The rise of people's media

By Manzoor Chandio Oct 2, 2011

A piece of news or information is no more the property of the so-called ministries of information or media barons. New technologies have set free the information from official controls and ‘mainstream media’ newsrooms.
Often called liberating technologies, the cell phone, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. have assumed the role of new modes of disseminating information. They have allowed every citizen to become a publisher or a journalist. Today the first source of information is a mobile, instead of newspapers or TV channels, where one receives breaking news.
We live in a world profoundly changed by the combination of technology. In the developed world, most people now depend on their cell phones for information, as now they can access newspaper, radio, TV, a blog, all from their cell phone. In the West, newspapers are issuing their cell phone editions because of decreasing circulation despite free print editions, as despite being free, fewer people now read newspapers or switch on to TV for information.
Now people don’t have to wait for newspapers or TV channels to air their story where most of the air time is allocated to politicians who have delivered nothing in their constituencies. They can themselves publish, broadcast and exchange news through their blogs, YouTube and cell phones. They can broadcast stories of their untidy streets on YouTube without having to request the mainstream media and debate their issues and concerns about police sluggishness, corruption and judicial inaction. The new media has enabled the people to have their say and express their views publicly. The internet and mobiles have opened new possibilities for the mobilisation of stagnant communities.
With access to social media and through ‘innovation journalism’ people can bring about changes in society and exercise checks on governance. Now everyone who has a cell phone can have a say in the community or at the global level.
Another advantage of social media is that it lacks censorship. This liberation of information is actually moving people closer to free expression which will definitely help promote democratic values and performance of civilian institutions. Social media has the power to significantly mobilise people for social and political change considering the fact that over five billion cell phones are in use in the world.
With the advent of social media the role of newspapers, TV channels and radio as sources of information is being curtailed.
Conventional journalism (newsroom journalism) is no longer a gatekeeper of mass communication and knowledge dissemination. “As the impact of print and broadcast diminishes, gate-keeping is evaporating, and the business of journalism has joined the innovation economy,” believes David Nordfors of Stanford University, California.
At an international conference on innovation journalism in Palo Alto, Silicon Valley, most of the speakers believed that mobiles and laptop have replaced the TV and newspapers for news. Among the educated classes, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. are the new sources of information. Social media has multiplied the sources for disseminating information, and these new gadgets and new sources of information also have the power to bring about ‘revolutions’.
President Barack Obama’s election and the role of text messages in the election of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in 2003 are some glaring examples of how these new media have the power for running successful elections campaigns.
Recently, social media played a key role in bringing corrupt governments down in the Arab world. “When they write the history of the fall of Arab rulers in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, there will be a big chapter on the role of Facebook and Twitter.
Whether it’s organising rallies or simply raising spirits after years of suffering, the Arab youth and middle-classes have found their conversations on social media have given them the courage to overthrow their rulers,” comments Henley’s Hustings blog on BBC.
Social media can be used as alternative media by the people because the mainstream media is controlled by the private sector and they have their own corporate interests.
Through social media people can remain in touch and influence their politicians as well as make them accountable. They can organise themselves, take part in elections, put check on governance and run movements through social media.
Since these new sources of information can bring about revolutions, surely they can be used for strengthening nascent or instable democracies like ours. It is unfortunate that we still have a strong feudal class and each parliament has members of the same families which had been in power since its inception, while the masses have little or no representation, even though the masses are the ones who elect these feudal leaders.
In Pakistan civilian institutions are weak and unable to deliver and there is corruption everywhere. It is believed that change through technology is now possible. People can use text messages, voice mails and videos for exposing corruption. However, it depends on how communities as a whole are responding to innovation journalism. Most of the people in Pakistan live in rural areas and a large section of the population is uneducated.
Still, according to estimates, there are about 60 million cell phones in use in Pakistan and 600 million Facebook users; over 100 million smart phones are sold per quarter, while one billion Google search queries are carried out per day. These new technologies have allowed the people to open their own mobile-based radio stations for which only those from the rural areas will work as reporters which will enable them to have a say.
Marginalised segments of the society have generally been ignored by the mainstream media. Social media can give them a voice and ensure their participation in a democratic process. The use of mobile technology can also become instrumental in promoting election campaigns for those who cannot afford costly elections. They can send videos of their manifestoes and speeches on YouTube.
During the Arab spring, even CNN, BBC and other international media giants depended on social media for videos, picture and stories. Thus, social media has assumed the role of primary source of information and an alternative media for people. It has become the partner of democracy and innovation journalists need to take advantage of it by promoting the citizen’s participation in the positive use of technology.

