Starring Role of Feminine Youth in Agricultural Sphere

This article is contributed by

Umair Talib, Ijaz Ashraf, Kashif Zaheer, Anila Noureen and Kiran Khalil

 

'O people! Fear your Lord Who shaped you from a soul and made its mate from within it, and from that couple extended many men and women and fear Allah in whose name you ask for (your rights) and pay attention to the ties of relationship(male and female). Undoubtedly, Allah is watching you all time. (Al-Nisa 4:1)

Today woman is more safe & secure. She acquire her rights on the dint of her meticulously work, fastidiousness, consistency and determination. The actual credit goes to rural women who devote herself from

Ø  Sowing to harvesting of crops

Ø  Kitchen management to household chores

Ø  Look after of her children’s to raring of animals

Anyhow she turns every stone to prove her worth in all walks of life. She works side by side with their male partners on farm. According to the economic survey of Pakistan 2012-13 population of Pakistan is 184.35 million out of it 48 % are women. Accord to another survey 79.4% woman and 60.8% men in villages engaged with agricultural practices. Woman in any facet; mother, wife, sister or daughter seems arbitrating with her work. She stood along with her male partner to manage crops and rare animals. She also helps him in breadwinning. Anyhow she supports him in all thick & thins of life. Her office is her fields and she daily attends her office. sometimes there is no assistant in her office, she have to cater all her official works i.e. cutting of fodder for animals, their bathing, management of their dung properly, sowing and then application of irrigation, pesticide & fertilizer to crops and at the time of harvesting carefully transport to home. No doubt only men operate the heavy machinery but the more laborious work is her responsibility i.e. manual or hand sowing mostly of vegetables, earthing up, weeding and hand picking. Actually woman’s contribution from seed bed preparation to post harvest management is above 60%.  

Ironically, there is no clean drinking water in most of the countryside areas of Pakistan, so it is also her responsibility to brought pitchers of fresh water from far furlong areas. She also covers many miles to collect fuel wood.

Women always steadfast to her work but lack technical skills. Its investment of energies is manifolds more than that of her return. Almost she invest 10 hour of the day in activities pertinent to crop & animal farming but hardly able to manage daily food. It is need of the hour to teach her these required technical skills. Unfortunately there is great paucity of agricultural women learning & training institutes in country. The major reason of dearth of these institutes is that woman is unaware of her vested rights. Our parochial social system also fuels to the fire. Nevertheless, Islam not only allows but also bound her to get education. It is clearly defined in hadith 

“To be an educated is duty of all Muslims either male or female”. 

Significance of women education is also clearly manifests by this saying 

 “If we educate a man mean educate a man and if educate a woman mean educate a family”

There is significant gender discrimination in our country particularly in countryside areas. Rural women are subjected to male chauvinism, feudal mindset; unlawful customs and socio-cultural segregation are deemed a symbol of pride. While Prophet SAW says that 

“Accept my advice in doing well with your female counter parts”

Our rural social system also dislikes the women education and 114.78 (62%) million population resides in rural areas. Therefore, Pakistan is developing country in spite of having 110 million (60%) work force out of which 56 million are women. Nevertheless, women join the public and private institutes but participation in agricultural extension department is almost zero percent.

Who someone join the department are confined to official work and as aforementioned in rural areas 79.4% women engaged with agriculture but our rural social system does not allow them to interact with unknown male counterpart even for her own benefit. Therefore, it is order of the day to recruit female extension workers and appreciate rural women for their gross contribution in development of country. As with increasing population and inflation it is difficult for a man to run a family prosperously until her female partner stood along. Due to lack of education and awareness she is unable to play her vested role. So it is dire need to educate & train her about her ascending family, economical and socio-political role in national and international development. As Pakistan is an agro based economy and 79.4% women engaged with agriculture. So capacity building of woman is synonymous to development of agriculture. Women have more potential and also more committed to her job than man in each and every walk of life i.e. Irfa kareem, Malala Yousafzai etc. she can also perform very well in agriculture department but she lacks technical skills. 

“For men there is share in what their parents and relatives have left behind, and for women there is share in what their parents and relatives have left behind, be the bequest little or be it much, it is a share estimated, determined.” (Al-Nisa 4:7)

Therefore, Govt. should restructured the agricultural extension department through recruiting female extension workers that they train the rural women about better & recommended sowing and harvesting of crops, crop residue management, raring of animals, kitchen gardening, domestic poultry farming, washing and pasteurization of milk. Extension department not only should remunerate them equal to men but also pay extra allowances to encourage rural women. Also train these workers about how a woman can install and run cottage industries for betterment of her living stander.

Govt. is required to promote a women-friendly mindset and lessen the influence of patriarchal setup in societies.

Establish such community centers where female extension workers can trained the rural women. Set up the female societies at union council level which help and guide the women about solution of their problem. Also provides them marketing facilities for their self-prepared products. Proper mobilization of feminine stuff (48%) of country can set it on the way to developed nation.       

