Dr Sania draws on field visits for results-driven implementation of Ehsaas programme

ISLAMABAD: In order to review the quality of services being established by NADRA at the special purpose counters for self-registration of Ehsaas beneficiaries, the PM’s Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Sania Nishtar undertook a field visit to Choa Saiden Shah and Kallar Kahar areas to ensure that no deserving person is left out of the programme.

Accompanied by Secretary, Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division and senior officials from NADRA, Dr. Sania took a round of facilities provided at the two self-registration sites, met the staff and people present there, and enquired about current arrangements. She lent a keen ear to their feedback to improve the registration process.

The government has rolled out several social protection and poverty alleviation programmes to benefit various segments of the poor. In order to identify the right population of beneficiaries for the right Ehsaas interventions, the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) digital survey is being carried out by BISP to ensure 100 per cent coverage. The survey will be completed this year in three phases.

To ensure transparency in the survey process, NADRA has committed to mobilise fully equipped self-registration centres in all districts across Pakistan in three phases linked to the completion of survey. In the first phase, NADRA is initiating a self-registration drive by the end of this month beginning with 15 districts including Chakwal where the survey is about to be completed. This drive, which will be counter verified through data analytics, is linked to the launch of the Ehsaas Kifalat programme in the last week of January 2020. Ehsass’ Kifalat is the government’s safety net programme through which it will give cash stipends to 7 million most deserving women.

During the visit, Dr. Sania also met dwellers of slums residing in the impoverished suburbs of Chakwal. She discussed the status of registrations of dwelling families with NADRA database and their accessibility to channels and sources of information locally available to them so that Ehsaas could extend maximum benefits to the deserving. The registration of the impoverished with NADRA and NSER is the foremost prerequisite for them to benefit from the programme.

Later, Dr. Sania visited the Basic Health Unit in Khairpur area; She appreciated the services being provided to local communities and took a round of the labour room, ward, emergency room, EPI room and dispensary.

The delegation also visited the BISP Tehsil offices in Choa Saiden Shah and Kallar Kahar. BISP Tehsil offices located at accessible points will also facilitate NADRA in the Ehsaas self-registration drive.