Background
Pakistan has been ranked 101 in the Human Poverty Index and has 60.3% of the population living below the poverty line. (Human Development Report, 2009) With such alarming figures the nation struggles every day from the colossal issue of poverty. Strategically located at a significant position in South Asia and being the first Islamic nuclear state; Pakistan shares borders with an emerging super power China and one of the rising economies India in the north and east respectively. It also shares its boundaries with Indian occupied Kashmir, the cause of constant conflict between the two countries. On the west it shares its longest border with one of the most politically unstable and conflict driven countries of the world, Afghanistan and further down it neighbours with the dynamic country of Iran. In the extreme south it is connected to the vast Arabian Sea adding value to its strategic location on the globe. The varied political dynamics of the surrounding nations have always played a role in the political and economic conditions of the country and being a recent victim of the major natural catastrophes in the past the poor have struggled to build their lives. Such political, social, economic and natural factors have all contributed towards the rising poverty levels in the country. In order to become a progressive and developed nation the country has a gigantic task of alleviating poverty so that every individual can at least enjoy the basic necessities of life.
In the last decade Pakistan has seen tremendous economic development and has more than doubled the size of her economy. However besides these economic strides the inequality gap has widened and the rural areas have not been able to benefit or contribute to the development in the country. These areas lag behind in access to education, poor infrastructure facilities like the unavailability of clean drinking water and sanitation system, basic health facilities and the under privileged are still living in the dark ages with no gas and electricity. These deprivations have resulted in lower literacy levels, lack of employment opportunities and absence of economically productive skill have made the poor more vulnerable to external shocks and at a higher risk of falling into the poverty traps.
The unprecedented hike in prices of food and fuel in the last few years have further adversely affected the living standards of the poor pushing many of the vulnerable families below the poverty line. It is estimated that over seventy million people in Pakistan are either susceptible to or live below the poverty line. Such factors and the absence of a sustainable source of income have left the majority of the rural poor to depend on agriculture and livestock activities for their livelihood and due to the lack of technological advancement and adaptability these people still use orthodox methods and struggle every day to meet their basic needs. This has amounted to their average annual income to be at a startling figure of less than 400 USD. Hiked food prices and rising expenditures on medication bills due to malnutrition problems and countering health problems caused by drinking contaminated water. This adds more financial burden on the families and leaves them exposed to seek and depend on loans, eventually forcing them into the debt trap. These parents are forced to take their children out of schools so they can earn daily wages as labourers and contribute to the deteriorating family income. The children are not only forced into child labour but it induces depression suffering and pain in the families and ultimately leads the poor into a vicious cycle of inter-generational poverty.
Such an environment of economic and social deprivation in the rural areas causes frustration and aggressive behaviour amongst the poor, especially the youth. They are forced to seek out illegal ways to survive and generate income. People tend to migrate to the urban areas for better opportunities creating more economic pressure in the immature urban financial systems. Having ignorant and illiterate minds they are most susceptible to fall under the trap of extremist activities which for them sadly, might seem to be the only hope of survival. The sense of agitation and desperation in the poor results in increased crime rates and eventually such unsolicited actions become the cause of political instability in the region which is very much the case in Pakistan.
The Organisation for Social Development Initiatives OSDI truly believes that all such social conflicts can be resolved by alleviating poverty in these areas and ensuring sustainable development so that the poor can bring themselves out of the poverty and find the means to live a life free from frustration and hopelessness. OSDI has been established to empower the poor by providing them economic opportunities along with the necessary skills and resources to break away from the inter-generational cycle of poverty caused by lack of both employment and poor public service infrastructure in the rural areas. According to a World Bank study 80% of the poor accounting to 50 million people live in the rural areas of Pakistan. OSDI is aware of these immense poverty levels in the rural areas and aims to work endlessly with the deprived and underprivileged to improve their lives and raise their standards of living.
We have adopted two approaches for ensuring sustainable development in the deprived rural areas. Our first approach concentrates on poverty alleviation by implementing sustainable livelihood programs for the poor to ensure their skill development and capacity building. Our second approach focuses on community development projects which revolve around providing basic necessities of life like access to clean water facilities, setting up basic health units and providing electricity and gas by using renewable energy like wind and biogas etc.
We endeavour to improve the living conditions of the poor and help them break free from the poverty trap. Our programs have been designed to provide the means and the right tools to the poor in order to create a sense of responsibility among them so that they can take the appropriate initiatives of helping themselves. We intend to achieve our objectives through social mobilization of the communities and creation of social cohesion among them so that the poor can take the responsibility to break free from the poverty trap. We consider that the only way forward to bring the families and communities in the rural areas out of the poverty cycle is by promoting sustainable development through poverty alleviation and access to universal education for the misfortunate.
OSDI works with local communities and carries out feasibility studies which help us to identify the lower income group of families and find the gaps in their livelihoods. Our detailed project study entails all aspects of economic inputs as well income generation techniques. We work with these families and develop small sustainable livelihood programs that can increase their earnings. These programs help the families to support themselves and thus be free from the debt trap and eventually enable them to provide job opportunities for others. We have developed agriculture and livestock projects for such families and have helped them every step of the ways by developing their skill sets and doing their capacity building in their income generation techniques. The projects undertaken so far have enhanced the economic activities of the rural poor and have increased their crops productivity per acreage of land.
We aspire to empower the poor and enable them to help themselves. Provide them with an opportunity and the means and give them every step of the way guidance so they can improve their livelihoods. OSDI provides the capital for the poor to undertake such projects through micro financing with zero interest rates to add value to their lives. OSDI works with the families throughout the process and analyses and evaluates the benefits and affects of the interventions on the lives of these families and develops subsequent projects to ensure a sustainable income for the poor. So they have a chance to benefit and progress. OSDI is working day and night to install the long lost hope in these communities and endeavours to restore the sense of pride and dignity to their souls and minds.
Pakistan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and is home to three most majestic mountainous ranges of Himalayas, Hindukush & Karakorum. It is one of the rare countries which is blessed by not four but also enjoys the fifth season of rainfall referred to as Monsoon. The land offers beautiful landscapes of colourful mountains, green forests vast yellow fields and blue rivers. Having a rich culture and home to various ancient civilizations the country is home to the most versatile culture and traditions. The rural areas are the home to such stunning sceneries and we can experience such dynamic cultures and traditions in these regions but unfortunately the plague of poverty has struck hard and left its mark on the land and people of these areas and left these lands undiscovered. OSDI envisions to promote sustainable development through poverty alleviation and endeavours to bring hope to the people by improving their lives so they can lead a prosperous life and enjoy their homes.