KARACHI: “Despite existence of various laws aimed at safeguarding rights of women and labourers, peasant (or hari) women in Sindh continue to suffer discrimination and marginalisation on a large scale. The remedy to this grave issue lies in the faithful implementation of these laws. Sindh, a province home to more than 50 million people, heavily relies on agriculture as the cornerstone of its rural economy, significantly contributing to the nation’s development. However, those engaged in agricultural labour, particularly women and landless haris, confront an array of challenges, leaving them vulnerable and unprotected.

The vulnerability of these individuals is further exacerbated by natural and man-made disasters, such as the devastating floods of 2022 which resulted in the collapse of their homes, destruction of crops and loss of livestock.”

These concerns were voiced by Member of the National Commission for Human Rights, Sindh, Anis Haroon, during a day-long consultation held at the Sindh NCHR office on Saturday.

The consultation, titled ‘Issues and challenges faced by farmers in Sindh’ was organised by the commission’s provincial chapter in collaboration with the Hari Welfare Association (HWA). Prominent among the participants included former chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) retired Justice Majida Razvi, firner leader if the opposition in the Sindh Assembly Rana Ansar, HWA president Akram Ali Khaskheli and SHRC chairperson Iqbal Detho.

Many community leaders representing peasants, civil society activists and human rights activists also attended the programme.

Mr Khaskheli said that peasants had been grappling with numerous challenges for decades, with systemic discrimination being a longstanding issue. “However, their conditions have deteriorated significantly following the torrential floods of 2022. Landless and at the mercy of landlords and employers, these individuals lack land ownership and protection of their rights, despite reservations expressed by civil society regarding the Sindh Tenancy [Amendment] Act 2013,” he said.

Researcher Kausar S. Khan, highlighted the dire situation of peasant women who toil in the fields all day, receiving unequal wages while also facing various issues ranging from sexual harassment to domestic violence. A lack of access to healthcare facilities has exacerbated their difficulties, especially in the wake of the recent floods, she said.

Haleema, a peasant woman, shared the harrowing story of their post-flood existence, where they lost their belongings, were forced to drink contaminated water and sleep in open areas.

Another community member pointed out the irony of not having enough to eat or wear despite cultivating cotton. “This stark reality calls into question the fairness of the system under which we labour tirelessly under the scorching sun,” she said.

Naghma Iqtidar, a human rights activist, criticised bureaucratic hurdles preventing the implementation of crucial laws, such as the Sindh Women Agricultural Workers’ Act 2019. “Four years after the passing of the law, there have been no concrete steps taken to enforce it, which reveals the government’s indifference to the plight of the most impoverished,” she said.

Chairperson for the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women Nuzhat Shireen noted: “Landlords, who often do not engage in physical labour, exploit marginalised groups, including women and those from scheduled castes and other vulnerable communities that are landless and do not have bargaining power. Absence of written land-tenure agreements and limited mobility due to indebtedness further trap these communities in a cycle of bondage”.

In the end, Anis Haroon stressed the urgent need to address these issues. She called upon civil society and human rights activists to raise their voice on various platforms to pressure the government into taking swift action to alleviate suffering of peasant women in Sindh.

She also announced that the NCHR, in collaboration with other civil society organisations, would review existing laws and propose amendments to them besides working tirelessly towards their implementation.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2023