http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/waa/saarcrep1.htm

Prof. M. Ismail, Chairperson, Rural Initiatives in Sustainability and Empowerment (RISE), Pakistan could not participate in the consultation, however he had sent his paper for the benefit of the participants. He mentioned that the activities of NGOs in Pakistan and particularly of those working in the area of ageing are donor driven. However there are organisations of pensioners and senior citizens, who primarily work towards financial support for the senior citizens. Unfortunately, these organisations work in isolation, without any coordination with NGOs working in similar fields.

 Joint family system is still strong in the rural areas where the children take the responsibility of their parents in their old age. Unfortunately the situation is not so promising in the urban settings. He expressed concern about the media not having shown much interest in this topic.

Back Ground

The Pakistani society, with its pro-agrarian tribal structures, is in self-conceited fetters of loathsome discriminations, gross economic injustices, feudalistic customary practices and militaristic adventures harboring anti-progressive and undemocratic principles and values. The severe human miseries and suffocating social oppressions are the very bio- products of this out trodden societal structure. To vow for social activism and rights oriented political movement, in background to such devastating condition, is in-deed a highly challenging and uphill task but at the same time a promising clue of a transitory period.            

We are on the verge of a new era demanding a throbbing self-exploration for requisite attitudinal and social transformation. We have the legitimate right and opportunity to choice either way of the following possibilities.

RISE, as a highly conscious and foresighted member of NGO movement in Pakistan, has unfailingly opted to struggle for the construction and development of a democratic, pluralistic and progressive society. Political Education Program (PEP), a one-year graduation course, and Peace And Democracy Discourse are the very strategic steps instrumental in creating more space for social activism and rights oriented political movement.

RISE, Rural Initiatives in Sustainability & Empowerment, is a public interest organization struggling for the empowerment of marginalized sections of the society through awareness raising regarding rights oriented politics. RISE believes in the values of social justice, human equality, freedom of expression, peace and pluralism and is advocating for alternative socio-economic and political structures based upon these values.

RISE vision and approach

RISE vision is to bring about a social change in favor of the underprivileged and secluded groups of society through political education and issue-based advocacy thus creating more space for social activism and rights oriented political movement. RISE has political agenda though it is non-partisan. RISE main focus is on rights and good governance that are, obviously, political issues. So we do politics and our politics aim at social, political and economic empowerment of the disadvantage sections of our society. We advocate their rights and believe in a rights oriented approach towards politics.

As we know that a deliberate process of depoliticization of political parties and masses has been launched that is resulting in the ever spreading militancy, terrorism and intolerance. The religious-cum-political leaders have openly discarded the vote and election system or we can say the democratic process for coming into power. It is clear that if one discarded democratic principles then one will certainly adopt other non-political and non-democratic means and ways for coming into power. These religious parties know that they can get only 2% of the votes as they have never been trusted by the public. So they want to impose their agenda by force through their militant groups. Keeping in view this depoliticization of the political parties and masses RISE decided to work for social and political awareness of the masses.

Role in the field of ageing

RISE is working in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Our focus is on Human Rights. The social structure of this area is Tribal/Feudal. When tractors, threshers and other machinery were introduced in the agriculture and a business class emerged in the tribal belt. The very culture and norms were flooded by individualism. In Pakhtoon society (The main Nationality living in this area) the Hujra played an important role. It was a community center where elderly people were given very respect, they used to share their experiences with youth. But as soon as the individualism rushed, the culture of Hujras finished. It was a big loss to elderly people. They went to isolation. The attitude of the young family members to the elderly one changed. They considered them as a burden on them.

RISE as an organization devoted to Human Rights, observed this behavioral change.

It was decided that the changing behavior toward elderly persons should be focused from the Hunan Rights perspective. The problem of elderly persons was highlighted from the perspective of Participation as an integral part of Human Rights.

RISE had made it a part of its Political and Human Rights Education Programs. Focus of Human Rights and Political Education program is on the disadvantaged sections of the society and elderly persons have been taken one of them.

The elderly persons both male and female are invited to different programs and they share their experiences with the young generation, community activists, media persons and Government Representatives. Groups of clerics have been identified and regular meetings are held with them to focus on the Rights of elderly persons with Islamic point of view in the weekly sermons. The elderly persons are invited to community seminars and they express their feelings, their exclusions. People among Policy makers, members of Parliament, Ministers and Local administration are invited on the occasion. The problems, solutions and the role /responsibilities of different sections are discussed.