 “I have always maintained that no nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with men. No struggle can ever be succeed without women participating side by side with men. There are two powers in the world: one is the sword and other is the pen. There is great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women”

Qaid-e-Azam

Islamia college for women

March 25, 1940 

The history’s greatest library benefactor

This article is written by Farrukh Dahl Chairman Read Pakistan

History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake. Horrendous and terrible is the history when it calls declares and honors a man with the title “The Great”. A man who was culpable for the unnecessary slaughter of the people, of the deaths of tens of thousands of his own men and of murder of his friends. The end of life of the king Alexander was alcoholic, paranoid and megalomaniac but still he was called by the history “Alexander the Great” just because he was a military genius. History is inequitable when it ignores the other most successful military commanders, business and literary geniuses who changed the world by their thoughts, actions, services and righteousness.

Andrew Carnegie was one of them. A self made steel tycoon, a business genius, a giant of finance, a steel magnate and one of the five greatest businessmen of America has ever known. The wealthiest 19th century U.S businessman who established the largest steel industry in the world. One of America's builders as his business helped to fuel the economy and shape the nation into what it is today. He became the richest man in the world’s history; he alone manufactured more steel than all the factories in Great Britain.

 He is suitable to be called ‘the great’ but not for his incomparable personal achievements, his rise from rags to riches, but for his enormous amounts of public service and his philanthropist works to charities and to promote democracy and transnational peace.

 Carnegie built a fortune from the ground up but in 1901 he sold his business and dedicated his time to expanding his philanthropic work, including the establishment of Carnegie-Mellon University, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, pension funds for his former employees, Carnegie Hero Fund, The Carnegie Institution of Washington and numerous other heavy donations. He also donated £50,000 to help set up the University of Birmingham in 1899. Before his death in 1919, he had already donated $350,695,653 (approximately $4.75 billion, adjusted to 2015 figures) of his wealth. After his death, his last $300 million was given to foundations, charities, and to pensioners. He was one of the few who built America and enriched the lives of Americans. George S. Bobinski, in ‘Carnegie Libraries: their history and impact on American public library development’ has reported that 90% of the fortune of this Steel King was spent for what he termed “the improvement of mankind.”

The most impressive thing which inspired me to write this article was his role to establish public libraries for social and educational advancement. In total Carnegie funded and established some 3,000 libraries, located in 47 US states, and also in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, and Fiji.  By 1920, he had donated some $50, 000, 000 for construction of more than 2500 library buildings. Michael H. Harris, in ‘history of libraries of the western world’ has called him the history’s greatest library benefactor. Only in America he established some 1679 libraries in 1412 communities which, later, became the catalyst for economic, social and cultural development in USA. He explained “I chose free libraries as best agencies for improving the masses of the people”. He further said “they (libraries) reach the aspiring and open to these the chief masses and swinging them round to the surer foundations upon which the national character shall rise.”

He was an avid reader; he spent his Saturdays in the private libraries (in the homes of wealthy citizens). The lessons he learnt from those libraries motivated his campaign to establish world-wide library network. He also funded educational institutions, theatres, scientific research, medical research, law research, and economic research.

The impact and value of libraries in a society is reflected in the results of the survey of public library services commissioned by the Carnegie UK Trust in 2012. The survey was carried out in five jurisdictions: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. On the importance of public libraries, the data shows that overall more than three quarters (79%) of those polled in Ireland said that libraries were ‘very important’ or ‘essential’ for communities. Similarly, the importance of public libraries was highlighted in the survey Ireland’s Vital Signs 2013, where ‘libraries and reading’ were placed in 5th position out of 119 options regarded by the public as most important to them. Another survey by Pew Research in December, 2013 highlighted;

      “Americans strongly value the role of public libraries in their communities,          both for providing access to materials and resources and for promoting              literacy and improving the overall quality of life. Most Americans say they        have only had positive experiences at public libraries, and value a range of       library resources and services. The survey found;

• “95% of Americans ages 16 and older agree that the materials and resources available at public libraries play an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed;
• 95% say that public libraries are important because they promote literacy and a love of reading;
• 94% say that having a public library improves the quality of life in a community;
• 81% say that public libraries provide many services people would have a hard time finding elsewhere.
• Meanwhile, while most Americans feel that libraries have done a good job embracing new technology, they are split on whether public libraries are as essential as they were in the past for finding information.”

 The impact of Carnegie’s breakthrough is that the libraries are now part and parcel of the American society. Americans read more than any other nation. A report published in January, 2014 revealed some 70% of parents report their child visited a public library and the report published in June 2014 shown some 90% of Americans visited library in last year. It developed American mind and enriched their nation.

 Carnegie authored many books, in 'The Gospel of Wealth'  he shared his amazing social conscience “a man who dies rich dies disgraced” and “no man becomes rich unless he enriches others.” 

