This refers to the tweet of the Provincial Finance Minister, Mr. Zahoor Buledi (February 9) that from 2010 till now, Balochistan has received 1604 billions in which 450 billions were used in the development programs that included 268 Dams, five Hospitals, 15000 kilometer roads and 1500 primary schools. It was also added that 72 thousand vacancies in various sectors were filled; 24 thousands in education, 19 thousands in health sector and 29 thousands for police. Despite this, rural areas of the province showed the most worsening image of educational crisis as compare to urban. Kaleero is one such village which longs for a school and many more fundamental amenities.
The capital aim of the rural development authorities is to facilitate each less privileged area with the absolute development schemes. In spite of all, several rural areas are being ignored. Firstly, intense-poverty and then low-education have caused perversive effects on the rural areas and now do not facilitating them – alike urban – is really an extinction of rural areas.
Kaleero, a neighboring village of Balnigwar [district Kech], settled on the western side is miserably neglected by the policymakers so far. It is the village where children are unfamiliar with schools and, in this growing world, residents are kept afar from all the modern technologies. Approximately, 1500 to 2000 homes are settled there who, like others, desire to touch the twinkling stars.
The village accommodates two other villages named Sol Bazar and Damb. Children of these areas, whose time is to go to schools and seek knowledge, are compelled to go to forests and mountains as shepherds. “If anybody wishes to get education then he/she has to go to far-flung areas because there has developed no infrastructure of school in our village yet,” said a resident.
He further added that the children, who could afford going out for an education, used to go to school frequently to learn but years passed that they took a u-turn due to severe poverty reasons. Education is not their only priority, but they have to work and feed their families as well. Very few children still journey for an education, around 10 kilometers on feet everyday.
I still remember when I was in class 10th; I asked a resident of Kaleero, who was my classmate, as to why the number of children was less of his village. Frustratingly, he replied, “We have no basic learning platforms where we (children) enhance our reading concept,” he looked down and followed a counter question to me. “How come it be possible for a kid of 6 to 7 years to walk around 10 kilometers everyday to attend a school?”
According to United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), the highest proportion of out-of-school children in Balochistan affirmed to be 72pc which reveals the province on the top of illiteracy rate across the country. The illiteracy rate of rural areas surmised to be 50% while urban’s areas estimatedly stand with 32%.
It is the constitutional right to have proper education which is the dire need of the hour. Hence, it is entreated to the government that it must take immediate measurements towards the progress of rural areas as well. The residents look forward to Mr. Zahoor Buledi and other ‘representatives’ of Balochistan towards more developments in the province.