22:22
Unknown
Islamabad
Around 110 staff members of the 12 Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Crisis Centres located in Punjab are without pay since July as Planning and Development Division is still in the process to release funds allocated by the Parliament for fiscal year 2012-2013.
Representatives of some of these centres told ‘The News’ that it has become extremely difficult for them to continue performing their duties in this situation. “Most of these centres are located in rented buildings. We haven’t been able to pay the rent and utility bills for past four months,” shared one representative. “There are around 110 people employed in these centres. Majority of employees have at least 5 years of experience. The situation is frustrating and disappointing for us,” said another official.
Around 70 staff members of the total strength of these centres belong to Class Four that consists of service women and peons. “They have not been paid since past many months. It is the officers that help them from their pocket,” said the official.
Adding to their insecurity are the rumours that the project will be closed at the Federal Level as the Planning and Development Division has directed the Ministry of Human Rights to wind up the project as per decision taken at the time of devolution.
According to sources, out of total Rs126 million allocated for the Federal Ministry of Human Rights for the fiscal year 2012-2013, Rs96 million were reserved for the crisis centre, but no funds have been released during the first quarter.
They said that the division has objected to the release of any funds for centres till the Council of Common Interest (CCI) takes any final decision with regard to future of these facilities.
The Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Crisis Centres, Twenty-three in total each with a 13 member NGO Management Committee for operational guidance, have been established to provide support services to women victims of violence and abuse.
These centres provide medical and legal aid, and psychological counselling for the violence victims. Training in vocational skills and computer literacy is also available in some branches for those who are interested, along with formal education.
Since the devolution of Federal Ministry of Women Development, the staff members of centres located in Punjab is unclear about their future. The Punjab government has refused to take the responsibility of these centres taking a stance that they already have a mechanism to address violence victims in the form of Dar-ul-Amman.
Though the first ever Crisis Centre started working in Punjab around 17 years ago and the newest Crisis Centre is also located in the same province, the Punjab authorities refused the responsibility taking a stance that they have Dar-ul-Amman in 35 out of 36 districts and is not in a position to take additional financial burden for the same function.
To save this facility from closure in Punjab, the Federal Government took over these centres on the directives of prime minister under the Federal Ministry of Human Rights. Meanwhile, the ministry conducted studies and visits of these centres to evaluate their performance and termed them important tool to address VAW cases.
When contacted, Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Shaigan Shareef Malik said that his ministry is constantly perusing the case of crisis centres with the Planning and Development Division.
“The final decision is in the hands of CCI, but we are trying best to convince Planning and Development Division to release pays of the staff till the matter is resolved,” he said.
Around 110 staff members of the 12 Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Crisis Centres located in Punjab are without pay since July as Planning and Development Division is still in the process to release funds allocated by the Parliament for fiscal year 2012-2013.
Representatives of some of these centres told ‘The News’ that it has become extremely difficult for them to continue performing their duties in this situation. “Most of these centres are located in rented buildings. We haven’t been able to pay the rent and utility bills for past four months,” shared one representative. “There are around 110 people employed in these centres. Majority of employees have at least 5 years of experience. The situation is frustrating and disappointing for us,” said another official.
Around 70 staff members of the total strength of these centres belong to Class Four that consists of service women and peons. “They have not been paid since past many months. It is the officers that help them from their pocket,” said the official.
Adding to their insecurity are the rumours that the project will be closed at the Federal Level as the Planning and Development Division has directed the Ministry of Human Rights to wind up the project as per decision taken at the time of devolution.
According to sources, out of total Rs126 million allocated for the Federal Ministry of Human Rights for the fiscal year 2012-2013, Rs96 million were reserved for the crisis centre, but no funds have been released during the first quarter.
They said that the division has objected to the release of any funds for centres till the Council of Common Interest (CCI) takes any final decision with regard to future of these facilities.
The Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Crisis Centres, Twenty-three in total each with a 13 member NGO Management Committee for operational guidance, have been established to provide support services to women victims of violence and abuse.
These centres provide medical and legal aid, and psychological counselling for the violence victims. Training in vocational skills and computer literacy is also available in some branches for those who are interested, along with formal education.
Since the devolution of Federal Ministry of Women Development, the staff members of centres located in Punjab is unclear about their future. The Punjab government has refused to take the responsibility of these centres taking a stance that they already have a mechanism to address violence victims in the form of Dar-ul-Amman.
Though the first ever Crisis Centre started working in Punjab around 17 years ago and the newest Crisis Centre is also located in the same province, the Punjab authorities refused the responsibility taking a stance that they have Dar-ul-Amman in 35 out of 36 districts and is not in a position to take additional financial burden for the same function.
To save this facility from closure in Punjab, the Federal Government took over these centres on the directives of prime minister under the Federal Ministry of Human Rights. Meanwhile, the ministry conducted studies and visits of these centres to evaluate their performance and termed them important tool to address VAW cases.
When contacted, Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Shaigan Shareef Malik said that his ministry is constantly perusing the case of crisis centres with the Planning and Development Division.
“The final decision is in the hands of CCI, but we are trying best to convince Planning and Development Division to release pays of the staff till the matter is resolved,” he said.
Posted in: Islamabad
0 comments:
Post a Comment