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PROBLEMS:
The socio-economic and geographical study shows that Hussaini village faces a number of problems, some of the problems are from natural process while others are man-made.
NATURAL PROBLEMS
GLACIER
The village is on the lateral moraine of Hussaini glacier and the glacier is advancing for the last many years. It has cut and destroyed three channels, taken out from the snout of the glacier, and it is moving towards KKH and Hunza river. It is one of the great hazard or menace for the village. People are working hard on glacier daily to get water for drinking and irrigation purpose in summer while in winter, water has to be brought from Hunza-river.
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EROSION
Area of Hussaini village is decreasing annually due to erosion of the Hunza river. The flow of the river is highly and sharply towards the village and hits the cliff, where there is cultivable land of the village. The soil flows away with the water the agricultural land of the village is badly suffering. There is no support or help on behalf of the government or any other NGOs to protect the land and property of Hussaini village. It is needed to divert the direction of water, which is not a difficult task.
CLIMATE
Blowing of cold winds in winters is a natural hazard for our area. It uproots the trees and it is a great loss of the locals. Besides this, it is also a factor in soil erosion in this area. The heavy snowfall confines the human activities for a couple of months. It also creates many problems for the animal folk. Food shortage for animals is the result of this snow falling season, which also leads to the dying of many animals.
MEN- MADE PROBLEMS
1. Agriculture land (cultivated) is annually decreasing due to construction of houses. Due to the lack of change of verity of crops and continuous cultivation of the same crop, potato, the production is decreasing annually. Besides this there is no agency to provide the improved seeds, pesticides and insecticides to the local farmer.
2.There is the lack of basic facilities of water supply, education, health, recreations etc.
Low ratio of girls' education and lack of educational facilities for both girls and boys for higher education.
3.There is no bridge and road for Zarabod village, situated across the Hunza river and it is a hurdle to the easy access of human, agricultural machinery, and animal to that agricultural land.
4. The unplanned modern cemented houses are not habitable due to sever cold in winter season.
High birth rate is increasing the density of the population of the land.
5. There is no legal protection for natural forests and wild life and the forest are cut and wild life is hunting ruthlessly.
SUGGESTIONS
Following steps are recommend for the improvement of socio-economic condition to overcome these problems.
1.Fund and proper supervision of experts should be provided for the supply of water by government and non- government organizations.
2.There is a need of middle school for boys as well as for the girls because the students walk for about 6 to 7 kilometers Gulmit for study.
3.There should be programmes for enhancement of the awareness about the control of population growth. Otherwise there will be no availability of land in future for proper cultivation and house construction.
4. Better and modern guidance should be provided to the villagers regarding scientific methods of agriculture to increase the production of crops, i. g. exchange of crops annually and the use of the healthy seeds, and chemical fertilizer in proper ratio etc. Besides, there should be agriculture center to ensure the proper supply of healthy seed, up-to-date fertilizers and other important ingredients of agriculture.
5. There should be a proper planning for the allotment of area to the construction of houses to protect the cultivated land. There is need of town planning to construct the houses according to climate of the area. The inner side of houses should be made of mud, otherwise different diseases effect their health.
6. Government and Non-Government organizations should take necessary steps to change the direction of river to save the village from erosion, which is diminishing the land to larger extent.
7. The feasibility of Zarabod for permanent settlement is studied and of possible, the basic infrastructure, such as bridge, road, water supply, electricity etc. should be provided through NGOs or by the government.
8. As there is shortage of drinking and irrigation water. There should be an alternative system to compensate it. NGOs or government should take interest to solve the main problem of water shortage. There are two alternatives, either water provided from the Hunza river or from the neighboring village of Gulmit through pipeline.
9. There should be legislation to protect the natural forests and to preserve the wild life of surrounding areas.
GLACIER
The village is on the lateral moraine of Hussaini glacier and the glacier is advancing for the last many years. It has cut and destroyed three channels, taken out from the snout of the glacier, and it is moving towards KKH and Hunza river. It is one of the great hazard or menace for the village. People are working hard on glacier daily to get water for drinking and irrigation purpose in summer while in winter, water has to be brought from Hunza-river.
According to this field survey, the distance between the snout and the KKH is 301 meters (990 feet)l. It is advancing for last many years. It is advancing 73 feet per year. It can be predicted that if the same situation remains in future, it may be reach at KKH and Hunza River within 12 years on 2013.
(Field survey/measurement with local techniques, from September 2000 to September 2001).
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EROSION:
According to the folklore, Hussaini was a big village of Gojal, but unfortunately Shimshal flood eroded it many times in early 1960s. It is said that the distance between Hussaini and Zarabod was very close, people used to throw stone to Zarabod by their left hands (about 60 meter), but now, according to this field survey the distance between these two villages (Hussaini & Zarabod) is 1 kilometer. Shimshal flood occurred periodically every twenty years, the last flood, which was very disastrous, came in 1960 and continued up-to 1963. This flood happened as a result of glacial hazard. Two glaciers merged Khurdopin and Yazghel with each other and blocked the stream of other glacier (Verzrav), which made a big dam and when it was opened, it eroded a large area of Passu, Hussaini, and Gulmit.
