Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the social welfare department to establish a centre for elderly homeless people to enable them to lead a respectable life without having to work hard for a living.
He issued these directives while presiding over a meeting of the department here at CM House the other day. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Siddique Memeon, Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo and Social Welfare Secretary Shariq Ahmed.
The chief minister said that he had seen elderly people either doing hard labour or begging. “Their condition is very painful and must be addressed by the government by giving them a beautiful home where they can spend their life with dignity.”
Social Welfare Secretary Shariq Ahmed said three rehabilitation centres for transvestites had been established where they were imparted different computer skills and IT courses. “These centres are in Karachi, Sukkur and Larkana having enrolment of 20 to 25 at each centre.”
The chief minister also directed the social welfare department to set up more such centres for transvestites where they could receive basic education. “We have to make them useful citizens and instead of allowing them to keep begging on roads, they must be encouraged to receive education and get government jobs,” he said, and added that necessary measures must be taken to bring them in the mainstream.
The meeting participants were told that there were four Darul Aman each in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana. The chief minister directed the chief secretary to personally visit the centres and ensure their proper maintenance.
