WELFARE
RDO was set up in 1996 for the development of the rural regions of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur in the sectors of health, education, micro-financing, and vocational training. It officially started its work in 2000. It entails the following services:
- Micro-Credit Facility
A micro-credit scheme was launched for small businesses in the format of a reputed non-profit organization by the name of Akhuwat. Staff members were sent for training on the disbursement of small loans and evaluation of the credibility of people eligible for loans. 2914 cases have been completed till June 2020 in which Rs, 45,410,000 was dispersed. Consequently, men and women of two Union Councils of Choti Zereen and Kot Chutta have set up small businesses like home retail stores, livestock enhancement, barber stalls, hand embroidery sale, sale of fruit on carts, catering services, sale of cooked food from home, etc. and loan recovery is 99.5%.
- Health
R.D.O initiated a medical fund in 2016 in which 167 cases were funded for surgery, treatment, dialysis, Hepatitis C testing, ultrasounds, x rays, laser for kidney stone, and provision of treatment of typhoid, asthma, cancer, awareness, and treatment of malaria, dengue, etc. Disbursement of the amount of Rs, 5,663,822 has been carried out up till June 2020.
- Higher Education Fund
There is also a scholarship category in the fund for students who are eligible to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies. 50 cases have been accomplished from 2016 till June 2020.
- Malnutrition
There was a dry ration dispersal scheme initiated in 2019 in which 42 poor families with approximately 80 children are supplied with food items every month. This effort is going to expand to include the provision of food to 150 families, approximately 300 kids in Choti Bala and Choti Zereen. Choti Bala and Choti Zereen are regions in the Koh e Suleiman hills in the southwestern region of Punjab extending towards Northern Balochistan, inhabited by tribes that are settled in this region for hundreds of years. The Tumman Leghari region of this rocky, arid topography includes some of the most tectonic rock structures. The people’s livelihood depends on livestock, labor, stone-crushing enterprise in the lesser hills, and limited agriculture depending on rainfall. As weather conditions allow meager rain and extreme weather, livestock and agriculture are not enough to sustain the livelihood of these tribes. Consequently, the population of these regions lacks food because of which nutritive growth does not take place and future generations are facing a serious crisis of physical and mental retardation and health problems resulting in early deaths too.
The Rural Development Organization sent a team to Choti Bala and Choti Zereen to survey by gathering information on families living in poverty. The local Muqadims were also engaged and the area was visited to identify orphan children in these tribes who do not have any tangible source of income. About 300 children were shortlisted for the first stage of this project which entails the provision of food security and one-room schools for girls in these tribes and lodging facilities for boys from the age of 7 till 16. These children live in various, small hamlets spread out in the hills. Life is hard because of weather extremities and lack of livelihood. There are few Schools and mostly without staff. Homes are made from stone and mud. The registration of 300 children from 150 homes without fathers will commence in February 2021. Establishment of lodging and one room Schools will come in the next phase.
- Natural Disaster Management
In 2010, the village of Choti Zereen and several surrounding villages were flooded as several embankments were breached. R.D.O came forward to assist those whose homes were flooded. They were provided with buildings where the affected were lodged and a daily supply of cooked food was dispersed in 76 camps. Prominent organizations like MAP, a U.K based Non-Profit Organization affiliated with Oxfam came forward to assist R.D.O in this endeavor. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia donated 1000 tents through the Ambassador to R.D.O; Red Crescent, Al Huda International, CCP Foundation (Lahore) Gurmani Foundation, NDMA, etc. also came forward to contribute. In this way, R.D.O was vital in disaster management in this region.
- Flood Relief Campaign
R.D.O came forward to help in the torrential flooding in DGK and Rajanpur in an effort to mitigate the suffering of poor and homeless families of DG.Khan in this time of hardship. Distribution of cooked food was done everyday initially in muttafarik areas of Choti Zereen, Mamoori, Darkhasts Jamal Khan, Paigan, thatta etc. Cooked food and water was distributed in Dajjal in Rajanpur. Distribution of beds, food items, cooked food and tents was done in New Vision school where women from flood affected areas were brought in.
