Sindhoo Bachao Tarla

Hirrak Development Centre ہیرک ڈویلپمنٹ سنٹر

pro nature sustainable development

Home Women Rights Food Rights Education Traimi Saanjh Hali Saanjh Theatre Photos Publication

Sindhoo Bachao Tarla! سندھو بچائو ترلا

The Kihals, in some areas referred to as Mors, is an indigenous group of Indus valley, stretched within 350 kilometer from Chashma Barrage district Dera Ismail Khan to Ghazi Ghat district Dera Ghazi Khan, on banks of river Indus. The only historical references available on the community are the colonial ones. Almost all Gazetteers of that time speak about this riverine community but only to count. Curiously this group has totally disappeared in all Pakistan's census reports. Almost 90% of these people do not even own national identity cards, however according to informal sources the total population of this indigenous group is 40000. Most important occupation for them is fishing; however crafting the river forests into baskets, cages and sheds, and working as harvesting labor are their other major means of living. Fish and other river food once made 60% of their total food. Compared to mainstream societies Kihals/Mors had wider food diversity and choices. Apart from fish they used to eat other river food like crocodile, tortoise and blind Indus dolphin, as well as the birds like wild-duck, wild goose partridge. They used to travel up and down and shift on east and west of river Indus according to their livelihood and cultural needs. The river kept them as a group and connected them from upstream to downstream. They had a distinct culture and used to recreate and celebrate with pride

In early summer, during April-May, Kihals/Mors engage in harvesting in the Kutcha (low-lying riverine area). This agriculture labor was once so rewarding that in addition to instant wages landlords obliged them through vegetables, fruits and other such products round the year. In late summer they harvest clean and dry Kaanb, Kanh, Sar and Koondre from delta on both sides of the river. They make Tokarey, cages and ropes from Kaanb & Kanh and sell these household items in the local market. Kaanb and Kanh forests in deltas are lifeline for Kihals/Mors. They equate these forests to the wheat - "Kaanb to Kihals/Mors, is what wheat is to farmers", said an elderly Kihal. As regards religion, this community is Muslim converts and like many converts in the country they also introduce themselves as "Sheikh". Among Muslims they identify themselves as followers of Imam Shaafi, who is one of the four established Imams in Sunni Islam . According to his teachings people may eat anything to live whether it is tortoise or Indus dolphin, which are kind of creatures forbidden for eating according to other Imams. The neighboring Muslim communities, despite taking Kihals/Mors as Muslims, are not comfortable in social relations with them

Scope of work.

The economy in our area is dependent on agriculture. Most of the people are related with agriculture because it is the Indus River soil, which is very rich for agriculture. People told that they were spending prosperous life than today’s life. Due to TBERMP project we are facing the problems of water logging and land erosion. The other community is Indigenous (Kihal/Mor), which has been displaced by Irrigation Department, the implementing agency of the Project. We have organized them on the plate farm of “Sindho Bachao Tarla” through peaceful demonstrations, hunger strikes and “Sath” [people tribunal] on local and country level. We also highlighted these issues through media on wide level. Due to these activities the Irrigation Department had to spend 170 millions Rupees as compensation of losses caused by TBERMP funded by World Bank. Social and political awareness, the element of collective thinking, access of community to Government institutions, self-confidence and rationale approach have also boosted.

The Kehals, in some areas are referred as Moors, [an Indigenous group of Indus valley] which is stretched within 250 kilometers from Chashma Barrage district D.I khan to Ghazi Ghat district D.G Khan , on banks of river Indus. Only historical reference available on community is the colonial ones. Almost all Gazetteers of that time speak about this riverine community but only to count. Curiously this group has totally disappeared in all Pakistan’s census reports. Almost 90 percent of these people don’t have even their own national identity cards. However according to informal sources, the total population of this Indigenous group is 40000. Most important occupation of them is fishing, however crafting the river forests into basket cages and sheds. Some of them work as harvesting labor and it is their other major mean of living. We also organized them from Ghazi Ghat to Bhkar. We have approached about 10000 people of this community.

Now we are proud that the Indigenous people and mainstream community have harmony with each other. They have taken their political and social decisions on their own behalf. The neglected sector of community has been empowered due to the platform of “Sindho Bachao Tarla”.

Before we started the mobilization on social and political issues, those people were facing lack of confidence, feudal exploitation, contract system in fishing, corrupt mafia and passivity. These were the most common challenges that we have to face in the beginning. Then we mobilized them for the sake of unity through demonstration and “Saths” and in the result they got confidence. Police was used to arrest the people without any warrant so we resisted this unusual behavior of police and now people have realized that it (police) is for our protection.

We are very accountable and transparent because we invited the community to participate, discuss the activities and our budget for 2008. If the people belonging to our target area face any difficulty, they contact us and it is our credibility.

We have learned that honesty; commitment, devotion, permanent relations with community and cultural activities are the way of success and people can be made aware about the responsibilities of Government through this wa