[sacw] sacw dispatch (20 Dec.99)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Web Dispatch
20 December 1999
__________________
#1. Exorcising the Demons of Pakistan's History: An appology owed to Bengali=
s
#2. Appeal from COVA, Hyderabad, India
__________________
#1.
The News International Pakistan
19 December 1999
The News on Sunday -Political Economy
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/dec99-weekly/nos-19-12-99/poleco/pe1.htm

EXORCISING THE DEMONS OF HISTORY

DON'T WE OWE A NATIONAL APOLOGY TO BENGALIS?
by Shehzad Amjad

As the killer's hand fondles the trigger elsewhere in Bosnia, some fingers
are still working on a keyboard in a Sarajevo bunker. The Oslobodjenje man
is decodifying the heartbeats of a dying country. He is the chronicler of
truth, and he makes his colleagues worldwide proud. Long live the front
page, even if it is drenched in blood.
- A tribute to the staff of Oslobodjenje (Liberation), daily newspaper,
symbol of the 'Spirit of Sarajevo', for keeping its presses running during
the Bosnian war.
(Quoted by Zamir Niazi in his book 'The web of censorship')

In the whole world no poor devil is lynched, no wretch is tortured, in whom
I too am not degraded and murdered.
- Aime' Ce'saire

Demons buried deep within the consciousness (individual or collective) or
lingering fears, anxieties and torments that we so painstakingly seek to
evade, keep making an ominous comeback every now and then--till, ofcourse,
they are decisively uprooted, surgically eliminated or affirmatively
answered. More so at the bar of history where none (repeat none) has todate
managed to escape the all-embracing sweep of retribution. For history, and
only history, has the power to pass the last verdict or the ultimate
judgement.

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, an ideological conception that came to
fruition only after having wrenched a continent asunder, is today
struggling to do away with the 'intimations of mortality' that have for
over half a century now plagued its rather fluid existence on the
post-world war II map of the world. And none amongst its historically
deterministic demons--demons that have literally eaten into the vitals of
the Republic's very foundational conception--is deadlier than the one that
witnessed its geographical culmination with the dismemberment of Pakistan
on December 16, 1971. A nation-state whose sheer geography is inextricably
linked to an ideology could not possibly fathom a greater challenge to its
very existence (infact, very meaning) than the catastrophe that wrenched
the very roots of its ideological essence.

The creation of Bangladesh, after a protracted civil war that brewed within
the Republic's womb throughout the first twenty five years of its
existence, continues to remain the single most lethal demon dwelling in the
hearts and minds of 130 million people of Pakistan. That we have till this
day made not one serious attempt to tackle this supreme existential
question speaks volumes about 'Pakistan, Pakistanis and Pakistaniat.'

The gory tales of human tragedy, enacted with full fury upon the lush green
plains of Bengal in the early 1970s, are today preserved and documented
with even the minutest of details recorded in the annals of history. More
than anybody else, the people of Bangladesh (our ideological bedfellows
once upon a time) have turned such blood drenched stories into a national
folklore, passed on from generation to generation for history to reckon
with. The rest of the world too is quite aware of whatever transpired in
East Bengal soon after the rising crescendo of political awareness reached
its rhythmic apex and culminated into a populist upheaval against
exploitation and oppression at the hands of their post-colonial masters,
their own brothers residing at the ivory towers of unchallenged power in
the capital of the then West Pakistan.

Only the people of whatever remained of Pakistan, a people with the
greatest amount of moral responsibility resting upon their time-weary
souls, have yet to wake up from their opiated slumber, guilt induced
oblivion or white washed mental forgetfulness. A form of self-hatred which
pretty much defines the state of post-1971 Pakistan.

Can one among us stand up and vociferously negate the intrinsic veracity of
the claim that today millions of Bengalis hail as the ultimate national
truth--the very premise, the sheer raison detre, the epochal magnitude of
Bengali nationalism whose edifice is now constitutionally defined as the
Democratic Republic of Bangladesh?

