate response was taken to control the situation and help reached him in time and he was moved to the Police Tahafuz Centre. During the Jaranwala tragedy, Pastor Anwar Khurshid praised the Muslim brothers for defending the Christians.
Some DF members suggestions came under consideration as well, which were that some work in the Aawaz II program should be made mandatory and a program on social harmony on a large scale should also be conducted. Last but not least, a transgender member suggested that a special ward for transgender people should be established in the District Hospital of Sheikhupura.
In a nutshell, Sungi is making effective efforts to enhance the representation and facilities of the priority groups. The Social Welfare Officer also emphasized the importance of the DF’s results in providing appropriate remedies. The SWO advised giving the DF members access to a list of VFs and AACs for close communication. Overall, the social welfare officer appreciated the Sungi Development Foundation’s efforts.
