Man at the helm of Uruzgan’s Women Affairs Dept.

TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): The Women Affairs Department of central Uruzgan province is being led by a man, with females saying they have yet to benefit from projects implemented in their name.

International Women’s Day was markedat the provincial human right office. Dozens of women and local officials attended the ceremony, at which females voiced dissatisfaction with their situation.

Fatima, a resident of Tirinkot, alleged some people made money and won projects in the name of women’s welfare. Such individuals did only cosmetic work for some days, she charged.

She complained both NGOs and Women Affairs Department had done nothing useful for the welfare of females in Uruzgan. The director of women affairs for Uruzgan was appointed six months back, but she spent most of her time out of the province, she said.

Another resident, Shabnam (not her real name), told Pajhwok the director, Najiba Mehrzad, had gone home a month ago, with SharifullahRoshanserving as acting head of the department.

Shabnam said there was also another woman official at the department, but she did not know why a man has been appointed as director. Women could not share their problems with the man, she concluded.

Provincial Council members said the women affairs director spent most of her time outside the province for months at a stretch in the garb of leave. Additionally, the acting head workedfrom home.

PC Chairman Amir Mohammad Barakzaiconfirmed the problem, opposing the appointment of an absentee director of women affairs.He claimed sharing the issue with Minister of Women Affairs DilbarNazari.

He added the minister had promised firing Mehrzad. But no action has been taken so far.

Dost Mohammad Nayab, the governor’s spokesman, said there was another female official at the department but she could not manage departmental affairs in the absence of the director and thatwas why a male had been appointed to the post.

mz/sa

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