Libraries play major role in social development. They help to make stronger communities. Without libraries modernization cannot be attained. Chinese leadership realized it, in 1980s they established over 200,000 libraries. Till today, about 601,000 rural libraries have been built in China's villages including 16,000 digital libraries have been built in the country's poor, remote areas. In today’s age of information plenty, need of libraries has been greater than before but in Pakistan, situation is not encouraging. Lack of libraries is the major impediment to national progress and is the main reason behind extremism. Pakistanis have also to realize that without libraries, they have no future.

MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM IN SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

The writer is a PhD Fellow in Public Administration and Govt. at FGV-Sao Paulo, Brazil.

He can also be reached at mumtaz86@hotmail.com

The rationale behind writing this article is to share the observed successful mass transit system in the city of Sao Paulo. By incorporating the same system in Pakistan; many fold positive results can be achieved. At present Pakistan lacks such effective mass transit systems.

Sao Paulo is one of the major states in Brazil. This state has about 40 million populations. It is considered to be the economic centre and culture hub of Brazil.  The city of Sao Paulo is the capital of Sao Paulo state. The city has almost 12 million populations. It is the largest city in South America.

The metropolitan Sao Paulo is ranked one of the top 10 largest mega-cities in the world.  The statistics shows that more than 80% Brazil’s population live in urban areas. Based on these facts one can surmise the significance of transportation in these urban areas. I am living in the city of Sao Paulo for last one year.  I am highly impressed by Brazilian transportation especially under-ground trains and the bus system including electric buses.

Under-ground trains system in Brazil is locally known as the metro. It is one of the major sources of public transportation in the city of Sao Paulo. Currently, the metro is operationalizing with 5 lines and more than 60 stations in the city. In addition, with the metro, the suburban rail system as the Paulista Company of Metropolitan Trains (CPTM) is also operating in the city.  Both the metro and the CPTM cover more than 350 KM.  It is estimated that both together carry about 1 million people on average on daily basis in the city.

 People use these trains for going to their offices and businesses etc. The electronic ticket of these trains is of very nominal value. Almost every 5 minutes   a new trains appears. There is no extra ticket to transfer to another line. Being an eye witnessed, I observed the space of these metro trains is fully capitalized with passengers. People like to use them due to their efficiently and affordability.

By using these trains, it not only saves time but the travelling is safe, comfortable and very affordable. The underground train system in Sao Paulo is considered to be one of the best subway systems in the world. It is fully equipped with modern techniques and it is very safe and efficient.

It is evident that government of Brazil is investing billions of dollars in transportation sector. They are constructing new lines and introducing new metro-trains through-out the country including Sao Paulo.  Therefore, one can very easily assess the success of the metro-trains and the commitment of Brazilian government to enhance the transport system in the country.

The other prominent futures of these trains are reduction of the green house gases (GHG) and to control the congestion of traffic on the road. It is important to highlight that Brazil reduced a record reduction in the GHG in last one decade or so. It is a fact that cars and other vehicles on road emit more pollution which increases the air pollution and enhances the GHG. Like metro trains, the buses are also contributing significantly in the city of Sao Paulo.

These buses are another major source of public transportation in the city. These buses have many routes in the city. Like metro-train the buses have also nominal fare. For every route, the buses run in regular intervals. The metro is not accessible to all areas of the city. Therefore, these buses have an important role. The bus system which is extended to even street level, having large avenues and these all avenues are connected with the suburban and underground train stations. All the bus-stops are in the nearby to each metro station so that the easily accessibility for citizens to the metro is ensured. 

The transportation system in the city of Sao Paulo may have not an ideal transport system and it have certain weaknesses that need to be addressed. However,   optimistically it is a best system and it could be taken as a role model.

Pakistan needs to employ the same successful strategy of Brazil. The incorporation of underground trains, the traffic congestions on roads could be managed. The provision of good transportation can accommodate many people. The availability of such trains will certainly bring the reduction in use of private transportation. The private flux of vehicles on road not only causes traffic jams but also induces pollution as well.

Transportation on roads is causing degradation of air quality with drastic increase in the GHG.  Pakistan being one of most vulnerable countries to climate change needs to take constructive measures.  Pakistan urgently has to control the GHG as it not only creating health issues but also causing global warming which ultimately posing serious threat to our glaciers.

These glaciers are the main source for agriculture sector and Pakistan majorly relies on the water of the glaciers for drinking purpose. It is estimated that if Pakistan is unable to control the GHG emission and the glaciers melt with the same ratio for next 2-3 decades, it will face more flooding, scarcity of water, food security and even severe energy crises.

Pakistan is facing the energy crises for last few years. It is pertinent to mention that the country has the potential to save at-least 20% of its energy used in transport sector by introducing an effective transportation system in the country. Therefore, the government should have to take comprehensive steps for effective and sustainable public transportation.

In this regard, relevant assistance could be taken from Brazil or any other country who implemented the same successful mass transit system. The introduction of the Metro Buses in the city of Lahore and in the capital city of Islamabad is a positive step taken by government to improve the transportation in Pakistan. However, it is not suffice but need to do much more.....