In a landmark move to extend social security coverage to the most vulnerable, the government of Pakistan announced the expansion of the Ehsaas Nadar scheme to cover an additional 3 million eligible families. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to reduce poverty and help marginalized sections of society.
What is the Ehsaas NADRA Program?
The Ehsaas NADRA Program is an integral part of the comprehensive strategy of Ehsaas, which aims to provide effective and equitable social protection through targeted welfare programs. It uses the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to identify and register eligibility for financial and other assistance.
The program leverages NADRA’s extensive citizen database and biometric verification capabilities to ensure transparent and efficient delivery of benefits to those most in need. By integrating NADRA Program the EHAAS system can simplify its registration process, reduce fraud, and increase targeted support.
Expansion to Include 3 Million More Families
The recent expansion of the Ehsaas NADRA Program scheme to include an additional 3 lakh families is a significant step in extending the social safety net to a larger population. This move will significantly increase the total number of beneficiaries under the scheme, helping to reach out to the most vulnerable and marginalized.
The expansion will mainly focus on developing backward areas with high poverty rates. By targeting these projects, the government aims to address local disparities and support development in less privileged areas of the country.
Updated Eligibility Criteria and Registration Process
To qualify for expansion, the Ehsas NADRA scheme has updated its eligibility and registration process. The goal of the new survey is to identify and include families who are best suited for the program.
Eligible families can now enroll in the scheme through various methods, including online registration through the Ehsas web portal, SMS service, or by visiting NADRA Program registration centers. The simplified enrollment system aims to simplify enrollment and access to benefits for eligible families.
Benefits for Enrolled Families
Families enrolled in the expanded Ehsaas NADRA Program scheme will receive assistance in various ways to help them meet their basic needs and improve their lives. The main benefits are:
Transfer of funds
Enrolled families will receive regular cash transfers to supplement their income and help cover necessary expenses.
Health insurance
The beneficiaries will receive health insurance to protect them from catastrophic healthcare costs.
Educational Stipends
Children of listed families will be eligible for educational scholarships to support their schooling and encourage human capital development.
Livelihood Support
The project will provide social development support programs such as job training and interest-free loans to help beneficiaries become self-sufficient.
Relationship between Ehsaas program and NADRA
The relationship between the Ehsaas system and the NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) in Pakistan can be summarized as follows.
- NADRA Program acts as a centralized data warehouse and provides various e-services to the citizens of Pakistan, such as electronic national identity cards (CNIC), birth certificates, and family registration certificates
- The Ehsaas program uses NADRA’s extensive citizen database and biometric verification capabilities to identify and register eligibles for financial assistance and other types of assistance
- NADRA’s biometric verification system is essential to the effectiveness of the Ehsaas scheme, as it helps Pakistani citizens verify their records for various purposes, including mobile banking and online registration for transactions
- The Ehsaas Emergency Fund, which is part of the comprehensive Ehsaas program, was delivered through close collaboration with NADRA Program the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), local commercial banks, the Ministry of Telecommunications, and the Government of Pakistan
- Eligible families can further enroll in the Ehsaas scheme through the Ehsaas website, SMS service, or NADRA registry.
- NADRA provides eligibility details of Ehsaas Scheme candidates and helps in their registration process.
Role of NADRA in the Ehsaas Program
NADRA (National Database Registration Authority) plays an important role in the implementation and implementation of Ehsaas in Pakistan.
Identification and registration of beneficiaries
NADRA Program is responsible for monitoring and registration of eligible households for the realization scheme. It uses its extensive citizen database and biometric verification capabilities to ensure the most eligible families enroll in the program.
Disbursement of financial assistance
NADRA is also responsible for providing financial assistance to the enrolled beneficiaries of the Ehsaas scheme. It ensures that incentives and other benefits reach potential beneficiaries efficiently and transparently.
Data management and verification
NADRA Program maintains the national database of citizens and provides various e-services, such as identity verification and documentation. This data efficiency is essential for the effective functioning of the Ehsaas system, as it helps in verifying the accuracy of records of Pakistani citizens for purposes of registration and eligibility
Collaboration with other stakeholders
NADRA works closely with other stakeholders, such as the National Bank of Pakistan, local commercial banks, and the Telecommunications Ministry, to facilitate the implementation of the Ehsaas Scheme, especially the Ehsaas Emergency Financing (EEC) component
Registration process support
NADRA has developed various mechanisms for eligible families to enroll in the Ehsaas scheme, including online registration through the Ehsaas website, SMS service, and NADRA Program registration centers where these mechanisms have been identified as facilitating their enrollment process time and convenience for beneficiaries.
NADRA ensures that eligible households receive financial assistance
NADRA plays an important role in ensuring that only eligible households receive financial assistance through the Ehsaas scheme in Pakistan. Here are the main ways NADRA ensures this.
Identification and registration of beneficiaries
NADRA Program is responsible for monitoring and registration of eligible households for the realization scheme. It uses its extensive citizen database and biometric verification capabilities to ensure the most deserving families are registered.
Data management and verification
NADRA maintains the national database of citizens and provides various e-services, such as identity verification and documentation. This open data is necessary to verify the records of Pakistani citizens for registration and eligibility.
Eligibility criteria and profiling
NADRA Program uses eligibility criteria and some profiling to identify eligible beneficiaries and avoid inclusion errors. This includes looking at criteria such as government employment, tax information, car ownership, travel history, and utility bills to weed out ineligible applicants
Biometric verification
NADRA’s biometric verification system is essential for the successful implementation of the Ehsaas scheme. Payments are verified biometrically to ensure they reach the intended recipient. Thumbprint biometric verification is mandatory to get financial aid.
Cross-checking with other databases
NADRA uses information about applicants along with other databases like property records, travel records, and tax returns to verify their eligibility and weed out ineligible candidates.
Data Analytics
NADRA uses data analytics on several profiling criteria which act as exclusion criteria to remove inclusion errors and ensure that only the truly eligible are enrolled
Conclusion
The extension of the Ehsaas Nadra scheme to include more than 3 million families is a commendable move by the Government of Pakistan to build an inclusive and just society. Harnessing the powers of NADRA Program targeting assistance to the most deserving, the scheme aims to provide comprehensive social security and uplift marginalized communities
