By Author Masooma Amjad Khokhar
The free flour
programme in Punjab has not only made the underprivileged that seems disgraced, but
it has also shown the true scope of the widespread poverty in the region possibly
for the first time. For hours on end, thousands of people, mostly women, have
endured kilometer-long lines only to get a 10kg bag of flour, which cost
Rs1,156 prior to Ramadan. The police and the district administration have made
an effort to keep the masses under control, but the sheer volume of people and
their willingness to risk everything for free flour have proven impossible for
the government to contain. Some millers from Lahore, says, "Violence at the
distribution stations will not stop."
"Since poverty is
a persistent condition, the [free flour distribution] plan will last for one
month. While the programme is in place, everyone wants to reap the most possible
benefits. Individuals who have signed up for the Benazir Income Support
Programme (BISP) are aware that while there would be a delay, they will
eventually receive flour. Individuals who lack registration are aware that they
must take chances by causing trouble. A sociologist makes a different argument
in the ensuing disarray as they arrive with a plot to cause chaos and flee with
baggage. "Every day, thousands of people congregate, give up their dignity
and social respect by spending hours in lines, risk facing violence that could
result in their deaths, and nevertheless they take that risk. What does it say,
exactly? It demonstrates to us that in each of the province's cities, hundreds
of thousands of people would put a bag of free flour above anything else. This
is concerning on a political and a social level. That must not be overlooked.
Although poverty is real and persistent, the sheer scope of suffering that has
been revealed by this flour distribution programme is shocking, according to
Pakistan Workers Party leader Farooq Tariq.
Although Punjab claims
to have already handed close to three million bags, the lines are becoming
longer every day. From where do these folks come? Individuals like us have been
warning about destitution, but the sheer magnitude of it is huge and, if
ignored, can ignite our entire civilization, he cautions. "The execution
flaws reveal that the scheme is weak." At this point, neither the federal
government the idea's originator nor the provincial government its reluctant
adopter can withdraw their support, even if they so choose. They can do nothing
except continue in the hope that their position will ultimately be vindicated.
The government might have cut its political, administrative, and human
expenditures significantly by simply sending money to the impoverished that are
registered with BISP, the author contends.
According to a
comparison between the flour distribution programme and the Ehsaas Ration
Program, "Ehsaas Rashan was created to prioritise consumers' dignity and
provide choices, including the ability for them to visit retail businesses in
their neighbourhoods throughout the month. Given their monthly subsidy cap,
individuals could choose any retailer that was most convenient for them and
make any number of purchases. In the meanwhile, women, the old, the frail, and
the destitute are compelled to conduct risky actions. According to repeated
media reports, the shoving begins as soon as the first hopefuls arrive at
distribution centres early in the morning. As individuals scramble to get to
trucks and bags begin to be hurled carelessly into the wave of extended hands,
the jostling soon turns into fights. An ex-official of the Planning Division
claims, "I am utterly at a loss when I try to grasp what the PML-N
government sought to achieve with the project." There has been a lot of negative
press. He shakes his head and continues, "The PML-N, which is currently
serving its fourth term in office, should have known better.
SO, dear friends of Masoomakhokhar.blogspot.com don’t worry, we’ll talk much more about current
affairs in the future. And as always, I’ll see you in the next blog.
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