IT is a bitter irony that while our all self-styled intellectuals gather in plush, air-conditioned ballrooms to discuss urgent social issues, the voices of those directly affected by these challenges remain muffled. The disconnect from the ground reality is alarmingly serious, and it is this contrast between plush environs and harsh realities that leads to an emotional dis-connect, and ultimately undermines efforts to find real solutions to real-life problems.

How can one engage in meaningful discussions about poverty, inequality and social justice when seated in cosy chairs, sipping costly lattes, and being blissfully unaware of the lives of those who endure a litany of hardships on a daily basis? In such refined and comfortable settings, the participants — knowingly or otherwise — remain shielded from the brutal truths of life they gather to address.

These events, largely limited to acad-emics, officials of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and bureaucrats, rarely yield any meaningful change. They may produce eloquent reports and glossy brochures, but their outcome seldom reaches the grassroots level, where true transformation is fundamentally required.

Rather than wasting resources on high-profile conferences, we must redirect our focus towards genuine engagement with those affected. It is imperative that we amplify the voices of those grappling with these issues, allowing them to share their experiences directly, rather than relying on reports that fail to capture the depth of their struggles and the urgency of due interventions.

Take, for instance, rural poverty or domestic violence. These issues demand practical solutions from people who live in the reality of these problems. Instead of flying in experts from afar to discuss what the poor or marginalised need,why are not NGOs setting up local forums in villages, schools and community centres where these voices can guide the agenda? The true power for change belongs to the people, not with high-end seminars.

Muhammad Shahjahan Memon
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2024