On this International Day for Eradication of Poverty, the first thing that
strikes one’s mind is the admirable passion of the Premier with which he
announced Ehsas stating“I launched the Ehsasprogram, the objective of which is
to reduce inequality, invest in people, and lift lagging districts.”
The program’s principles and approaches center on tapping whole-of-government
multi-sectoral collaboration for solutions; ensuring joint federal-provincial
leadership; and mainstreaming the role of the private sector through an approach
which will provide a level playing field on the one hand and foster
locally-relevant innovation on the other, to create jobs and promote livelihood
in quick-win areas. The program’s premise is grounded in the importance of
strengthening institutions, transparency and good governance. The strength of
Ehsas Programme lies in its immense dimensions covering all aspects of poverty
and indigence along with its remarkable inclusivity.Ehsas is the biggest and the
boldest program for the poor, ever launched in Pakistan. The government intends
to work with all stakeholders—public, private, civil society, philanthropists,
and expatriate Pakistanis—to keep the promise of lifting millions of people out
of poverty and build a strong foundation together for a stronger, safer, and
successful Pakistan. The Ehsas program was developed by the Poverty Alleviation
Coordination Council after extensive consultations, chaired by Dr. SaniaNishtar.
In this context I would like to highlight the recent one off tranche, under
auspices of Ehsas, wherein Rupees one thousand each was disbursed to 5.7 million
BISP beneficiaries i.e. the poorest of the poor strata of households in the
country.
Benazir Income Support Programme is an integral part of the bigger Ehsas
paradigm. Its clientele is the poorest of the poor households in the country
comprising 5.7 Million female beneficiaries across the country with 2.2 Million
pertaining to Punjab Region of the BISP. Unconditional cash transfer amounting
to the tune of rupees 5000 per beneficiary per quarter is disbursed to the
beneficiaries with conditional cash transfer of rupees 750 per child of
beneficiary that is sent to school/ enrolled under Waseela-e-Taleem Programme of
BISP.
BISP does not stop here. It tends to extend all its care and support to its
beneficiaries with short term initiatives to compliment the main goal of
graduation out of poverty. At BISP we realize the strange correlation between
poverty and disease. Hence, the main initiatives of BISP in this context are
Free Medical Camps for the beneficiaries, Nutrition and Hygiene seminars /
trainings, Vocational trainings leading to small businesses. BISP is also highly
focused on mother and child health, stunted growth issue and interventions
regarding nutrition and immunization.
It is very heartwarming to realize that both these flagship programmesof the
Government are in perfect consonance with the message of Quran in surah e Fajr
and Surah e Maoon where proper ownership, look after and provision of sustenance
for poor, orphan and indigent segment of society is emphasized repetitively.
This International Day of Poverty Eradication, I would like to pay a tribute to
each and every individual who is putting in heart and soul into the flagship
programmes of the current government Ehsas and BISPand I sincerely wish that our
journey in this directions meets destination sooner than possible.
The writer is a civil servant, currently posted as Director HQs at BISP Punjab.