Haider Ali Awan
Women empowerment has become a significant topic of discussion in the area of development and economics. It can also point to the approaches regarding other trivialized genders in a particular social and political extent. Women’s empowerment refers to the ability for women to enjoy their right to control and benefit from resources, assets, income and their own time, as well as the ability to manage risk and improve their economic and wellbeing.
First of all, let’s try to understand what empowerment really is? According to one definition empowerment is “giving authority or power to someone to do something”. It means that you authorize someone to do a certain thing which was at sometimes impossible for him. You give him power to master that thing and that person feels comfortable in doing that certain task. According to another definition empowerment is “the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights”. According to this definition a person who is empowered is given power.
Poverty is widely spread especially in rural areas of Pakistan owing to limited resources and access to livelihood and opportunities. Rural economy of Pakistan mainly depends on three income sectors; agriculture and livestock, local business and trade and remittances of employed work force. If gender poverty relationship is considered in rural context, women are greater sufferer. Particularly, widows, divorcees, women with ailing and disabled husbands. In order to alleviate the sufferings of this marginalized segment of society, SVDP with financial support from USAID-Aurat Foundation started a project named as “Poor Women Economic Opportunity Enhancement through Livestock Enterprise” in Soon Valley of District Khushab. 100 female headed families from six villages were selected through in-depth social mapping exercise by third party.
With the help of Community Task Force survey of four Cattle Markets was carried out for procurement of good quality heifers. Procurement of 100 heifers was completed. Pre and Post Training on livestock management were provided to each and every beneficiary woman. Free vaccination, medication and veterinary services are provided by SVDP and SVDP shall continuously provide these services for next five years and all these heifers shall be inseminated through artificial insemination method known as sex sorted semen. A project closing seminar was arranged by SVDP which includes 130 participants including SVDP BOD Chairman, Government Officials from District Livestock Department, Community Task Force, SVDP Management & project beneficiaries.
Through this grant-based program it is envisioned to improve the life of 100 marginalized families of Soon Valley for next five years through livestock business and provide them a social and economic uplift. The project activities were undertaken in six villages of soon valley. Poverty level of these families was measured through Poverty Score Card being used by BISP Government of Pakistan, The World Bank and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation (PPAF). Families coming under 35 scoring of PSC were selected with in-depth engagement through social mapping exercise by a third-party assessment to comprehensively understand their poverty issues and aspirations. Prior knowledge of animal rearing and having at least one domestic animal at home was a pre-requisite for selection. The asset transfer of young heifer will help improve family income and create sustainable productive family assets. It was projected that with one heifer worth Rs.35000, productive assets in the form of cows and more heifers will be accumulated over PKR 500000 approximately in five years.
The project activities were undertaken in six villages of soon valley. Poverty level of these families was measured through Poverty Score Card being used by BISP Government of Pakistan, The World Bank and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation (PPAF). Families coming under 35 scoring of PSC have been selected with in-depth engagement through social mapping exercise by a third-party assessment to comprehensively understand their poverty issues and aspirations. Prior knowledge of animal rearing and having at least one domestic animal at home was a pre-requisite for selection. The asset transfer of young heifer will help improve family income and create sustainable productive family assets. It was projected that with one heifer worth Rs.35000, productive assets in the form of cows and more heifers will be accumulated over PKR 500000 approximately in five years.
The village level committees are envisioned as critical platforms to share experience, foster a culture of mutual learning and mobilize support mechanisms for livestock owners during and beyond the project implementation period. A Community Task Force consisting of 25 SVDP tested activists with at least two members from each project village was formed to assist throughout project period and afterwards for the whole process and sustainability.
In order to ensure that most deserving women belonging to marginalized and below poverty line families are identified and project deliverables are achieved in a transparent manner, A Social Mapping exercise through an Independent Consultant MENTORS and GEP staff was conducted in six villages of Soon Valley. Priority was given to widows, divorced and separated women, women headed households, women having no source of income and women with ailing or disabled husband and 100 females were selected purely on merit basis.
The author is a development professional working with several national and international organization for women uplift and social mobility. He can be reached at haider.awan845@gmail.com
