Ehsaas Programme: Retailers depriving needy of part of cash grant

The reports of foul play involving several retailers who deprived scores of eligible women of part of their cash assistance under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme is compromising the transparency in "Pakistan's largest social welfare initiative" - so allege its detractors - while the federal government functionaries claim that those involved in this practice will be dealt with an "iron hand."

Since April 9, the distribution of Rs 144 billion under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme has been ongoing countrywide. In the first phase of this programme, 4.5 million women already registered under Kifaalat Programme are being provided cash assistance.

However, in what is seemingly a highly worrisome scenario, reports from across the country have emerged with corroborating videos on social media suggesting that scores of deserving women have been paid only Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 by the retailers instead of the full entitled amount of Rs 1,2000. Allegedly, the retailers involved in this practice refused to provide the complete Rs 12,000, saying Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 were being deducted from the cash assistance on the government's instructions in the form of taxes.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Dr. Sania Nishtar took strong exception to these reports and reiterated "zero tolerance" for the perpetrators involved in looting women. She has clarified repeatedly that applicants being paid under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme are entitled to full amount of Rs 12,000 and anyone making any deduction in the cash assistance must be reported to the authorities.

According to official sources, after Sania Nishtar strongly intervened, a total of 72 alleged fraudsters were arrested against whom some 64 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered (in some FIRs multiple accused were nominated) with 36 arrested from Punjab, 26 from Sindh and 10 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Business Recorder has learnt.

Reportedly, in several instances, Nishtar expressed dissatisfaction over the inaction against the alleged fraudsters on part of district administrations and law enforcement apparatus concerned in the related districts, and reprimanded the government officials after which the FIRs were registered and the accused were clearly nominated in the cases for fraud. Moreover, Nishtar has also recently written a letter to the regional director generals, regional directors, divisional directors, deputy divisional directors and assistant directors of Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Division directing them to make sure that the full cash assistance of Rs 12000 is paid to each deserving applicant.

"It is expected of you that you would leave no stone unturned in discharge of this national and sacred duty regardless of any external pressure and influence.....I will fight corruption till my last breath and hope that you would support me in this drive," the letter reads.

The federal cabinet has earmarked Rs 200 billion to financially support the downtrodden segments of society adversely affected by lockdown measures taken to stop the spread of coronavirus. Out of these funds, Rs 144 billion are to be spent to provide Rs 12,000 each to 12 million families under the Ehsaas Emergency cash Programme.