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Only scholarships?
Editorial, March : (The News)The decision by the federal government to fund 5,500 scholarships for students
from Balochistan and FATA is a welcome step. However, it can be only one of many
measures that need to be taken to bring both these restive regions to the
national mainstream. Let's first take the case of Balochistan. The province
happens to be one of the most illiterate regions in the world especially in
terms of female literacy and its health and other socio-economic indicators are
not exactly good either. Of course this poverty and unavailability and/or lack
of access to basic facilities fuels the sense of alienation and disempowerment
that the Baloch feel towards the centre, and to fund education scholarships is
but one of the many things that need to be done to set things right.
The
fact of the matter is that the violence and restlessness in the country's
largest province is born out of a sense of extreme deprivation and helplessness.
Of course, this is not to condone terrorist attacks on government installations
or security personnel but rather to point out that the law and order situation
would not be as bad as it is now if the federal government were to engage with
all shades of political opinion in the province. Sadly, willingness to engage
with the people of the province at a political level has been lacking so far;
and this is surprising given the circumstances Balochistan finds itself in after
the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti. Other than this new development, the only thing
of major import that has happened is the reported handing over of the operation
of Gwadar port to a Singapore-based company. Again, in this matter as well the
view of the local population by and large has been that the centre has ignored
them in decisions related to the development of the port and its surrounding
city.
As for FATA, the only way forward is to embark on massive
socio-economic development in this most underdeveloped of region. Particular
emphasis needs to be placed on education (especially for girls), provision of
adequate health care facilities and construction of roads and communication
links. This needs to be supplemented with ensuring that the right of adult
franchise implemented by this government in the region is exercised by the women
of FATA as well. Also, the local population -- for good reason -- feels caught
in the middle of a full-scale war between the militants and government forces. A
way out has to be found in this regard as well because it is precisely this
sense of fear and helplessness, coupled with illiteracy and lack of economic
opportunity, that drives many among the local population to a life of militancy
and extremism. One way to help in this would be for the non-religious parties to
make their presence felt there, so that people can be weaned away from
extremists and obscurantists.
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| Education News | | Updated: 25 May, 2012 |
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