Clearly, it is time for us--the people of Pakistan--to scratch the surface
of our collective consciousness and penetrate deep into our conscience in
order to resurface as a nation fully capable of asserting its legitimate
ideological meaning as well as existence in the turbulent realms of
contemporary order. And this momentous, indeed truly epochal undertaking
cannot even begin to happen without making a fully conscious attempt to
reckon with the demons of our past. In other words, Pakistanis cannot
possibly hope to breakaway from the torments and miseries of their lives
and times without finally coming to terms with the single most gruesome
tragedy of our history--the dismemberment of Pakistan or the creation
Bangladesh. And supremely more important than the task of apportioning
blame is the very moral necessity of acknowledging the blood drenched
realities that emanated directly from our self-imposed myopia as well as
self-induced silence at that fateful hour.

Had responsible Pakistanis spoken out then against the very logic of a
coercive crackdown upon armless Bengali men, women and children, today's
Pakistan would have been a dramatically different country. A country at
peace with itself!

POST SCRIPT: Only nations capable of rising above the lowest ebb of their
own (im)moral past are capable of emerging as self-respecting societies at
peace with themselves. By sheer contrast, today's Pakistan is crying out
for one such truly epochal moment at this crucial juncture in history.

Only a national apology, emanating as a result of a nation wide consensus,
shall now be able to redeem Pakistan and the people of Pakistan. Is
Pakistan irredeemable?

Contrary to parochial views emanating from some exceedingly chauvinistic
quarters, far from belittling Pakistan, a national apology could turn out
to be the single most rejuvenating and revitalising thing to have ever
happened to the Republic and its god-forsaken people.

The ruling elites of Pakistan are not without skeletons in their firmly
sealed closets. They have a lot to atone for at the bar of history. But, in
this specific context, the people of Pakistan are not far behind either. We
too have to answer for the collective conspiracy of silence that has
hitherto determined our stance over the single most problematic existential
question in our lives as ideological citizens of the state of Pakistan.

The contemporary dispensation in Islamabad is today bestowed with an
opportunity of life time--literally! Apart from institutional redemption,
it is the very destiny of Pakistan which is singularly in their hands. The
Hammood ur Rehman Commission Report certainly needs to be made public. And
its release should, in principle, coincide with a national apology. Again
and again, history beckons. Must then we not pay heed to our own historic
yearnings and collectively pronounce, 'let there be light?'

The heart of darkness is a cruel state of being that we must decisevely do
away with - once and for all.
______________
#2.
17 December 1999

APPEAL FROM COVA - HYDERABAD, INDIA

Dear Friend,

Even as you read this, thousands of thousands have spent another day
without food. They are not anywhere far away. They are all around you.
=46amilies that are living miserable lives. Not even able to afford two
square meals a day. All the more pitiable because at one time they were
able to.

If this picture of a disprivileged family moves you to want to give them
something, we request you to think again. If what you give as Zakat or
Offering or Charity is meant to help the unfortunate and correct the
unequal distribution of wealth, how much is achieved by giving it away
without a thought to whether it makes the beneficiary independent or a
dependent on charity? We think there is a much, much better way of helping
them. Not just an individual but an entire family.

We believe that a family can start living, hoping and dreaming even if they
are caught in a hopeless situation. They can ensure that everyone in the
family gets at least two square meals a day. And also send their little
children to school instead of a day's hard labour.

Please spend a few minutes to find out how we have changed the destinies of
many families by making them capable of earning a livelihood.

You can deliver a family from endless despair.

The most miserable form of poverty happens to those who at one time were
leading a decent life. When tragedy strikes without a warning and puts an
end to the only source of livelihood. All of a sudden an entire family
finds itself sinking into abject poverty.

The reality of such a situation can be very painful, as they can neither
practice the middle class values they subscribe to nor violate them. Life
then is no longer what it used to be. Living turns into sub-human
existence. And a grim battle for survival best describes each day.

But with a little timely help the same story can be rewritten with a happy
ending. A family can actually be prevented from going down.

Do you want to know how you can help such families? It only takes a few
minutes to discover that you can.

The Old City of Hyderabad Every city has a fringe. That accounts for a
substantial chunk of population. Always on the margins of society. Unable
to break out of negative stereotyping despite the best of efforts.
Vulnerable to unscrupulous elements and an easy prey to vested interests.
Hyderabad knows it as the Old City. Home to predominantly Muslims (who
account for nearly 75% of its population) besides other marginalised
sections like Dalits and Backward classes.