Reviving livelihood of flood-hit people

By Manzoor Chandio

Nov 1, 2010

AS floodwaters slowly recede, people are returning to their native areas. With no disaster recovery plan in sight, it’s sure they will not be able to earn their livelihood because the entire place has been turned into debris.
Destroyed farms, cattle pens, shops and small cottage industries are a common scene in flood-hit areas. One such area is Khairpur Nathan Shah in Dadu district. There is a general feeling among owners of small businesses that it will take many years before their lives return to normal.
K. N. Shah located on the Indus highway was the main business centre between Dadu and Larkana. The town and its adjoining farmlands were ravaged by floods from the breaches in the main Nara valley (MNV) drain.
Among the crops worst hit were rice, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables and animal feed. Hundreds of shops along the main road and Shahi Bazaar have been damaged. Even pucca shops have developed cracks.
Traders returning to the town have been frustrated on discovering damages to their shops. Their future looks downright gloomy.
They told this scribe during a recent visit to the town that even if they restart their businesses, they will have to wait for customers from villages whose farmlands have also been destroyed.
They said, most of their customers were farmers living in the town’s adjoining villages. Farmers have been crippled financially with their crops and cattle washed away.
“Even if we rebuild our shops and start business unless the farming community is not able to cultivate one crop we’ll not be able to earn enough,” they said.
There is a faint chance of quick revival of destroyed infrastructure, roads and rail network and repair of public service buildings.
According to Zafar Junejo of Thardeep Rural Development Programme, some 224,630 acres of land with standing crop of paddy was inundated and some 1,785 cattle died during the recent flood in Dadu district.
He said that initially the TRDP provided boats and vehicles to rescue people and then supplied potable water and cooked food. But it will take time to help people in reviving their livelihoods by giving them small loans.
A good sign was that almost all people wanted to fend for themselves by starting their shops as soon as possible, instead of getting alms from the government.
“I have no hope the government will help me to rebuild my house,” said Abdullah Soomro. He said his family had lost its two bread earners during the flood and the government had not yet compensated for their deaths.
Aslam Shaikh, a cable operator from the town, said he wanted to resume his own business of cable service which he had started with the investment of Rs2.5 million, but the building from which he ran the cable system had developed cracks.
He said that he saved the devices but the cable network in the town was destroyed. Similarly, the town’s rice mills were under water.
It is very important that people must start earning themselves, instead of getting food and other services from the government and NGOs.
Mr Junejo said that self-motivation of people to restart their businesses was important, but they will need loans for it. Farmers will need seeds, fertilisers and tractors for removing debris from their land. Businessmen will need reconstruction of destroyed shops and small-scale cottage industries.
Livestock has also been hit because farmers were forced to abandon or sell their cattle and poultry in half prices in order to escape the floods. The government and philanthropists provided food for people but there were no plans to supply feed for animals. Thousands of cattle have died of hunger and diseases.
It’s important to provide goats, sheep and buffaloes to rural communities because rearing animals is the main occupation of the people.
Mr Junejo said that for restarting the whole cycle of business it was imperative that there should be schemes for empowering rural communities by providing small loans to purchase animals.
K. N. Shah has never remained food-deficit area, but the reduction in cereal production during floods could cause hunger. Two deaths by hunger have already been reported from the area. However, it appeared from the government inaction that overall prospects for the Rabi harvest are not bright.

manzoor.chandio@dawn.com

Thar coal: development for whom?

