The Ehsaas Program has been designed to strengthen and expand financial inclusion in the country. It aims to promote accountability, transparency, and integrity, as well as contribute to national development goals. In addition, it also encourages public participation in the process of financial inclusion.
Ehsaas Emergency Cash
The Ehsaas program has made it easier for civil society organisations and private donors to reach COVID-19 beneficiaries. This new portal connects them with the right beneficiaries through a single platform and helps them connect to the right donors. The system provides the donor with information about the beneficiaries and a matching process takes place based on specific criteria.
The Ehsaas Program focuses on improving the livelihood and human capital of lagging districts. The program has been designed to address social inequalities, improve access to health care, reduce poverty, and empower women. It also aims to promote financial inclusion and a culture of accountability.
The Ehsaas Emergency Cash program must be rolled out quickly to reduce the economic crisis and ensure equity among women. It should also be able to narrow the gender gap in financial inclusion. This large-scale social protection program offers poor populations the opportunity to open bank accounts and access formal financial services. Given the time pressures posed by COVID-19, the need for a quick rollout is critical.
Besides the Emergency Cash program, the Ehsaas program 120 District includes the Kifalat program, which is aimed at digitalizing cash programs for women, the Tahafuz program, which provides legal and financial assistance to the poor, and the housing for the poor. The housing program for the poor includes affordable housing schemes, orphan homes, and Panah-Gah houses. Another important component of the program is the Insaf health insurance card, which deals with health expenditures.
The Ehsaas Emergency Cash program is a good example of the power of community organization to make a difference in the lives of women. The program provides cash transfers through biometrically enabled cashpoints, which are an essential tool for increasing women’s control over their finances. However, Pakistani women, especially those with low literacy, may find it difficult to operate ATMs and enter PIN numbers. Restrictive attitudes may also hamper women’s ability to access cash. Moreover, Ehsaas Emergency Cash requires women to collect their payments at pay points.
Ehsaas Rashan Riayat
The Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Peshawar on Wednesday to kick off a registration drive for the Ehsaas Rashan Riyat program, a government initiative worth Rs. 120 billion. The initiative is sponsored by the National Bank of Pakistan and Kiryana Alliances. Prime Minister Khan has requested Provincial Ministers to actively promote the program and raise awareness among the poor.
Ehsaas Rashan Riyat is an initiative of the government to provide food subsidies for poor families. The government has announced that 120 billion rupees will be distributed to low income families through the program. Eligible applicants can apply through the official website of the NSER. Once the registration is completed, government officials will contact the eligible applicants. Once their application is verified, the recipient will receive the money within a few days.
The programme will be administered by the NBP and will provide subsidies to 20 million low-income families every month. Each eligible family will receive a subsidy of Rs 1,000 per month to purchase essential items. This subsidy is meant to reduce the impact of rising inflation on the most vulnerable people.
The application process is straightforward, but can take some time. Once registered, applicants should wait for three to four days to receive a response. The program’s website features comprehensive links for applicants. After completing an application form, the government will send the applicant an SMS confirming eligibility. During this time, the recipient can contact the program’s official by sending an SMS to their mobile phone.
The government announced its Ehsaas Rashan Riyat program last month. Under the program, 20 million families will receive a monthly subsidy of Rs 1,000. This subsidy will cover household items and groceries. The government is providing 120 billion rupees to 700,000 grocery stores.
Data4Pakistan
The Data4Pakistan portal is a collaborative effort between the Government of Pakistan and the World Bank, and it uses data collected by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics between 2004 and 2018. The website provides vital information on different development indicators in each district of Pakistan. Currently, some districts only have statics available until 2014, but the website promises to update the data shortly.
Data4Pakistan’s portal provides information on poverty, child mortality, and other key indicators. The data can be compared between provinces, districts, and areas within Pakistan, and is available for free for the first time. The data can help policymakers, journalists, and the public understand how poverty and development needs vary across Pakistan.
The government has made efforts to address poverty by implementing programs such as the Emergency Cash program. This cash transfer program, housed under the Ehsaas program, provides low-income households with lump sums of PKR 12,000 a month. The program also includes health programs and tax relief for families.
Data4Pakistan’s Ehsaas portal is a comprehensive tool for policymakers to identify the need for development funding in different districts of Pakistan. The data gathered by Ehsaas is used to help government agencies allocate development budgets fairly and objectively. In this way, the government can provide more targeted funding to areas that need it the most.
The Ehsaas 120 District New program uses data and technology to build a more efficient link between donors and beneficiaries. This program enables the government to scale up the impact of the program and to ensure trust between programme administrators and beneficiaries. The program’s new website features a data dashboard, highlighting progress and improving transparency.
Ehsaas One Window Center
Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has inaugurated the first “one-window Ehsaas Center” in Islamabad. This new facility will bring all services of the Ehsaas Programme under one roof. In the future, such facilities will be opened in every district of the country.
The One Window Center is now open for the general public and will be expanded nationwide. There will be similar facilities in every district of Pakistan, with small versions of them being set up at the Tehsil level. The first One Window Center opened in the federal capital in June and has already served 48732 people.
Ehsaas One Window Centers will be one-stop-shops for citizens to receive the benefits of 14 target groups. The Centers will also include a mobile application and a public-facing digital information platform. In addition, Ehsaas Kafalat beneficiaries will now be able to receive their stipends through ATMs and POS machines.
The One-Window Ehsaas program will be a single service operation to assist those receiving social protection programs. This program is designed to reduce duplication of services and improve quality of life for the poorest residents. It will also ensure the continuity of services for those in need.
Impact on COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health threat. While high-income countries have experienced a large number of cases, the death toll in low and middle-income countries is rising. On May 13, all African nations confirmed cases of the disease. In the meantime, Brazil became the second-highest country in terms of death toll, behind the United States and the United Kingdom. All of these countries are facing economic crises.
The global community must support local communities by enabling refugees to help themselves. This means allocating financial resources to local non-governmental organizations. However, CGD’s research revealed that only 0.07 percent of the US$2.5 billion in COVID-19 response funds went to local non-governmental organizations. Donors need to do more to identify such organizations and channel funding to better meet the needs of local populations.
This year, UNHCR has expanded its reach by implementing COVID awareness raising sessions. In addition, it has introduced mobile applications, conducted remote training, and distributed WHO-recommended IEC materials. It has facilitated the development of multi-sectoral partnerships to increase the effectiveness of these initiatives and build community trust.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has provided technical support for the COVID-19 pandemic response. The organization has also provided communications and advocacy support to improve the NDMA’s capacity. The project also built NDMA’s finance, procurement, and supply chain management capacities. It has also provided IT equipment to support Deputy Commissioners in North Waziristan, and provided technical assistance for the ministry’s digital health team.
In addition, UNDP provided training to the youth to develop innovative business ideas to mitigate COVID-19’s impact. This training enabled the youth to propose new ways to generate income and employment. The project also organized information dissemination events for government representatives in Peshawar. The findings of these activities will be used to help the government formulate policies to address the COVID-19 pandemic.