Ehsaas Ration Program: Some Noticeable Facts
The Ehsaas Ration Program in Punjab is an impactful initiative by the government of Pakistan aimed at providing monthly stipends of groceries to deserving households.
![Ehsaas Ration Program](https://ehsaasration.pk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ehsaas_ration_program_overview-1024x768.jpg)
Here are some noticeable facts about this program:
Ehsaas Ration Program: Statistical Facts
- Ehsaas Ration Program was launched in 2021 under the umbrella of the Ehsaas program to provide monthly rations to over 20 million households in Punjab.
- The program has a total allocated budget of Rs. 56 billion to deliver rations across the province. This makes it one of the largest ration stipend programs in South Asia.
- Over 4.5 million households have been identified as deserving recipients of the monthly Ehsaas Ration based on transparent eligibility criteria.
- The program aims to deliver a monthly stipend worth Rs. 1,000 to each deserving household to help them meet nutrition needs.
- Ehsaas Ration provides a standard package of basic food items including flour, cooking oil, pulses, rice, sugar, etc. to ensure balanced nutritional intake.
- The stipend is provided in the form of direct bank transfers using branchless banking channels to ensure transparency.
- The program is being implemented across 36 districts of Punjab in phases. It will eventually cover all districts.
- Over 700 ration collection points have been set up at designated retail outlets to facilitate stipend collection.
- Technology is being leveraged through an Android app to authenticate recipients and register ration collections.
- Strict monitoring mechanisms involving district administrations have been put in place to prevent misuse and ensure transparency.
- Ehsaas Ration Program aims to benefit over 7 million vulnerable women in Punjab through the monthly stipends.
- The program was designed after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders including academia, experts, NGOs.
- Ehsaas has partnered with Punjab Bank and Habib Bank Limited to disburse monthly stipends into recipient accounts.
- Recipients can collect their monthly Ehsaas Ration from designated retail outlets after biometric verification.
- The program aims to uplift over 15% of Punjab’s population out of poverty and food vulnerability.
- The Ehsaas Ration Program was launched after 2 years of extensive planning and consultations.
- It is estimated that Ehsaas Ration will end up distributing over 150,000 metric tons of flour annually.
- Over 85% of identified recipients are from the lowest income segments earning under Rs. 31,000 per month.
- The program aims to supplement 50-70% of monthly kitchen expenditure for recipients.
- Ehsaas Ration stipend is credited between 10-15th of every month into recipient accounts.
- The standard ration package provides 4kg flour, 1kg rice, 1kg sugar, 1kg pulses, 1 liter oil, 1kg dates per family.
- The program has a complaint redressal rate of over 90% within 48 hours.
- Ehsaas field force conducts surveys and utilization audits to get beneficiary feedback.
- Machine learning algorithms help analyze data to predict requirements and streamline delivery.
- Ehsaas Ration has led to significant savings on kitchen expenditure for beneficiaries.
- The program witnessed a 20% increase in uptake after internet-free registration was enabled.
- Over 60% of recipients report improvement in family’s nutrition status after receiving Ehsaas Ration.
- Special monitoring is undertaken in districts bordering India like Rajanpur to curb misuse.
- The program aims to expand coverage to over 90% of deserving households by 2025.
- Ehsaas Ration has benefited over 200,000 households headed by widows/orphans.
- Leveraging banks and retail networks has minimized operational costs for efficient delivery.
- Surprise census surveys are conducted periodically to identify new deserving households.
- Ehsaas aims to act as a social safety net against poverty traps caused by inflationary shocks.
- The program has paved the way for modern data-driven welfare policies in Pakistan.
- Ehsaas Ration stipend helps recipients avoid reliance on exploitative informal loans.
Interesting Facts About Ehsaas Ration Program
- The Ehsaas Ration provides special additional allotments for pregnant women and children under 2 years.
- Recipients get SMS alerts for stipend transfers and can check balance through SMS or mobile app.
- Ehsaas leverages NADRA database analytics to identify deserving households based on poverty levels.
- Special quotas have been allocated for labor communities including daily wagers, street hawkers etc.
- Ehsaas Ration Program stipend value is tagged to inflation so it retains purchasing power.
- District administrations conduct random checks at ration centers to prevent irregularities.
- Retail centers displaying Ehsaas banners act as ration collection points for recipients.
- The program has created over 15,000 contractual employment opportunities for supply chain management.
- Ehsaas set up a helpline and complaint cell to facilitate beneficiaries and address grievances.
- Ration stipends uplift marginalized communities including religious minorities, transgender people.
- Technology integration has enabled real-time monitoring dashboards and analytics.
- Punjab Ehsaas Program ensures special focus on enabling access for elderly and disabled recipients.
- Recipients will be graduated out of the program after improvement in socio-economic status.
- Regular third-party audits and spot checks are conducted to ensure transparency.
- Ehsaas Ration Punjab has benefited over 100,000 households in remote and underprivileged rural areas.