The Orangi Welfare Project (Trust)
Orangi Township, on the outskirts of Pakistan's metropolis, Karachi, is the largest informal settlement in all of Asia, with a population close to 1.8 million.
To most people in Karachi, Orangi conjures up images of economic deprivation and lawlessness. In reality, Orangi is home to some of the most successful grassroots development schemes in Pakistan, from the world renowned Orangi Pilot Project to dozens of local initiatives. Boasting a literacy rate of nearly 80%, Orangi is one of the most vibrant and socially active communities in South Asia.
Tucked away within Orangi's teeming agglomeration of bazaars and labyrinthine alleys, is one of the great success stories not only in Pakistan but in the entire developing world: The Orangi Welfare Project (Trust) of Alinagar.
Alinagar, a community located in Orangis Sector 11 ½, was, from its inception in the 70s to well into the 90s, a hotbed of bitter ethnic strife. There was no electricity, no sanitation, no drinkable water, no registered jobs, and an ineffective law enforcement agency. In this state of desperation, the community had become fragmented and all sense of communal responsibility had faded away.
Then, in 1996, the residents of Alinagar decided to take matters into their own hands and initiated the Orangi Welfare Project. Within three years, the people had transformed the district into an exemplary, democratic Model Town, or "Misali Ilaqa," as it is now known. With minimal reliance on outside sources, they laid out their own electricity lines, sanitary facilities, and water systems, and each citizen became a taxpaying member of the community. Schools were set up and led by ambitious young women, including the Orangi Pilot Grammar School where more than 250 students are currently enrolled. Womens participation in the workforce has become almost universal. A strong sense of community and public responsibility has developed, as both women and men democratically participate in the decision making process. Further, the people of Alinagar have been able to involve government authorities and utility companies in their work, sharing the responsibilities and dividing the labor. The Model Town has expanded exponentially, as neighboring communities, impressed by this success, have joined in. Now a population of 12,000 residents of Sector 11 ½ are benefiting from the OWP.
"Changes dont occur overnight. They are the result of years of directed struggle, failure upon failure, and the true activist must not be deterred by any failures." Mohammad Allauddin, director OWP
Philosophy
The OWPs success is based in its philosophy, adopted from the late Dr. Akhtar Hamid Khans Orangi Pilot Project, and can be summed up in three words: Apni madad aap, or self help and self reliance. In seeking solutions to problems afflicting the area, citizens must collectively decide which steps to take. Citizens must have a sense of community, and stay clear of political affiliations.
The real work of the Orangi Welfare Project began with an auspicious event which is still recounted by the Alinagaris in passionate tones. One evening a groups of activists, armed with brooms, began to sweep the street. Upon witnessing such respectable members of the community performing a menial task, neighbors immediately offered the services of their children. The activists refused and instructed their neighbors to wield their own brooms and sweep alongside of them. Within an hour, the entire community had taken to the streets, and like an army they covered the entire sector. The most important thing is to lead by example, and realize that work can never be demeaning.
In conditions of extreme desperation and poverty, in a community which has never been able to assert itself and demand its basic rights, often people give up hope entirely. They begin to believe that progress and change is impossible. This invariably leads to a fatalistic and stagnant mindset contrary to progress. They just need to be shown that if you try hard enough, things can and will happen. The electricity program, which will be discussed later, was initiated by one OWP activist, who promised the community that he could set up a much needed street light in a period of one week. Naturally, he wasnt taken seriously and often jeered at, but throughout that week he appealed to the government utility and brought together workmen in the community. Lo and behold, he was successful. Upon witnessing this single success, the entire community rallied behind the OWP in working towards sector wide electricity connections. This single event triggered a community wide chain reaction.
The Organization
The Orangi Welfare Project is basically a peoples NGO which allows residents to aid each other in improving the society. The most important forums are the democratic town-wide meetings, in which all families, both male and female members, participate. Directors are elected, and lane managers are appointed by residents in every main road and smaller streets to manage problems and needs in their particular areas. Any active individuals are encouraged to participate in the decision making process. The lane managers meet regularly to discuss issues and progress.
In 1998 the OWP established a Working Committee which would meet on a bi-monthly basis to discuss and review developments in OWP projects, ranging from waste management to the building of gas pipelines. Committee members also deal with educational issues and serve as the liaisons between the community and government organizations such as the KESC (Karachi Electric Supply Corporation), with whom OWP has collaborated in many of its projects. Every member is given an identification card, which he or she must carry when performing regular inspections of Alinagar. During the meetings, income and expenditure statements are reviewed and the budget for the next period is outlined. All households in Alinagar, which number well above 200, pay a membership fee of Rs. 15 (about 30 US cents) a month allocated for public works. Savings are placed in an emergency revolving fund in order to assist any community members who have suffered exceptional hardships. Respected elders in the community are expected to perform regular rounds of the Model Town, ensuring that there is no garbage or other waste on the streets or outside houses. On a weekly basis Working Committee members and other citizens collectively sweep the neighborhood to set an example for the rest of the community.
Much of OWPs success rests on the fact that it works within existing societal bonds. Neighbors persuade each other to work towards the betterment of the community, to follow basic guidelines of environmental protection, and to promote education. Community activities, such as celebrations and holidays, double up as forums to increase public awareness and activism.
http://www.geocities.com/orangiwelfare/
