Chairperson Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Marvi Memon has said that besides cash in hand scheme, other financial instruments like health and education would be added to existing programme to empower its women beneficiaries in the country. She said this while speaking on the occasion of her short visit to BISP Kotri Office about 10 kms away from here on Sunday.
"Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wants to empower beneficiaries with dignity and also add more instruments or programmes to existing one in this regards," she said.
Moreover, the government would support the BISP beneficiaries in such a way as their dignity should not be compromised, she said, adding the beneficiaries would be empowered with the dignity as they set an aim in their lives.
"Earlier, we have heard some problems being faced by beneficiaries of the BISP but now we are visiting the offices to see them and pave a way to resolve them," Memon said.
During the visit, she met different beneficiaries present at BISP office where the women informed her about their problems.
She assured them of resolving all their problems and also directed officials concerned to take appropriate steps in this regard. It was observed that Banks and its concerned officials were not co-operating with BISP beneficiaries, either they were not allowed to use their ATM machines, or an amount of Rs 100 was being taken from them per transaction from each beneficiaries which was very serious issue.
She also shared her cell number with women and asked them to lodge any complaints regarding the programmes and issues being faced during receiving their amount supporting their income.
Reply to a question, she said that aim of her visit to meet the beneficiaries and also share their views about the program and such visit would continue with passage of time.
If anybody was found involved in taking bribe from beneficiaries during using ATM machines or any other places, strict action would be taken against him, she said while replying another question.
"Whenever you find such person demanding bribe from you, you should lodge complaints with concerned officials or BISP Head Office or even share it with me through my cell number, she asked beneficiaries. If possible, the complaints should be lodged with sending photo, cell number or any other information of person who is pressuring for taking bribe from you."
"As I took a charge of program, I started to visit the BISP offices in Sindh where first office, I visited in Malir, then Thatta and now Kotri," she said, adding that she was trying to bring the improvements in the programme as the supporting amount should be distributed transparently among beneficiaries.