The famine conditions affect about one million cattle and four million goats and sheep in Eastern Desert and Kohistan when people move out leaving cattle behind to die. Only those within 40 miles of the irrigated areas are rescued, that too if animals are not sick and starved. The economic loss is too great to be ignored but we forget about it when it rains and make a hue and cry when drought occurs again. We think in terms of people and their plight at social level, their food, clothing, shelter and employment. We do not think of economics of their only possession: the animals. The loss of animals is worth billions of rupees. We feed a few thousand people and think it is a great service to mankind.
The animal herders move to irrigated areas for food and shelter. They are exploited as labourers at low wages and they are compelled to sell their animals at throwaway prices. When they return home, they virtually mortgage themselves and their families to buy new animals. We do not realise that these poorest of the poorest Sindhis are mortgaged for an amount and a rate of interest which they cannot pay during their lifetime and this becomes a burden on their children. This is worse than slavery.
We already know that in eastern desert due to lack of drinking water for animals, herdsmen pay well owners 25 per cent of sale value of animals as their share for water. This is a social injustice and exploitation of poor. The Sindh government should intervene and enact laws to help the herders.
ZAINAB MOHAMMAD ALI
Karachi
