Irregularities and misappropriation of funds has been found in Rs 39.785 million 'Jafakash Aurat', project under the National Fund for Advancement of Rural Women. Sources informed Business Recorder on Wednesday that Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) had approved the project two years ago still awaits progress.
The project titled 'Supporting Skills and Micro Enterprises Development amongst Gwadar Women was initially launched by Khushhali Bank with MoWD share Rs 26.785 million and the bank share of Rs 13 million to empower Gwadar women. However, cumulative utilisation remained Rs 21.8 million.
Sources said that the allocation under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 'Jafakash Aurat' project is Rs 4.985 million for next fiscal year. The 3 years project was scheduled to complete in June 2008. However, despite this huge budgetary allocation no relief work was witnessed as women in Gwadar are still entrapped in poverty which shows that the project failed to achieve the goals, they said.
Under the Jafakash Aurat project, the employment opportunities have been created for 313 women and 444 women were trained in different skills like computer, English language, beautification, tailoring and embroidery. Sources said such training could be imparted with small amount and nobody knows to whom the millions of rupees were paid, as this expenditure remained un-noticed.
The ministry disbursed Rs 1.7 million amongst 313 women with a micro-credit range of Rs 5000 to 9000 among women in Gawadar. However,The ministry has no record of the women to whom the amount was disbursed, they disclosed. Sources maintained that under 'Jafakash Aurat' Rs 35.985 million Patti Development Project, Chitral was also launched through AKRSP two years ago.
Investigations show that Chitral women are yet to start small businesses or cottage industry under micro-credit schemes, they said. Authorities concern should implement laws on traditional and customary discrimination against women and the ministry too, has failed to implement these laws practically, they said. The Ministry has disbursed Rs 10.6745 million to 200 women so far without keeping records of payment. Women were granted micro credit ranging from Rs 5000 to 7000.
They remained reluctant to take loan under the project as the interest rate was too high, they said. Furthermore, the Gawadar and Chitral require implementation of socio-economic and political women empowerment laws rather than 'Jafakash Aurat' project to empower women with micro-credit schemes, sources concluded.