The plan was touted as the culmination of the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto and another milestone on the way to eliminating poverty. It was said to be the panacea to promote self-employment and improve the quality of life of underprivileged people across the country. The scheme was launched on September 15 last year and 731 families were selected via random balloting in the inaugural ceremony in Swat. These families were promised an interest-free loan of Rs300,000.
Saidullah Khan, son of Bakht Feroza of the Sair Telegram area in Swat district, the sole recipient of the first installment cheque, is still awaiting the remaining portion of the loan which he was supposed to receive in two more installments. As such, the advance money he received is useless until he gets the remaining amount. He said he got the first cheque from Charsadda. This goes to show how much importance the government attaches to poverty alleviation and also its sincerity in this regard.
The programme’s director for Malakand division was out of the district when this correspondent visited his office.
In response to queries about the scheme, Political Agent Motabar Khan told The Express Tribune: “The average approval rate is very low. Hardly seven to eight cases are approved out of 36 cases processed every month in the entire Malakand division. After 14 draws, just one family from Swat has received the first installment cheque.”
When the family concerned was asked what they intended to do with the money, they reiterated that they cannot do anything until they received the entire amount. But no official knows exactly when the family will receive the rest of the money.
Said Saidullah Khan: “I want to open up a shop of my own, but I have not decided on the business yet.”
When asked about the timeframe for initiating his business, he said: “I cannot start up any business with just Rs100,000. And officials in Charsadda have told me to wait for the full amount which will be disbursed in three or four months. Once I get the entire amount, I will open up my shop.”
“Another acquaintance has also been selected, but he has not yet received a cheque,” he added.
Abdul Ghafoor, son of Khush Niba, another beneficiary from Buner district, told The Express Tribune on telephone: “Currently, I am unemployed but I intend to start a general store. We have waited for this for about a year, but I don’t know when I will get the remaining amount. The process is very slow. It took one year for me to get the first installment. I wonder how much more I will have to wait.”
Doubting the government’s claims regarding socio-economic empowerment, Saidullah Khan said that the hollowness of official assertions was evident after 14 draws, adding that it was an indication of government failure.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2010.
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