SHRC voices concerns over rise in suicides in Tharparkar

By Our Correspondent
December 05, 2019

After paying a two-day visit to the Tharparkar district, the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Wednesday showed its grave concerns over the rise in the number of deaths by suicides in the desert region – mainly by women and men -- and most worrying trend was joint suicides.

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Justice (retd) Majida Razvi, chairperson of the SHRC, in a media brief at the commission’s office, said that she along with other commission members had visited the Tharparkar district on November 26 and 27 after receiving many complaints regarding human rights violations in the desert district.

SHRC member Pushpa Kumari, social activist Krishan Sharma and SHRC staff member Adnan Khashkelli accompanied Razvi.

Razvi said the people the SHRC delegation met included officials and cited what is frequently reported “poverty and marginalization” as the main reasons behind the rise in suicides.

“Issues related to mental health were also pointed out as a reason and the commission was informed that except the civil hospital, there are no doctors/ psychologists available who can deal with cases of the mental well-being of people,” she said.

The SHRC believes that these might be reasons but the matter needs more investigation and research to ascertain the exact reasons so that remedial measures are taken. The commission during its visit made it clear to local officials that that this is a very serious matter from human rights perspective and we all have to work together to save lives. It plans to host a major consultation on this issue in Karachi at the end of December with experts and professionals to prepare recommendations.

Granite from hills

She said that Thar is mineral rich and there has been increased activity for the extraction of minerals, particularly from the Nangarparkar area, which is equally important for local people as they attach these mountains to their culture and heritage.

“It is said that these hills and forest were a source of livelihood for people living around. The commission urges the government that any such activity must take into account the fact that no cultural site is damaged or affected,” she said.

“One of the issues that we looked into is regarding the extraction of granite from the Karoonjhar Hills,” she said, adding that they heard conflicting stories from the government departments with even no clarity on the issue as to which department owned the mineral-rich hills. Though the extraction work had been halted, damage had already been caused, she added.

The commission has urged the government of Sindh to come up with a comprehensive policy on mines and minerals’ extraction given the new realities of Thar and other parts of the province where large development projects have been initiated. This policy must have an inbuilt human rights due diligence in it.

Deaths from lightning

The SHRC team also visited an area where 26 people were killed due to lightning in November. “This was a big calamity for poor people. They have neither been properly rehabilitated nor compensation paid. The government needs to pay immediate attention and urgently pay the due compensation,” Razvi said.

“There is also a need to look into precautionary measures to avoid such incidents in the future,” she said. Thar is prone to calamities and droughts but hardly there is any proper rescue and support programme on the ground to help in emergencies. The commission, after its return from Thar, has written to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority for action, Razvi said.

Child mortality rate

Razvi also said child mortality rate remains higher in Thar, which is a major cause of concern. It has been a few years that media is frequently reporting deaths of children in the district. The commission held meetings and inquired from various government departments, including health.

“The issue needs in-depth investigation. However, poverty and malnutrition was reported as a major cause. One major phenomenon noticed by the commission is marriages of underage girls who are already weaker and suffer with visible malnutrition,” she said.

This results in births of weak and undernourished children, as reported by the doctors. “The commission has directed local authorities, including the police, to ensure implementation of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act 2013. The commission will continue to engage with stakeholders to find a lasting solution of this problem,” she said.

No persecution

The SHRC said that Thar has a large number of our religious minorities and unlike previous visits the SHRC team did not receive any major complaint of any persecution against minorities.

“We note this with satisfaction that religious harmony exists in the Thar area and people share sentiments of love, affection and sympathy with each other and communities co-exist in peaceful environment.”

The commission has asked the police and other government agencies to keep an eye on miscreants, saying they must not tolerate any activities that may harm such a peaceful environment of the area.

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