Deserving families would be given Rs12,000 under ‘Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme’
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Sania Nishtar on Tuesday said that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme has been approved for giving cash assistance to 10 million people affected due to the spread of novel coronavirus.
Also adding that she will hold a press briefing during this week with regard to the ‘Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme’, which she claimed would benefit 67 million people around Pakistan.
On the micro-blogging website, Sania Nishtar tweeted, I will do a press conference this week to explain how the “#Ehsaas Emergency Cash and SMS program” will be implemented”.
I will do a press conference this week to explain how the “#Ehsaas Emergency Cash and SMS program” will be implemented.
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020
Earlier in the day, she had announced that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme had been approved for 10 million people, wherein Rs12,000 would be provided per family. In a Twitter thread, she mentioned that 67 million people in total would benefit from the new plan.
Approved: “#Ehsaas Emergency Cash program” for 10 million afectees. Rs. 12,000 per family. 67 million people will benefit (given household size). Daily wage earners are our top priority, whose livelihood has been badly affected by the corona-induced economic downturn 1/6
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020
There are three categories in the 10 million. (1) 4.5 million existing #Ehsaas Kafaalat beneficiaries (all women) already getting Rs. 2000 will get extra Rs. 1000 emergency relief (total=Rs.3000) for the next 4months 2/6
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020
(2) Three million afectees will be identified through our national socioeconomic database. Eligibility threshold will be relaxed upwards. Those with previous incomes upto 20,000who have now suffered economic shock and are without livelihood will be helped through #Ehsaas 3/6
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020
(3) An SMS campaign, to be launched in 2 weeks will allow others, not currently enrolled in the database to seek assistance. District Administrations will conduct assessments speedily after SMS is received. Around 2.5 million will be identified through the #Ehsaas SMS route 4/6
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020
“Daily wage earners are our top priority, whose livelihood has been badly affected by the corona-induced economic downturn,” she said, adding that the affectees were put into three categories — 4.5 million existing Ehsaas Kafaalat beneficiaries, all of whom were women, 3 million affectees to be identified through the national socioeconomic database, and around 2.5 million to be identified through the Ehsaas SMS route.
The SAPM added that eligibility for the second category would be “relaxed upwards” as the people who previously earned up to Rs20,000 and “have now suffered economic shock and are without livelihood” would be helped”. These people were not currently enrolled in the database, she clarified.
She further said that data analytics will be used to ensure that the system is “not abused” adding that national identity cards of those declared eligible will be passed to Ehsaas’ partner banks and simultaneously an SMS message will be sent to them directing them to collect money through the nearest bank.
Data analytics will be used to ensure that the system is not abused. CNICs of those declared eligible will be passed to #Ehsaas partner banks @HBLPak @BankAlfalahPAK and simultaneously an SMS message will be sent to them directing them to collect money through nearest bank. 5/6
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020
Dr. Nishtar remarked that the government would ensure coronavirus protection measures during payments which include the use of hand-washing/disinfectants at cash disbursement sites, increase in the number of Point of Sales to reduce crowd, special sites, distancing in queues & use of new currency notes.
We will ensure coronavirus protection measures during #Ehsaas payments: use of hand-washing/disinfectants at cash disbursement sites, increase in number of Point of Sales to < crowding, special sites, distancing in queues & use of new currency notes #COVID19Pakistan 6/6
— Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) March 24, 2020
