Two years on since devastating earthquake, the inadequate and ill-planned rehabilitation is still fuelling public discontent. The victims of the calamity especially the poor have traditionally remained on the periphery of policy making and resource allocation.
A detailed survey conducted by a non-governmental organisation - Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation - points out the miseries of the people who are going to spend third winter in shivering cold. It says that despite all the assurances, the government has not been able to fulfil promises it had made to the survivors.
The devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005 is one of the worst natural disasters this region has experienced, leaving more than 80,000 dead and over 70,000 wounded besides making more than four million homeless in Pakistan's northern areas. The rehabilitation programme of the government, study says, has emerged as a faint hope amidst the overpowering bleakness caused by the earthquake.
After two years, promises still remain unfulfilled, policy response is inadequate and the pace of work is despairingly slow. For most people life is in a state of limbo.
The initial government estimate of loss of 400,000 houses was subsequently revised to around 600,000. Thousands of families took refuge in tents and temporary shelters. Loss of livestock is also a key impoverishing factor.
The survey shows that myriad documentation requirements and tedious procedures have compounded the plight of hapless people. It emphasises upon the government to reduce the dependence on donor support for rehabilitation by allocating own resources.
The comprehensive survey report demands of the government a holistic approach for the rehabilitation of deadly-quake survivors. It demands that the subsidy for housing should be paid up as a lump sum rather than in instalments and the conditionalities attached with the subsidy should be immediately withdrawn. The payment process is too slow that must be significantly expedited.
Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation believed the size of subsidy for housing is insufficient and must be increased to Rs 300,000 for a completely destroyed house and Rs 150,000 for a partially damaged house.
Houses left out in the first survey and thus labelled 'grievance cases' should be paid the first two instalments immediately. Regarding the availability of clean drinking water, the survey stresses for the rehabilitation of drinking water schemes and implementation of new schemes on war footing. About the revival of education sector, there is a need for a comprehensive plan of educational facilities for each union council. Provisions for higher secondary and middle schools, especially for girls must be made.
The report says that fully equipped schools should be functional before June 2008. Similarly, new dispensaries, basic health units and hospitals are needed to be constructed urgently to meet the healthcare needs of local people, especially women. There is a need for improvement of the agricultural technology and introduction of new farming methods in the affected areas.