The Old City of Hyderabad perpetually suffers from the twin scourges of
extreme backwardness and communal riots. Each feeding on the other to
create a cycle of underdevelopment. Unfortunately this negative perception
has a direct bearing on individuals who live in constant fear and carry the
label of being unemployable in the new city.

Most often a single individual carries the burden of sustaining an entire
household. Should anything happen to him or her, other family members
become vulnerable to starvation and quickly slide into abject poverty.

These disprivileged people whose consistent source of income is snatched
away because of the loss of the bread winner, or a major illness or
accident in the family need to rebuild their lives. Any help that offers
them hope is as good as deliverance. One organisation that understands the
importance of providing avenues that promote self-employment as a means of
livelihood is COVA Welfare and Charitable Trust.

COVA Welfare and Charitable Trust The COVA Welfare and Charitable Trust
came into being to address the need for an institution that provides small
but timely capital loans to individuals who lost everything. By giving them
an opportunity to restart their lives with dignity. All it takes is a small
amount ranging between Rs. 2000 and Rs. 5000 to help kickstart a sequence
of events that converts a helpless victim into a vigorous entrepreneur.

Common wisdom is conditioned to think that charity helps. But having
experienced a semblance of respectability in society, any hand-outs to such
people goes against their grain.

The other option of availing loans at a high interest rate from money
lenders keeps them confined within a never-ending debt trap.

As an alternative to both these options COVA Welfare and Charitable Trust
has come up with an highly innovative and beneficial concept. The working
of this scheme is simple.

The target family receives a grant*/loan, which may range between Rs.
2000/- and Rs. 5000/-. *(As per the Islamic Law, Zakat contributions are
disbursed as grants and not as loans. Beneficiaries are motivated to make
voluntary contributions to the general fund so that others in need can be
helped). With this amount it is possible to set up small businesses like
fruit vending, tailoring, small general stores and similar ventures. The
repayment /contribution schedule, is decided by the recipient. Such a
voluntary commitment almost without exception is adhered to. As no interest
is charged, it gives them the leverage to make both ends meet enabling the
family to rebuild their lives from scratch. And more importantly keeps
children from joining the ranks of child labour.

That apart, the amount collected as repayment/contribution from the
beneficiaries acts as revolving fund facilitating more number of such
helpless people to get help.

How it all began?

The idea first occurred in 1998 during the month of Ramzan. When Muslims
set apart a part of their wealth as Zakat for charity. By appealing to some
of them a sum of Rs.25,000 as Zakat was collected. In addition Rs.10,200
was collected as Contributions from others. This amount formed the corpus
of the revolving fund which in turn helped to launch a pilot programme in
the Old City through which 11 beneficiaries were enabled to rebuild their
lives.

The enthusiastic response of people of all communities, led to the creation
of COVA Welfare and Charitable Trust. Now more than 15 beneficiaries
including the first group of recipients are busy rebuilding their lives.
Seeing the success of this concept more and more people are coming forward
to strengthen the Trust.

COVA Welfare and Charitable Trust closely coordinates with COVA **(the
Confederation of Voluntary Associations). COVA identifies the beneficiaries
and monitors the utilisation of the loan and its repayment. A 4 member
Board of Trustees along with a Managing Committee oversees the collection
of both Zakat as well as other contributions, apart from selecting
beneficiaries, disbursing grants/loans, monitoring the enterprise and
effecting recoveries.

The Next Step At present the Trust is concentrating its efforts among the
disprivileged groups who require small loans.

The overwhelming response from public spirited citizens and the viability
of the micro-credit concept have encouraged the Trust to expand its area of
activity, both in terms of the geographical spread and the magnitude of
loan disbursals. Similar independent initiatives are being encouraged even
in districts and rural areas.

To fulfil this endeavour the Trust seeks generous support, from all
communities-Hindus, Muslims, Christians and others-in the form of Zakat or
Offering or Charity to help deserving small entrepreneurs from all
communities in as many ways as possible.

The Board of Trustees

Eminent personalities from various walks of life are involved in providing
the direction and valuable support to COVA Welfare and Charitable Trust.

