‘NGOs need to work at grass-rootsl evel and mingle with the masses’

Karachi
The executive director of Sindh Rural Partner Organisation (SRPO) Zahida Detho has said problems such as poverty, illiteracy and hunger could only be resolved if non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work at grass root level and mingle with the masses.
In an exclusive interview with The News at the Karachi Press Club on the eve of Pakistan Women Rights’ Day on Wednesday, Detho said her organisation was also working to protect minorities and it was not an easy task in the feudal and tribal set-up of Pakistan.
“Once, our office was even attacked just because we gave shelter to a woman belonging to one of the minority communities. The security agencies also become active if an NGO works for their protection,” she said.
“Another problem is feudalism. Once we liberated some bonded labourers in Sindh. The landlord who owned around 7,000 acres was infuriated and threatened us but we stuck to our guns with the help of local people. The peasants we freed now live comfortably in Hyderabad.”
Detho used to work for the National Rural Support Programme (NRCP) that is an umbrella organisation based in Islamabad but then decided to move here in 2001 and establish the SRPO. “One cannot bring solace to the rural masses in Sindh while working in Islamabad.”
She hails from an educate family of Mirpurkhas. Her father, Abdullah Detho, was a forest officer and grandfather, Abdul Karim, was a school headmaster.
“My grandmother, Aisha, was also an educated woman. In our family education has played a great role. My parents and grandparents always emphasised on a good education because it liberates thought. My parents wanted me to become a doctor but I had an inclination towards social sciences and I went for law and public administration. I completed by LLB from Sindh Law College, Hyderabad, then bagged a degree in Public Administration from Sindh University, Jamshoro.” she said.
Recalling her early life, Detho said things had become difficult for them when their father passed away.
“I was a first year student when my father passed away but with the support of my mother, I not only acquired higher education but my younger sister, Sajida, became a doctor and specialised from Ireland. She now lives in the United States.”
Talking about her work and SRPO, she said her organisation focused on poverty alleviation and empowerment of women but it was not easy thanks to the various mafias operating in the province and all over the country.
She said when people of the local communities realised the organisation was serious about resolving their issues, they gave their support which also enabled them to get funding from international donors.
“There are many violations of human rights in Pakistan. But I have not lost hope because I firmly believe that where there is a will there is a way,” she said. “The situation in Sindh is precarious due to the feudal system that sometimes even ministers hesitate to take action.”