Speakers at a seminar on Saturday stressed the need for creating awareness among masses about measures to eradicate poverty and empowering people. Participants of the two-day National Convention of Federations of Community Organisations arranged by Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN) to highlight the achievements and targets of the organisation were of the view that literacy and development go hand in hand.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Executive Officer Sarhad Rural Support Programme, Masood-ul-Malik said the federal as well as provincial governments are trying their level best to eradicate poverty from the most backward areas of the NWFP. He said in areas like Kurram Agency and Fata it is much difficult for NGOs to work freely. The government is working on different options to eradicate poverty and empower the women folk of the region.
The event was organised to highlight the achievements of Village Organisations and Union Council-level Local Support Organisations (LSOs) backed by Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) across Pakistan. The event was sponsored by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Representatives of these federations presented their achievements in supporting IDPs and promoting peace and security, poverty targeting, women's empowerment, resource mobilisation, development of children and developing linkages with government agencies for social protection programmes such as the BISP.
More than 300 participants attended the convention, with 200 participants coming from rural communities all across Pakistan: from districts such as Kohat, Multan, Tharparkar, Ganche, Skardu, Ghizer, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Haripur, Khanewal, Mastung, Turbat, Karak, Chakwal, Mianwali, Sialkot, Gujrat, Mardan, Swabi, Attock, Malakand, Gwadar, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rawalpindi, Kashmore, Jhelum, and Chitral.
Representatives from the federal government, provincial governments, international organisations and donors participated in the Convention. Speaking on the occasion Chairman RSPN, Shoaib Sultan Khan said the NGOs efforts are not sufficient for eradicating poverty from the society, adding that the government's financial support is essential to curb this menace.
While appreciating the Benazir Income Support Programme, he said such initiatives are need of the hour for empowering the women folk as they comprise half of the total population. The chief guest also appreciated the work of RSPN and the RSPs for alleviating rural poverty, particularly social mobilisation across the country.
He noted that there was immense potential for people-owned organisations through working in collaboration with various stakeholders; including government, civil society and the market. He stressed the need for developing partnerships between government and RSPs, saying that only with the government support poverty level could be brought down.