Dr. Vithal Rajan-Chairman.
Mr. Ameer Sultan
Mr. Mazher Hussain
Mr. Ali Asghar

Managing Committee:
Dr. Anand Raj Verma, Ms. Asiya Khatoon, Ms. Christine Lazarus, Ms. Lakshmi
Devi Raj, Mr. Mir Ayub Ali Khan, Mr. Muneeruddin Mujahid, Mr. Nanak Singh
Nishtar, Ms. Noorjehan Siddiqui, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed

Success Story: Zaibunnisa's husband drowned accidentally in a well leaving
his 30 year old wife with 7 children to fend for themselves. Zaibunnisa was
asked to leave as her father-in-law and brother-in-law were no longer able
to support her. Due to her pleas she was given a small room in the same
house to live in but was not allowed to share the common kitchen of the
family. With no source of income she subsisted on the left overs given by
the neighbours. The eldest daughter aged 13 years had to discontinue
education.

Zaibunnisa a skillful Karchob worker was provided Rs. 2000/- by COVA
Welfare and Charitable Trust which helped her to purchase a Karchob frame
and raw material. She now gets regular job work from the market and is
slowly picking up the threads of her life.

Success Story: One has to traverse a maze of bylanes to reach an old
decrepit house which is home to Majid and his wife and children, two
unmarried brothers and aged parents. Majid and his brothers work together
to make sofa cushions. They started their business eight years ago with
money borrowed from a local money lender at an incredibly high rate of
interest. A loan of Rs. 4500/- had to be repaid in 100 days at the rate of
Rs. 60/- per day. Because of this pattern of borrowing, just the interest
amounted to 120 per cent per annum. This ensured them becoming perennially
dependent on the money lender who took away most of their earnings. Thus
even after 8 years of toil they could not save enough for the brothers to
be married, repair their decrepit house or even to send children to school.
But with Rs. 5000/- provided by COVA Welfare & Charitable Trust, Majid and
his brothers were able to get rid of the money lender and have now started
to earn money for themselves rather than feed the money lender.

Success Story:

Rabia Bee, age about 60 years, is a widow with three daughters. One of the
daughters is married. But ever since her husband lost the use of his legs
in an accident, she alongwith her husband and seven young children live
with Rabia Bee. The mother and daughter work as house maids earning about
Rs. 300/- a month each, while the son-in-law runs a small general store
from the house itself. Rabia Bee's youngest daughter, who is 16 years old,
attends school in the morning and works as a maid in the evening to pay for
her education.

The Rs. 2000/- provided by COVA Welfare & Charitable Trust helped Rabia Bee
and her son-in-law to improve their small business. They now earn
sufficiently to provide two meals a day for the family of twelve.

**COVA

The problems of the Old City of Hyderabad are such that they require a
different approach to finding solutions. Both the Government and NGO's
intervention for development are hardly adequate. There was an acute need
for an organisation that consolidated the work being carried out separately
by various organisations. An organisation that could promote communal
harmony as well as tackle the issues related to the eradication of urban
poverty.

These concerns formed the basis for the creation of COVA-Confederation of
Voluntary Associations. An umbrella organisation that promoted harmony
between communities and enabled empowerment through participative
involvement of groups and organisations at the grass root level. COVA
serves as a platform for the ever increasing network of member
organisations for social activism that is oriented towards service to all
without any sectarian considerations. COVA provides necessary inputs to
member organisations directed at making them self-sustaining agents of
empowerment.

COVA lays special emphasis on the empowerment of women, their involvement
and contribution at all levels. The concept of Micro enterprises among the
marginalised sections of the society enables them to achieve economic
independence and social dignity.

As a consequence COVA is performing the roles of an NGO and a confederation
of a network of organisations.

Make your contribution to COVA Welfare and Charitable Trust and restore a
family's self respect. As the trust is not registered under the FCRA Act we
will have to obtain prior permission from the Home Ministry to accept
contributions from foreign sources. Please send your complete details along
with your contribution to facilitate this process. You can deliver a family
from endless despair.
Yours sincerely

Chairman.
COVA Welfare and Charitable Trust
20-4-10, Near Bus Stand, Charminar, Hyderabad - 500 002 A.P. India.
Ph : 4574527, 4572984. Fax : 4567087
Email : covahyd@h...

__________________________________________
SOUTH ASIA CITIZENS WEB DISPATCH is an informal, independent &
non-profit citizens wire service run by South Asia Citizens Web
(http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex) since1996.