By Zahiruddin
CHITRAL: Women folk will get forest royalty in the villages flanking forests in Southern Chitral for the first time in the history of
Chitral which is being viewed as a major step to strengthen them financially thereby steeply raising their status in the society.
In the areas of Arnadu, Sheshi Koh, Damil, Arsoon and Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur, the government pays 60 percent of the income accrued from the sale of forest timber to the local residents when the forest is harvested on commercial scale which normally happens after each five to seven years.
PTI MPA hailing from Chitral, Bibi Fozia told Chitral Times that it was a revolutionary step which has taken place during the incumbent governement when the forest roayalty will directly go to the pockets of the women in particulars and all the royalty holders in general which we never heard of in the past.
She said that the disbrusement of the forest royalty through the joint forest management committees (JFMCs) was not legal as per rules as given in the Forest Act in vogue as the major chunk of the amount were grabbed by a few influentials while no one had thought of making women share holders.
Appreciating the bold step taken by Chitral DC Irshad Sodhar, she said that the step connotes the vision of PTI chief Imran Khan who has stood for justice, equality and transparency while it was one of the outcomes of the transformations the province was undergoing through.
“ The women will now really emancipate financially as they will no more depend on the male members of their families even for petty amount of money to fulfill their needs.
In the forest-flanking areas, the sources of income for women were very limited while poverty reigned supreme in the areas as there was no land available for agriculture which further minimized the ambit of economic activity for women folk”, she said adding that with this money in hand they can start small scale business as well.
The pronvincial joint secretary of Awami National Party, Khadija Sardar termed the step an historic one and termed it an historic and revolutionary step by Chitral DC which will bring about a tangible change in the lives of the women folk in the border areas.
She said that as per Islamic jurisprudence, women owed a well defined share in the propert of her father and the act of district
administration is in complete consistance with the Islamic Shariah.
Social Welfare officer, Nusrat Jabeen said that the step of making women the share holders of forest royalty was completely in accord with the provisions of Provincial Commission on Status of Women which has now been devolved to the district level where district committee on status of women (DCSW) have been formed.
She said that as the ex officio secretary of DCSW, she welcomed the bold decision of district administration as it will go a long way in raising the status of women as it will help their strengthening in all walks of life.
Former MNA from Chitral Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali also appreciated the move but he reiterated on transparency in disbursement of the royalty and make direct payment to the women royalty holders through the female staff.
When the Chitral DC Irshad Sodhar was contacted, he said that the as per the practice in vogue for the disbursement of forest royalty, the amount was placed at the disposal of JFMC office bearers who made huge scale bunglings in it.
He said that as per rules given in the law governing the management of forests in the province, the royalty amount was to be disbursed equally among the residents of the areas having landed property there.
He said that the all power timber mafia always stripped the common people of the benefits of the royalty and duped them while disbursing the amount and resorted to forgery.
Giving some instances of forgery, he said while going through the payment records of the past, he found that a person in Arandu was paid Rs. 1.2 million but he had been paid only Rs. 35000 and such were the cases with the other recipients of royalty.
“As directed by the chief secretary, I decided to make direct payment of the royalty money to the royalty holders and I also decided to include the women of the area for the first time in the list of recipients and fixed share for them as per Islamic Shariah”, he said.
In a household in Arandu, a man had seven daughters but no male issue but the decision of inclusion of women will benefit him as well while in the olden system, he would have only one share for himself.
Mr. Sodhar said that a special survey was in progress in the forest flanking areas by district administration to compile the list of
royalty holders including women and disbursement process of the current amount of Rs. 149 million will be started shortly.
