The registration of the transgender population in the Benazir Kafalat programme being executed under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has been started across the country.
The decision of including the transgender community in the Benazir Kafalat programme has been taken for the first in history in view of the social and economic hardships faced by the transgender community.
According to the National Socio-Economic Register (NSER) survey carried out by BISP, the total number of transgender persons is 53,800. Despite the limited number, the community is denied of their basic rights and has been facing various challenges.
The transgender community is constrained to rely on begging as their main source of livelihood or they get associated with a profession that is scorned upon.
Transgender persons named Bajo and Sumera said that some people close their doors when they come around in the streets and others push them away. Talking to APP, they said, “people ask why we do not work since we look healthy and fit. Who will give us jobs? They all make fun of us,” they said while thanking the BISP for including them in the Benazir Kafalat programme.
Another transgender, Saba said: “I am thankful to the BISP that they thought of us and include us in Benazir Kafalat initiative. No one has ever thought about us. Thanks to BISP.”
Due to unacceptable behaviour of society, the transgender community is compelled to live a miserable life, below the poverty line. Collective efforts are needed at all levels to enable this community to live a dignified life.
The objective of BISP is to provide financial support to people living below the poverty line as around nine million families are being provided a stipend of Rs7,000 every quarter.
The decision of including the transgender community in Benazir Kafalat programme has been taken in view of the economic difficulties and the discrimination they face and in order to ensure that no vulnerable segment is left out of BISP.
According to the Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Shazia Marri, this is for the first time that the government has decided to include the transgender community in the BISP, therefore, the transgender community is requested to get their CNIC from NADRA and then register themselves at BISP tehsil office.
After successful registration, they will receive a message from 8,171 after which an amount of Rs7,000 will be paid to them from POS agent or ATM machine.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2023.
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