Sharing the Cost of Development
No program directed at an overhaul of social makeup can succeed without objective, active and effective participation of the target group. International development agencies, like AKDN, have successfully implemented development schemes in collaboration with the beneficiaries of their schemes. In Gilgit-Baltistan, in particular, these programs have attained exemplary successes.
What does involvement mean? Definitely the target groups would be prone to the various programs intended at them. What exactly, then, is the dogma of involvement? In many cases it has been seen that the target beneficiaries are alienated. They either want to take the fruit only, or are completely unaware of whatever is going around. Involvement then, is the art of making them a partner in the process of development. This partnership, even, can be in financial terms. When the Aga Khan University, Karachi, embarked on the establishment of its Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) people overwhelmingly supported the cause and millions of dollars were provided by civil society organs. The Ismaili community, like always, was in the fore front. Nevertheless, visionary non Ismailies came forth with immense zeal to support the cause and hence a wonderful example of a venture for the public was organized by the public. Of course the Aga Khan Development Network is to provide the remaining half of the costs but now the public, in general, has a moral, financial, spiritual and cordial stake in that future centre of excellence.
The money gathered from various Jammat Khanas (The worship place of Ismailies), NGOs, individual donors and other so many sources exemplifies the potential of the public to financially support a cause of their own interest. Capitalizing on this potential needs a strong presence, an honest and visible performance and the desire to come forth and offer a visible change.
In lower economic classes money must not be expected, but shall also not be kept aside completely. Grameen Bank, in Bangladesh, found out that eighty seven percent of the impoverished people would return the micro loans provided to them. That the people are poor does not, always, mean that they can’t share. These people can use their physical potentials to gain the intended objectives. Their mental capacities must not be ignored either.
Hunza, recently, has experienced change of a different order. AKDN started so many projects in the whole northern areas to improve the living standards, standards of education and the economy. Most of the projects were entirely funded by the AKDN, in the initial stages of the program. But recent trends show that now the public is eager to share in the projects of mutual development. In many cases only money and planning came from AKDN, the execution (labor, logistics, maintenance) were carried out by the local population, free of cost. In many cases, when school buildings were being constructed, the people would purchase land, arrange for most of the raw materials (like wood, and material for concrete, with the exception of Cement). Each house contributes to the cost and thus major portion of the project is sponsored by the public itself.
These successful initiatives in the northern areas have inspired many around the country. NRSP, PPAF and other organizations working for a revival of the social getup have copied the same. The results are stunning. The transition has not confined itself. Now the Union Councils, though not equal to their likes round the country, have also started inducting local people into their schemes. Khushal Pakistan, for instance, appoints a team leader for a project and the project is executed through paid labor. This has reduced the customary fraudulent acts of the Thekedar System, to greater level. The team leader, however influential, is answerable directly to the people and thus frauds and usurpations have receded, if not eliminated entirely.
It is not that we have not realized the philanthropic potentials of our people; the enigma is that this potential has been abused widely. The Kiosks and donation boxes seeking support for the “Mujahidins”, for “eliminating Kufr” and for sustenance of our “faith” are not empty, anytime. I wish and I hope that development agencies utilize this philanthropic potential of our nation to fight illiteracy, malnutrition, water issues and dozens of other social evils that haunt us day and night. I wish there comes a day when the mundane people of Pakistan realize their potentials and step forth to be sincere partners in our surge for sustainability and growth.