R.D.O invited teams from Al huda International who set up camps in Lohar wala, Thal Shumali, 3 darkhasts and Nari Mor. Medical camps were set up to deal with skin diseases, fever and diarrhoea. Dry food items and tents were distributed by Al huda.
Night shift of distribtion and medical camp of Al huda at new Vision School.
The effort to mitigate the extent of loss and destruction is an ongoing process and will also extend to provision of interest free credit schemes to rebuild homes.
- Battling Covid-19
The philosophy of R.D.O is to come forward in any crisis or disaster-like situation in this backward region of South Punjab. Along with the continuous support for deprived families in health, education, and food support and expansion and integration of the youth in vocational training, R.D.O finds itself at the doorstep of another crisis of Corona which is deeply affecting the lives of people from these regions as they rely on daily wages to a large extent. Therefore, R.D.O once again mobilized to disperse dry ration to poor families of the labor class in a safe and sanitized environment. We targeted 70 families initially and through donations from family and friends succeeded in distribution to 1500 families. We hope to continue and expand this endeavor substantially. R.D.O also organized the dispersal of dry food to 350 families donated by a non-profit Organization called Akhoowat in the city and suburbs of Dera Ghazi Khan in June 2020 during the peak of the covid pandemic.
NEW VISION SCHOOL IS WORKING TOWARDS A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE DEPRIVED CHILDREN OF CHOTI ZEREEN DGKHAN. DONATE THIS RAMADAN. SPONSOR A CHILD. DONATE NOW.
Sardar Farooq Khan Leghari donated 4.5 acres of land and convinced his highness Sheikh Zayed-al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi to construct a building for a quality-based school in Choti Zereen. The New Vision School is an educational institution that overcomes barriers of class stratification, race, and creed to offer children from deprived homes quality education to provide a base for higher education and to make the future generations or this region, agents of positive change. The school aims to produce socially responsible citizens who can contribute to their families and society to the best of their capabilities. This school relies solely on private donations. There are currently 1020 students, 230 students with free study, 300 students have been given concessions and the rest of the students are paying a subsidized amount fee. The amount needed to cover recurring expenses of the school is being met by private donations.
The objective of New Vision School is not only to educate across class barriers and stratification but also to integrate the children and youth of backward areas into the main fold of professionals of the country so that these populations can contribute to the development of the country. The New Vision School has succeeded in this endeavor to a large extent. The students of the new vision school are highly motivated and can compete with students from urban areas. Our students have matriculated with high first division, passed their entry exams into various medical, engineering, and business schools with flying colors, and have got admissions to prestigious universities of Pakistan. Many have completed their education and are now responsible citizens of Pakistan contributing in professional and social fields.
A literacy Centre was also set up in 2000 within the building of New Vision School in which girls from all age groups attain education till grade eight, learn the Quran, and are also taught skills like hand embroidery and stitching. The main motivation for the establishment of this Literacy Centre is to offer an opportunity to girls of all ages who have been left out of the educational system to acquire skills and basic education needed to facilitate them in their everyday lives.
The New Vision School for boys and girls consists of 1200 students who are currently being offered subsidized education. 230 students are being offered free education,stone-crushing disaster-like and 300 students are being given concessions in the subsidized fee to bring children from the very poor background into the main fold of education. About 80-100 Uniforms and books are given free every year. A literacy Centre was also set up in 2000 in which girls from all age groups attain education till grade eight, learn the Quran, and are also taught skills like hand embroidery and stitching.
For more information visit https://newvisionschool.edu.pk/about-us.php
President Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari convinced His Highness Sheikh Zayed of U.A.E to help restore a beautiful, dilapidated mosque so that a modern School for boys imparting religious and contemporary education could be established. In 2001, the restoration of the old mosque at Choti Zereen was completed and The Islamic Centre was established. It accommodates the New Vision Boys’ branch as well as consists of regular classes of the Quran. The Mosque conducts 5-time prayers and Jumma congregation.
