Sindh Minister for Local Government, Katchi Abadis and Special Development, Muhammed Hussein Khan, has said that in view of the success of 'Musalahat Anjumans' (reconciliation bodies) in Dadu and Shikarpur the same would be replicated in Jacobabad, Nawabshah and Mirpurkhas to ensure gender justice.
He said this while presiding over a meeting of the 'monitoring and evaluation cell' of Sindh Local Government Department in his office on Wednesday.
He said that the purpose of this project was to protect women from highhandedness of others and to provide them justice against crime, take them to safety and ensure protection. He said that in all 52 union councils of Dadu, Musalahat Anjumans and 'Insaf Committees' have been formed, while in 50 union councils of Shikarpur the same work has also been completed.
However, he said, there was need to have coordination between judiciary, police and 'Masalahat Anjumans' to make the system effective. Khan said that there should be active participation from women as 'Musleh' on the Anjuman to ensure gender justice for women.
He said that in Dadu 53 percent women have enrolled as Musleh and in Shikarpur there are 84 percent women as Musleh on the committees. Members of these committees are provided literature on the purpose and working of these Anjumans in English, Urdu and Sindhi languages.
He acknowledged the support this Anjuman project was receiving from Norwegian Embassy (Norad) and the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). The two countries have further given assurance to support the project till 2011.
The minister said that his department would provide required help and assistance for re-notification of Provincial Steering Committee (PSC), Musalahat Anjuman Support Services (MASS) and Musalahat Anjuman Justice (MAJA).