Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Message from Uma regarding the effort being undertaken
With respect to Task No. 3 (what we can ask the two govts), my very preliminary thoughts are below, in no particular order.
(1) Long-term commitments to set up model schools for children and adults. Education should foster humanitarian values and local, rational approaches problem-solving, as being most efficient, and also compatible with all faiths locally followed.
(2) Governments should emphasize the creation of livelihoods that are environmentally and economically sustainable. This would foster economic growth and also counter extremism.
(3) Reconstruction plans at local levels should be done with people's participation as far as possible, keeping in mind the needs of men, women, children, the elderly, the disabled, whether poor or rich. Redevelopment should aim not to reproduce inequalities and injustices that may have been prevalent before the earthquake.
(4) I don't know if we can reasonably demand that specialized medical facilities be shared in the region by India and Pakistan. To my admittedly ill-informed self, it seems that paramedical and primary health care training may be a need in the smaller towns and villages on both sides of the border. Also, AFP has reported a UN spokesperson as saying 1000 hospitals were "completely destroyed" in Pakistan, and many doctors and nurses were killed or injured, in the EQ.
(5) Wide accessibility to telecommunications should be built into redevelopment plan.
(6) Again, I don't how if this is a reasonable (from govt' point of view) demand, but we could ask that redevelopment of the region be done with a view to minimizing militarization. It is difficult for towns with a constant heavy military presence to live a normal, peaceful, and dignified existence.
(7) Both governments should foster the growth of local non-profit and volunteer organizations engaged in economic development, by creating funds for and providing encouragement to such start-up groups, and collaborating with existing groups to rebuild lives. Perhaps a joint fund can be created for the Kashmir region by the govts of India and Pakistan.
Uma Asher
PSU , currently in India
(1) Long-term commitments to set up model schools for children and adults. Education should foster humanitarian values and local, rational approaches problem-solving, as being most efficient, and also compatible with all faiths locally followed.
(2) Governments should emphasize the creation of livelihoods that are environmentally and economically sustainable. This would foster economic growth and also counter extremism.
(3) Reconstruction plans at local levels should be done with people's participation as far as possible, keeping in mind the needs of men, women, children, the elderly, the disabled, whether poor or rich. Redevelopment should aim not to reproduce inequalities and injustices that may have been prevalent before the earthquake.
(4) I don't know if we can reasonably demand that specialized medical facilities be shared in the region by India and Pakistan. To my admittedly ill-informed self, it seems that paramedical and primary health care training may be a need in the smaller towns and villages on both sides of the border. Also, AFP has reported a UN spokesperson as saying 1000 hospitals were "completely destroyed" in Pakistan, and many doctors and nurses were killed or injured, in the EQ.
(5) Wide accessibility to telecommunications should be built into redevelopment plan.
(6) Again, I don't how if this is a reasonable (from govt' point of view) demand, but we could ask that redevelopment of the region be done with a view to minimizing militarization. It is difficult for towns with a constant heavy military presence to live a normal, peaceful, and dignified existence.
(7) Both governments should foster the growth of local non-profit and volunteer organizations engaged in economic development, by creating funds for and providing encouragement to such start-up groups, and collaborating with existing groups to rebuild lives. Perhaps a joint fund can be created for the Kashmir region by the govts of India and Pakistan.
Uma Asher
PSU , currently in India
