Written by: Madan Lal
This picture was taken at a government school in Taluka Chhore, District Umerkot, where hundreds of poor men and women from Tharparkar gathered under the burning sun to receive financial aid through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). The intention behind BISP is noble — to uplift the underprivileged — but what unfolds in reality is a heartbreaking reflection of neglect, inequality, and a system that has forgotten compassion.
In the scorching heat, poor women stand for hours — hungry, thirsty, and drained — waiting endlessly for their turn. Many faint in the crowd; some are pushed aside, others cry quietly, clutching their children close. There is no proper management, no shade, no water — just chaos, noise, and desperation. The very women who should be treated with care and respect are instead made to feel like beggars, stripped of dignity in the name of aid.
Where is the respect for women’s rights?
Where is the promise of equality and compassion?
“Poverty isn’t just the absence of money — it’s the absence of opportunity, respect, and the right to live with dignity.”
The women of Tharparkar are not asking for charity — they are demanding dignity. They are not voiceless; it’s the system that refuses to listen. The fight against poverty isn’t about handing out money; it’s about building a world where no woman has to lose her self-worth to survive.
“True poverty begins not when the stomach is empty, but when the world stops seeing your worth.”
We humbly request Chairperson BISP, Senator Madam Rubina Khalid, to kindly consider establishing permanent BISP centers in remote areas such as Chhore, Dhoronaro, Umerkot, and other underdeveloped regions — where women can receive their funds safely, respectfully, and comfortably. Even a shaded waiting area, seating arrangement, and access to clean drinking water can protect hundreds of women from the harsh sun and restore the dignity that every citizen deserves.
As the festival of lights, Diwali, arrives — may it also bring light to the lives of those forgotten in the shadows of poverty. Because until we restore humanity in our policies and dignity in our actions, poverty will continue to live — not in their pockets, but in our hearts.
