QUETTA: The Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has initiated the process of facilitating 85,000 women and other marginalized groups in nine flood-hit districts of Balochistan and Sindh provinces in acquiring their National Identity Cards (NICs).
The project ‘National Identity Cards for Women and Marginalized Groups in Flood-Affected Areas’ was launched here in a ceremony on Monday, which was attended by the officials of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), provincial and District Disaster Management authorities, district administration, and the representatives of the civil society organizations and media.
Under the project’s initiative, 36,000 fresh NIC registration cards will be issued to women. Also, 49,000 replacement cards will be delivered free of cost to women, persons with disabilities, and transgender persons who have lost their NICs due to displacements in three districts of Balochistan (Jaffarabad, Naseerabad, and Jhal Magsi) and six districts of Sindh (Sanghar, Khairpur, Larkana, Mirpur Khas, Ghotki, and Dadu).
TDEA’s Representative Ms. Rashid Chaudhry said his organization has been leading initiatives for the past twelve years to encourage the participation of women and other marginalized groups in the electoral and political processes. TDEA pioneered this work with the support of NADRA in 2011 when it started to facilitate women for the acquisition of NICs. The initiative has shown results as it has now turned into a mega national effort.
Mr. Rashid said there is more to be done especially in areas that have recently been affected by the worst-ever floods that displaced millions of people and brought unsurmountable miseries to them. Many lost their NICs and other documents that they need to access state services. He said TDEA and its partners are pleased to be part of exemplary nationwide efforts to ameliorate the conditions of flood-affected people of Sindh and Balochistan.
Speaking at the occasion, Member Provincial Standing Committee on Local Government Malik Naseer Shawani said that recent floods caused immense loss of life and property. He regretted that the response by the government and the aid agencies did not match the field requirements. He said collective efforts on part of government, civil society and aid agencies to invest more resources were need of the hour.