Area of Hussaini village is decreasing annually due to erosion of the Hunza river. The flow of the river is highly and sharply towards the village and hits the cliff, where there is cultivable land of the village. The soil flows away with the water the agricultural land of the village is badly suffering. There is no support or help on behalf of the government or any other NGOs to protect the land and property of Hussaini village. It is needed to divert the direction of water, which is not a difficult task.
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CLIMATE:
Blowing of cold winds in winters is a natural hazard for our area. It uproots the trees and it is a great loss of the locals. Besides this, it is also a factor in soil erosion in this area. The heavy snowfall confines the human activities for a couple of months. It also creates many problems for the animal folk. Food shortage for animals is the result of this snow falling season, which also leads to the dying of many animals.
AKRSP constructed a bridge in 1986 over Hunza river to get easy access for animals to Zarabod village. but unfortunately this bridge was broken by winter's wind within one year. Community reconstructed the bridge two times on self-help basis, but the wind broke it in every winter. Now the bridge is hanging there. |
other problems
There is no bridge and road for Zarabod village; situated across the Hunza river and it is a hurdle to the easy access of human, agricultural machinery, and animal to that agricultural land.
The barren land, which is located to the north of Zarabod. The government magistracy (tehseel) and the Aga Khan Arbitration and Reconciliation board for the concerned region divided this barren land (Dasht) among the villagers in May 1998: this division of land was 23 kanal per households -numbering 72.
Zarabod has no jeep-able road, and it has connected with Hussaini through a suspension bridge (635 feet) called "Duet" constructed in 1970. |
2.Agriculture land (cultivated) is annually decreasing due to construction of houses.
2.Due to the lack of change of verity of crops and continuous cultivation of the same crop, potato, the production is decreasing annually. Besides this there is no agency to provide the improved seeds, pesticides and insecticides to the local farmer.
3.There is the lack of basic facilities of water supply, education, health, recreations etc.
Low ratio of girls' education and lack of educational facilities for both girls and boys for higher education.
4.The unplanned modern cemented houses are not habitable due to sever cold in winter season.
High birth rate is increasing the density of the population of the land.
5.There is no legal protection for natural forests and wild life and the forest are cut and wild life is hunting ruthlessly.
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SUGGESTIONS:
Following steps are recommend for the improvement of socio-economic condition to overcome these problems.
1.Fund and proper supervision of experts should be provided for the supply of water by government and non- government organizations.
2.There is a need of middle school for boys as well as for the girls because the students walk for about 6 to 7 kilometers Gulmit for study.
3.There should be programmes for enhancement of the awareness about the control of population growth. Otherwise there will be no availability of land in future for proper cultivation and house construction.
4.Better and modern guidance should be provided to the villagers regarding scientific methods of agriculture to increase the production of crops, i. g. exchange of crops annually and the use of the healthy seeds, and chemical fertilizer in proper ratio etc. Besides, there should be agriculture center to ensure the proper supply of healthy seed, up-to-date fertilizers and other important ingredients of agriculture.
5.There should be a proper planning for the allotment of area to the construction of houses to protect the cultivated land.
6.There is need of town planning to construct the houses according to climate of the area. The inner side of houses should be made of mud, otherwise different diseases effect their health.
7.Government and Non-Government organizations should take necessary steps to change the direction of river to save the village from erosion, which is diminishing the land to larger extent.
8.The feasibility of Zarabod for permanent settlement is studied and of possible, the basic infrastructure, such as bridge, road, water supply, electricity etc. should be provided through NGOs or by the government.
9.As there is shortage of drinking and irrigation water. There should be an alternative system to compensate it. NGOs or government should take interest to solve the main problem of water shortage. There are two alternatives, either water provided from the Hunza river or from the neighboring village of Gulmit through pipeline.
10.There should be legislation to protect the natural forests and to preserve the wild life of surrounding areas.
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CONCLUSION
The socio-economic survey was carried out from August 1999 to August 2000. During the field survey, I was able to collect information about the history of the people, their living conditions, their economy, needs, requirements, and amenities. Problems of the people were traced out and some suggestions for the future were made for the solution.
From the geographical study of Hussaini village the following conclusion may be drawn:
The area has undergone considerable development programs, and it has tremendous potentialities of land, and pastures resources which need development in the coming years.
Due to unemployment many people left the village in search of jobs. It needs cottage industries and other facilities for the provision of job opportunities.
Hussaini is important for potato and fruit production such as apple, apricot etc. it is an important potato supplier of Gojal, to the lowland of Pakistan.
Other development programs like AKRSP and other NGOs can contribute a great deal in the area for its progress through the participation of local people who heartily welcome such initiatives.
Inspite of the absence of educational facilities in the village, literacy ratio is higher than other villages in valley of Hunza.
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