Ehsaas beneficiaries left disgruntled
Complaints of closed centres, unlawful deductions and even the issuance of counterfeit currency have surfaced as cash grants continue to be disbursed by the Ehsaas Programme around Sindh. Subsequently, as beneficiaries struggle to receive the stipends, protests have become a near-daily occurrence.
Talking to the media at a protest in Khairpur district, Zulekha Khatoon complained that agents were deducted Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 from each Rs12,000 grant.
"We travel a long distance from our town and line up all day to receive the grant, but we don't get the full amount," chimed in Mai Noorani, demanding action against the agents.
Meanwhile, political activists held a demonstration in Kadhan, Badin district, alleging that women were only being paid Rs11,000. "The agents are stealing money from the grants meant for the poor families in broad daylight," claimed Mumtaz Ali Jatt.
Zebunnissa Mallah, protesting in Jati, Sujawal district, reiterated the same allegation. "Is there no one from the government watching this illegal activity?" she wondered, as protesters demanded action against the agents and the return of the deducted money.
In Jacobabad district, some women complained they had received of having received counterfeit Rs1,000 notes. The programme's agents, Ravi and Vinod, said they changed the notes after receiving the complaints, alleging that they received the notes from the bank.
In Jhudo, Mirpurkhas, beneficiaries accused the district police of being hand-in-glove with the agents. "Together, they are deducting Rs1,000 from each beneficiary," alleged Muhammad Moosa Notiar, standing among dozens of demonstrators who claimed that the police baton-charged and wounded a woman who had complained of getting less money than her due.
Moreover, hundreds of women blocked the Tando Allahyar-Sanghar road, staging a sit-in against the agents at Usman Shah Huri government high school. They claimed the disbursement centre was closed most of the day, with agents citing network problems.
Similar complaints emerged in Raju Khanani, Badin, where protesting women said they waited several days before receiving the grant. "Every day, the agents tell us that our location will be activated the next day; we hear the same story when we return," lamented a woman.
The disbursement centre in Chachro, Tharparkar, remained closed for two days, while beneficiaries lining up at Thana Bula Khan, Jamshoro, complained the only centre in their taluka was overcrowded, leading to delays of up to five days.
Meanwhile, an agent, Syed Jamil Shah, claimed he had been looted of Rs1.2 million, a device at the centre and his mobile phone. Jacobabad SSP Muhammad Tariq Nawaz said that the police are trying to trace the culprits.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2020.