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Gidan Tehrik

Lets over come the spreading famine in Balochistan!
MID-TERM & LONG TERM PROJECTS

1-GUAFTA PROJECT

2-CATTLE RESCUE FARMS

3-LOW COST SMALL DAMS

Gidan projects are started with the donations of friends of peace movement Pakistan, special thanks to Prof.A.H.Nayyar, Foqia Sadiq, Zubair Faisal Abbasi, Beena Sarwar, Zia Mian and Akhtar Jan Mengal

INTRODUCTION

Balochistan is facing the most horrible famine of history, which has destroyed 90% means of sustenance of about 70% population of Balochistan. We are almost destroyed and starting from the beginning. We are planning for mid-term & long-term actions to overcome drought and restore life and economy.

Arenji was the big bang which has broken the silence and shaken all of us, 122 died by hunger, people were not able to find leaves of trees to eat, cows were eating dead sheep,   it was shown on BBC TV. Then the authorities had admitted the situation of famine in the  whole province that is facing the situation of Arenji. There is no proper rainfall for last three years, so no proper crops, no fodder for cattle. Sheep, goats and camels are dying by hunger. Water resorts are dried, under ground water level had gone below 600 ft which was at 60 ft some years ago, ill-fated hopeless people are still migrating, burying households, and leaving behind dead cattle, to unknown destinations. Relief camps are still increasing in number, there is a great need of continuous supply of food, medicines and fodder. In relief camps people are not properly taken care of, 50 died(mostly children) in Siyah Koh Camp Chagai in last two months, volunteers and donors are not allowed to visit the camp.

From Makuran to Harnai famine has destroyed 22 districts out of 26 of the province. Food supply is the first step and food security is the ultimate goal has to be achieved with the joint efforts of local community, friends of Balochistan, Govt. and international support agencies.

GIDAN TEHRIK started in a meeting at Mehrgarh, Sariab Quetta, on March 16,2000 held to evaluate the efforts done for Arenji as short-term action and what should be the future planning for the whole province. Intellectuals, Poets, journalists, artists, political activists, NGO representatives participated in the meeting concluded that the threat of famine in Balochistan can destroy every thing here, people have to migrate it is a threat for life and civilization, it needs a well organized movement to overcome famine. Gidan is a Balochi word means the traditional tent made-up of goat or camel hair, it is the shelter, the home of our people, which travels with us wherever we go. Gidan Tehrik is a call for a united struggle of survival, it is a life saving effort, all of us in Balochistan and our friends out side will defeat famine jointly.

WORK DONE

1.. A documentary film "DUKKAL" has been produced with the support of OXFAM on drought situation in Balochistan, it also includes some suggestions to overcome famine. Film is available for fund raising and for the agencies interested in relief work or mid/long term planning for Balochistan.

2.. Network of volunteers organized in drought hit areas who are involved in relief activities,(list with contacts is available) actually they are those young guys who first of all helped the displaced people, organized relief camps, provided food, shelter, medicines for the helpless (after that relief work from donors & govt. started), collected data which includes names of family members(women, men, kids), number of cattle survived, from where they have come and what they have lost(human lives, cattle) these details are also available.

3.. Contacts with supporting agencies and Relief Commission (Govt. of Balochistan) established, 

4.. One camp is identified for Guafta weaving, and provided with wool & tools with the help of funding pool established for this purpose,

5.. A piece of land with plenty of water is selected for the first cattle rescue farm in Kanak, waiting for support to construct temporary boundary and shade, fodder will be provided by the Govt.

Funding Pool

1.. Friends of Peace Movement in Pakistan:   Rs.19490+19600= Rs. 39,090

2.. Akhtar Jan Mengal= Rs.50,000  We appeal to all of you to join hands with Gidan Tehrik to contribute
what ever you can to overcome famine in Balochistan.

1- GUAFTA PROJECT

Women of Balochistan fighting against famine: stepping towards rehabilitation!

Introduction

Guafta is traditional craft making considered as precious inheritance a daughter can get from her mother. The hand woven rugs, wall hangings and bags of different sizes and colors are made of wool(goat, camel, lamb) almost  all Baloch women are skilled in Guafta weaving, with classic designs and colors even the designs of 11,000 years old, the first urban civilization on earth The Mehrgarh are still alive, breathing in their hard working hands.

Nature of the project:

It is an income generation project for drought affected women of Balochistan. Wool (lamb, camel) and other necessary tools will be provided to the women living in relief camps, rugs/ wall hangings/bags will be produced with classic Balochi/Kurdi designs with a message of peace. There are 12 major relief camps in different districts of Balochistan, in each camp 1000 women are residing, approximately, who can contribute in washing wool, coloring it, making threads, weaving, etc., after that these will be collected, packed and distributed to the interested organizations and friends for sale.

2- CATTLE RESCUE FARMS

In Balochistan the traditional grazing rout Chagai -Khurasan -Kachi, and the areas of Kharan , Jhalawan & Dasht Makuran were used to meet the demand for wool, meet and leather inside and outside Pakistan and especially it was the hub for export of camels.

People of Balochistan have lost the major part of their livestock, which had provided sustenance, most of the people have migrated from their ancestral homes because all of the pasturelands are changed into deserts.

There is a need to provide Rescue Farms for cattle survived from drought.

1- What to do

1.. Allocation of 10-20 acres of land pieces free of cast from the generous land-owners in areas where drought effected people are gathered for relief.

2.. Arrangements for water supply, hand pumps
3.. provision of water storage tanks, temporary tube wells if ground water level is low.
4.. Mobilization of shepherds to bring their cattle in the nearest Rescue farm, through the volunteers working in the camps and govt. officials
5.. Construction of temporary shades to save cattle from intensity of weather
6.. Provision of fodder and veterinary medicines
7.. Employ some of the camp people to take care of cattle
8.. depute veterinary doctors
9.. Keep proper record of the cattle, local volunteers may be hired for the management.

2- What we have
Landowners agreed to provide their lands free of cast for Rescue Farms in:

a) Kili Malik Abdul Ali, Kuchlagh

b) Shori, Kanak

c) Arenji, Khuzdar

d) Parwar, Mushke

We can have lands in the same way in Dasht Makuran, Noshke, Kardigab, Dasht, Bolan and other areas also

3- Low Cost Small Dams (under preperation)

We will overcome famine one day!

Naela Quadri,
Director Program
Conscience Promoters, Gidan Tehrik
Ph: 92-81-441975
D-5 University Town, Quetta
E-mail; naela@cp-shaal.org

Civil society initiatives.