The Thirsty Lotus 

This is the untold story of 21^st century about 26 villages located in the area Jampur, Tehsil & district Rajanpur (29.06 N, 70:19E), extreme south west of Punjab, Pakistan. This strip, 20 to 40 miles wide of barren cum semi hilly, as to its west is Suleiman hill ranges, on its north Choti Bala. Its population is over 100 thousand. The surrounding area is famous for WWFand attracts lot many dignitaries for bird shooting and recreation trips. Lagharis, Mazaris, Dereshiks and Khosas are the major Landlords. The people speak Baluchi and Saraiki.

Main Rural Localities

These are located in the Union Council Tibbi Lundan of Jampur Tehsil, namely Thul Janun, Thul Alam khan, Thul Seerak, Thul Haero, Thul Gunmun, Thul Ali Muhammad, Moza Leek wala, Basti Allah Bakhsh, Basti Ali Muhammad khosa, Basti Ali Abad, Basti Mureed Hussain, Basti Lashkar Ali, Basti Jhamat, Basti Bhargari.

100% inhabitants are below poverty line. A donkey is more valuable than this barren land. The annual rainfall is about 100 – 125 mm which comes in a stormy way to form flash floods and they face devastating damages to their feeble muddy houses and cattle.

Social Living

They live in family groups. The basic service utility is an unknown word with no water, no electricity and no dispensary. Only three Schools starved with teachers, furniture and anything else. 95% of the population never heard of schooling. The child and women are busy working as “water carriers” in the community.

Water Calamity

Water is inevitable for life, the nature’s most precious gift to all living beings. But here the only major task left is to strive for water. The “Lotus” is so starved! The females and children are forced to go daily for fetching water from dawn to dusk all year, roving daily about 20-25 km , whether to face hot sand or freezing wind biting their faces and feet, the real index of calamities and miseries. Yet the water brought is 0.0% pure and full of contaminations. Hence diseases are their permanent fate.

Health Facility

Disease rate is 95% mostly of stomach, kidneys and lungs. When the survey team reached there one of the old women was dying as her appendix had been burst. Death rate of children is very high sorrowfully.

Survivability Plan

It is quite imperative to steer them out of this calamity. This can be done by making some efforts for water facilities near their dwellings. The water is at about 300-400 ft deep, which can be pumped up by powerful turbine-Generator. The cost of installation/maintenance is of the tune of Rs. 1.5 million (2500$ / 1200pounds) per unit. Each village will need one such plant. It will be unthinkable and unthinkable gift for them.

They are looking for Moses to come forward with the bouquet of indescribable happiness. As it is not their fault to get birth at such a place just to be a “Thirsty Lotus” needing water and water. It means life and everlasting life for those who bestow lives to these needy ones. May God give us the strength to help those achieving rosy smiles to their faded faces.

Please hurry in the service of mankind and your conscience will give you Thank you bouquet.

For complete report and detail, contact jawad blouch:
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0321-5219535

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Tags: Health, Jampur, Poverty, Punjab, Rajanpur, Tehsil, Villages, Water shortage