Asia Begum is a widow with seven children, five of whom are young girls and are both physically and mentally challenged. They range from age groups between 7 years to mid teens. The two older ones, who are normal, have not been able to complete their formal education and are reduced to taking care of the younger siblings along with their mother. The children must be washed, bathed, fed and cleaned every day. It also means they have to be carried on a back to a toilet each day. The two elder daughters must work small jobs to make ends meet. Each week, one of the healthy members of the family is nominated who undertakes the household tasks; in addition to taking care of their sick family members so that the others may work. Together they manage to earn almost Rs 5000 each month which scarcely provides for their food. Medicines or treatment is a far-off luxury they dare not dream about. Yet each day, Aasia and her two daughters hope for a miracle as they have been for many years now. None of them can remember that last time they bought a new dress, soap or just about anything. The rags that cover them have been provided by the homes they work in. In spite of the fact that they live in the heart of Lahore their plight has escaped from virtually all NGOs, Special Education departments or the Social Welfare people who otherwise make very tall claims.
Not very far from the Dera of Khursheed Mehmud Kasuri in Kasur lives a family of five that has only one member who is not physically challenged. In addition to their appalling sickness, three of them are blind. The youngest a seven year old daughters best friend is a goat. Since the child can neither see, nor speak properly due to an illness she drags herself out each day to her friend (The goat) and plays with her. They goat responds much more than any NGO or Government body has.
In Dera Ghazi Khan lives a family that has an exceptional and a bizarre disease. Forget about its treatment the ailment itself has not been discovered. As a consequence, each patient will die a painful death in just a few years time. So far there are only 100 known cases affected by this lethal disease in the world. This family in D G Khan alone has five of them
A few miles from Quetta, almost 2500 people live in pure wretchedness and melancholy. They have a mortifying illness. Creepy-crawly insects come out of their eyes and the rest of the body. The first case was reported almost 15 years back but unhappily nothing has been done so far by the government or anyone claiming to be a human rights activist. When the Honorable High Court took suo moto notice and inquired from the local health establishment to provide a report to the court in this regard it took them almost a month to do so. And yet, no concrete action has been taken.
Fortunately, some of the above mentioned cases have received some help once their plight was shown on my television show. However, there were also plenty of calls trying to discourage me from screening these images on the screen as they are traumatizing and not suitable for everybody. There is the also intense pressure to conduct more political shows as those bring in ratings that are vital to procuring advertising revenues. It seems neither the government nor the people are in a mood to take up their communal obligations.
When I meet such families and trust me, there are plenty of them around; I wonder if they care about the leaps we have taken in passing amendments, or democracy, or for that matter even making Pakistan a religious state. For them, every day of their life is an unpleasant task. Happiness or respite to some of them comes in the form of constipation when a patient is not to be carried to the toilet.
I have never been optimistic about a government of politicians who do not look beyond political rhetoric. But what about our society in general? Have we lost all ethical disposition or courage to deal with such issues in our culture? Can we not do anything as a society to reduce the hurt and pain of those who have been less providential in life? That too, due to no fault of their own. Can we not form neighborhood support clubs that spot, recognise and then help those around us? All we have to do is be more considerate and compassionate. Do you really think this will be costly in any way? I personally dont think so but then the real answer must come from only you.
The writer is a TV anchor.