By Manzoor Chandio

Feb 22, 2010

Shankar Menghwar, a farmer from Nagarparkar taluka of Tharparkar district, may not be much aware of what happens when mega development takes place in any area. Being a simple villager, he is just concerned over occupation of lands by some influential people near his village in the lap of Karoonjhar mountain.
When he was informed about mega projects of coal and granite mining, construction of Sindh coastal highway from Karachi to Nagarparkar, linking Thar with national rail network and construction of airports and expected influx of migrant labour from other parts of the country, he, for a while remained silent and then wondered how such projects would benefit him?
Malook Bajeer, a cook in the district headquarters of Mithi, however, knows what is going to happen. “We have heard that Thar will be converted into Dubai after exploitation of coal,” he said.
Tharparkar is home to about 1.5 million people, a majority of whom are indigenous Menghwar, Kolhi and Bheel communities. They are asset-less people mainly depending on rain-feed agriculture and livestock rearing. For centuries, they have braved desert hardships of famine-like situation, recurring droughts, hunger and epidemics. Though in a sizeable number, they are considered doubly-disadvantaged communities first for being Hindu and then for being Dalit.
The desolate region of Thar had been opened to the rest of the country by constructing roads during the government of Arbab Rahim Bux. Means of transport have changed from khekhras (WWII military trucks) and camel caravans to four-wheel vehicles. Now one can see boosters of mobile companies in Mithi, Islamkot and Nagarparkar. The centuries-old barter system of trade is being replaced with the cash transactions.
Some years ago, no one had imagined exploitation of Thar coal on a large scale and construction of power houses, airports, highways and rail network. But this is going to happen.
“We welcome economic diversification in this underdeveloped region because it will increase employment opportunities, but it should not be carried out at the cost of local communities,” says Dr Sono Khangharani of Thardeep Rural Development Programme.
He said that opportunities must come, but there should be plans that could protect the desert’s peculiar eco-system, socio-economic ethos and the people from being marginalised.
Besides coal, Tharparkar is rich in minerals like china clay estimated to be 3.6 million tons at 35 pockets spread over an area of 125 square kilometres, granite rock formations covering an area of about 40 square miles and more than 50 salt mines.
The roots of alien distrust run deep among Tharis. They still remember when the first influx of outsiders was followed by the Indian withdrawal from Chachhro taluka in the early seventies. Hindus of the area who followed the desert’s particular code of life migrated to India along with the retreating Indian army and Muslims from India settled in villages evacuated by them. The new comers were unaware of local biodiversity and they chopped down all trees on sandy ridges. This not only destroyed sources of livelihood but also wildlife.
The problem of poverty compounded when Thar’s population increased dramatically putting pressure on resources. The population is increasing manifold even these days.
Therefore, there are fears that any haphazard development and the influx of migrant population would cause more land degradation and desertification, destroying sensitive socio-economic fabric of Thar.
Zaffar Junejo of TRDP suggests that local people be trained for all types of jobs in mega projects. For that purpose, he called for setting up vocational training institutes in Mithi, Islamkot and Nagarparkar.
More than that the situation demands adequate consideration for environmental impact assessment for exploiting coal, construction of Sindh coastal highway from Karachi to Nagarparkar and rail network and unchecked influx of migrant labour.
This argument is only reinforced by the grim fact that any demographic influx in Nagarparkar, Islamkot and Mithi towns and labour colonies in eight explored blocks of Thar coal would put more pressure on Hindu minority community which will also bear the major burden of displacement.
The government should carefully study the impact of the mega projects and consequences of any haphazard rush of outsiders to the region.
Under the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency, any project costing over Rs50 million requires an environment impact assessment. Without keeping in mind population-environment nexus, there would be negative implications of development on the people of Thar.
Dr Sono said “we have put in place a master plan for Nagarparkar to turn the region into community-friendly hub” for which “ we are also lobbying with the government. “We’ve surveyed the area and found that there is rich potential for tourism too,” he added.
“The people of Thar, if they are to be made the stakeholders, must be asked about policies on development in their areas which would have impact on their lives,” he said.
Policy efforts should be strengthened, such as increasing government-civil society cooperation to protect marginalised communities and minorities, says Dr Sono.
When asked about a ban on sale and purchase of land in Thar, Dr Sono said every citizen could settle anywhere in the country, but there should be legislation about it and local people be encouraged not to sell their land.
TRDP’s master plan to promote tourism envisages preservation of exquisite heritage sites, including 700-year-old Ghori temple of Jain religion, 500-year-old Bodisar mosque, teerath asthan (vedic pilgrimage place) of Hindus in Sardharo in the Karoonjhar mountain, constructing of motels, guest houses, museums etc.
“We have also planned the setting up of two cultural complexes in Mithi and Nagarparkar to provide some market places for artisans,” he said. The Sindh government also plans building two rest houses for tourists, he informed. There is need for social safety networks and setting up of organisations like the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institute (EOBI) and the Workers’ Welfare Fund to forestall exploitation of simple Thari people.
“Thar’s handicrafts could be considered as one of the best in the country. Thari artisans’ skills at shawl preparing from silk, wool and cotton, goat and camel hair skin rugs, hand-knitted carpets, embroidery of all kinds, blankets from sheep wool and ralies could be displayed in these two cultural complexes,” Dr Sono said.