Ehsaas Program: Pakistan’s Largest Social Protection Program

In recent years, Pakistan has been making strides to alleviate poverty and provide support to vulnerable populations. One of the key initiatives in this effort is the Ehsaas Program, which is the largest social protection program in the country. This article will provide an overview of the Ehsaas Program, including its objectives, implementation, impact, and challenges.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Objectives of the Ehsaas Program
3. Implementation of the Ehsaas Program
   • Governance and Coordination
   • Targeting Mechanisms
   • Delivery Mechanisms
4. Impact of the Ehsaas Program
   • Cash Transfer Programs
   • Health and Education Services
   • Housing and Assets
   • Kafalat Program
5. Challenges and Criticisms
6. Conclusion
7. FAQs

1. Introduction

The Ehsaas Program 8171 was launched in March 2019 by the Government of Pakistan with the aim of reducing poverty, creating social safety nets, and promoting economic growth. The program is led by Dr. Sania Nishtar, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, and is based on the principles of equity, transparency, and efficiency.

The program consists of 134 initiatives across four pillars: (1) addressing elite capture and making the government system work to create equality; (2) safety nets for disadvantaged segments of the population; (3) jobs and livelihoods; and (4) human capital development.

2. Objectives of the Ehsaas Program

The Ehsaas Program has several objectives, including:

• Providing financial assistance to the poor and vulnerable through cash transfer programs
• Expanding access to health and education services
• Creating job opportunities and promoting economic growth
• Improving housing and assets for the poor
• Addressing elite capture and corruption in the government system
• Empowering women and promoting gender equality
• Enhancing human capital development through skill training and capacity building

3. Implementation of the Ehsaas Program

Governance and Coordination

The Ehsaas Program is overseen by the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division (PASSD), which is responsible for policy formulation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of the program. The division works in collaboration with other ministries, departments, and stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the program.

Targeting Mechanisms

To ensure that assistance is provided to the most vulnerable populations, the Ehsaas Program uses a multi-dimensional poverty targeting approach. The approach uses several indicators, such as income, education, health, and housing, to identify eligible beneficiaries.

Delivery Mechanisms

The Ehsaas Program uses several delivery mechanisms to provide assistance to the beneficiaries, including cash transfer programs, health and education services, housing and assets, and the Kafalat Program.

4. Impact of the Ehsaas Program

Cash Transfer Programs

The Ehsaas Program provides cash transfer programs to eligible beneficiaries to address their basic needs, such as food, health, and education. The program has been successful in reaching millions of beneficiaries across the country, and has helped reduce poverty and improve living standards.

Health and Education Services

The Ehsaas Program has also focused on expanding access to health and education services. The program provides health insurance to the poor, and has established several hospitals and clinics across the country. Additionally, the program provides scholarships to children from poor families to ensure that they have access to education.

Housing and Assets

The Ehsaas Program has launched several initiatives to improve housing and assets for the poor. These initiatives include providing interest-free loans for housing, providing assets to women for entrepreneurship, and providing shelter homes for homeless individuals.

The Kafalat Program is a component of the Ehsaas Program that provides financial assistance to widows, orphans, and people with disabilities. The program provides monthly stipends to eligible beneficiaries, and also provides vocational training and business grants to empower them.

5. Challenges and Criticisms

While the Ehsaas Program has made significant progress in reducing poverty and promoting social protection, it still faces several challenges and criticisms. Some of the main challenges include:

• Limited funding and resources to reach all eligible beneficiaries
• Limited capacity of government institutions to effectively implement the program
• Limited access to basic services in remote and marginalized areas
• Corruption and elite capture in the distribution of benefits

Additionally, some critics have raised concerns about the sustainability of the program and the potential for dependency among beneficiaries.

6. Conclusion

The Ehsaas Program is a comprehensive social protection program that aims to reduce poverty, create social safety nets, and promote economic growth in Pakistan. The program has made significant progress in providing financial assistance, expanding access to health and education services, improving housing and assets, and empowering vulnerable populations. However, the program still faces several challenges and criticisms that need to be addressed to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness.

7. FAQs

1. Who is eligible for the Ehsaas Program?

• The Ehsaas Program uses a multi-dimensional poverty targeting approach to identify eligible beneficiaries based on several indicators such as income, education, health, and housing.

2. How is the Ehsaas Program funded?

• The program is funded through a combination of government funding, international aid, and donations.

3. How does the Kafalat Program work?

• The Kafalat Program provides financial assistance to widows, orphans, and people with disabilities through monthly stipends, vocational training, and business grants.

4. How has the Ehsaas Program impacted poverty in Pakistan?

• The program has helped reduce poverty and improve living standards for millions of beneficiaries across the country.

5. What are some of the challenges faced by the Ehsaas Program?

• Some of the main challenges include limited funding and resources, limited capacity of government institutions, limited access to basic services, corruption, and concerns about sustainability and dependency.