Workers Welfare Board Khyber Pakhtunkhwa barred the funds of Rs 30 million allocated for the scholarships of the students, whose parents are working in various factories in extremely vulnerable conditions.
According to a report received from Abbottabad, the alleged negligence and bureaucratic hurdles of the Workers Welfare Board (WWB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have darkened the educational future of more than 300 students belonging to the working class of the province. These children of factory workers, who had reached higher educational institutions based on their hard work and merit, are now facing serious problems due to non-payment of scholarship funds worth Rs 30 million by the board.
According to the details, the Workers Welfare Board, which was established for the welfare of workers and their families, has been withholding these funds for the past several months. Pakistan Peoples Party Women’s Wing District Abbottabad General Secretary Romesh Saleem has strongly criticized this serious situation and said that the “obstinacy” of the board officers and the tradition of suppressing files is the worst example of anti-worker policy. He clarified that an institution that is bound to provide education to the child of a labourer is today “robbing” their future.
Describing the severity of the crisis, student representative Hassan Khan revealed that due to the non-availability of scholarship funds, the portals of educational institutions have been closed, which is badly affecting the exams, assignments, and entire academic record of the students. Moreover, due to the closure of hostel mess facilities, these poor students are being forced to starve. Hassan Khan termed it an “educational massacre” and said that it is becoming impossible for these children to study on an empty stomach.
The university administration has been told that, despite its limited resources, it has been trying to provide food to these students so far, but the continuous indifference of the Worker Welfare Board has made it difficult for the institution to provide further cooperation. The public and the affected families are questioning whether this board is established only for the huge salaries and benefits of the officers, or if it really meant to serve the workers?
The 300 affected families have demanded that the government of the day and the higher authorities release these Rs 30 million funds immediately. They say that if this educational disruption continues, the students will be forced to take to the streets and protest, for which the entire responsibility will fall on the administration of the Workers Welfare Board. This matter is no longer just a financial issue but has become an issue of human rights and the fundamental right to education, on which immediate intervention is indispensable.
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