IN THIS POST
– About Ehsaas
– Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme
– Provisions of Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme
– Beneficiaries of Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme
– Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme Registration
– Implementation and Execution
– Ehsaas Nashonuma Centres
Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has officially launched a first-of-its-kind programme that aims to improve nutrition and prevent the stunted growth of underprivileged children in the country. The aptly named ‘Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme’ is a part of the government’s widely-hailed Ehsaas initiative which focuses on providing financial relief to those living in destitution.
The inaugural ceremony for this programme took place at the Ehsaas Nashonuma Centre established at Dogra Headquarter Hospital in Khyber Tribal District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Accompanied by Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Sania Nishtar, the prime minister visited various counters set up at the centre, where he was briefed about the initiative.
Though the Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme has only been launched as a pilot project as of now, the government plans on establishing over 30 centres across Pakistan to tackle the on-going child malnutrition crisis, as per the official press release.
Since we have already discussed the Ehsaas Kafaalat and Emergency Cash Programme in great detail, we are now bringing you a comprehensive guide on the Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme. However, before we delve further into the initiative, here is a brief overview of the Ehsaas Programme.
About Ehsaas Programme
Ehsaas is an umbrella initiative comprising more than 130 programmes and policies, all aimed at reducing poverty and promoting financial inclusion in Pakistan. It is considered one of the most significant programmes in the history of the country that focuses mainly on the economic empowerment of underprivileged women, widows, orphans, homeless, disabled, labourers and others belonging to lower-income backgrounds.
Prime Minister’s Ehsaas programme aims to create a welfare state by offers financial assistance in the form of cash grants, educational scholarships and other facilities to the underprivileged citizens.
As per the official website for the programme, 34 federal agencies and units are working towards implementing Ehsaas initiatives across Pakistan.
The Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship and Ehsaas Amdan Programme are also a part of this initiative.
What is the Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme?
The Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme 2020 focuses on tackling the issue of stunted growth in children under 23 months of age by providing their mothers with necessary health care facilities, nutritional supplements, and a cash grant.
For those who may not know, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines stunting as the ‘impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.’ It also has a significant negative effect on organ development, brain function, immune system, and future productivity of a child.
Unfortunately, the rate of stunting among children due to malnutrition is exceptionally high in Pakistan.
As per the 2019 National Nutrition Survey published by the Government of Pakistan, four out of ten children under the age of 5 are stunted. The survey, which assessed 115,500 households, also revealed that one in every five adolescent boys and one in every eight adolescent girls are underweight. Moreover, the survey claimed more than 50 percent of young girls in Pakistan suffer from anaemia.
The Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme not only addresses the ongoing stunting crisis but also focuses on reducing it.
Fully funded by the Government of Pakistan, the budget of Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme is PKR 8.52 billion, according to the official website.
Provisions of Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme
Here are the benefits of Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme:
- It will provide specialised nutrition food to pregnant women, new mothers and children under 23-month-old
- PKR 1500 will be given to pregnant and lactating women as well as male children under 23-month-old every quarter through Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT). Meanwhile, female children will receive PKR 2000 quarterly
- The programme will provide access to immunisation facilities for pregnant and lactating women along with children under the given age
- Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme will offer awareness sessions on a variety of essential topics, including hygiene, sanitation, breastfeeding, diet and more
- It will also provide pregnant women and new mothers with prenatal care and postnatal care on a quarterly basis
- Ehsaas Nashonuma Centres will be established in selected districts where lady health workers and lady health supervisors will help mobilise the Ehsaas beneficiaries
Beneficiaries of Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme
As mentioned above, the beneficiaries of Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme include pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under the age of 2. The initiative will primarily focus on the Kafaalat households in each of the selected districts.
It is also important to mention that a maximum of two children will be able to benefit from the programme from every Ehsaas beneficiary household.
There are 221,000 expected beneficiaries of Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme in only nine districts of Pakistan.
Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme also has some mandatory compliance parameters. Those who fail to fulfil the following conditions will be exited from the initiative.
- Participation in awareness sessions
- Quarterly immunisation
- Quarterly prenatal and postnatal care
- Consumption of at least 90 percent specialised nutritious food provided in each quarter Beneficiaries will have to show empty sachets to support their claim
Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme Registration
The Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme registration has started at the newly-established centre in Khyber District.
The deserving mothers and children can register for the programme through an android-based Ehsaas Nashonuma application at the Ehsaas Nashonuma Centres across Pakistan. The app will also help track the distribution and consumption of specialised nutritious food by the beneficiaries through the barcodes and serial numbers on each sachet.
Implementation and Execution
The Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme registration is funded by the Government of Pakistan, whereas the World Food Programme has been appointed to implement and conduct the above-mentioned guidelines and activities.
To make the cash transfer more convenient, the government will also install ATMs at all of the Ehsaas Nashonuma Centres, allowing the beneficiaries to access health care facilities and withdraw money under the same roof.
Ehsaas Nashonuma Centres in Pakistan
During its pilot phase, the Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme will be launched in the following districts of Pakistan:
- Khyber District
- Upper Dir District
- Bagh District
- Ghizer District
- Hunza District
- Kharmang District
- Kharan District
- Badin District
- Rajanpur District
These districts were selected with the consultation of provincial health departments to tackle their high stunting rate.
This brings an end to our guide on Ehsaas Nashonuma Programme by the Government of Pakistan. If you have any questions about the Ehsaas programme registration, you can contact the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division.
Address: 4th Floor, Evacuee Trust Complex, F-5/1, Islamabad.
Phone Number: 051-9240024, 051-9210022
Email: contactus@ehsaas.gov.pk
Meanwhile, stay connected to Zameen Blog to learn more about different government initiatives such as the Kamyab Jawan Programme and Data4Pakistan Portal, among others.
You can also write to us at blog@zameen.com.
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Disclaimer: Please note that the information in this guide has been extracted from the official website for Ehsaas Programme. The blog will be updated with more details about Ehsaas Programme registration and eligibility criteria once it is released. Therefore, make sure to check back frequently.
