Mechanism failure: As men suck up funds, BISP fails to help mothers, children
Study claims funds are being used inappropriately and the real problems not being addressed.
"The programme was meant to decrease poverty levels but it will not help unless the funds are made conditional to use by mothers and children," SPO regional head, Ellahi Bakhsh Baloch. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The financial support being given to poor women through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is not benefiting those it is designed to cater to.
Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), a non-government organisation, recently studied the spending patterns of the income support being given through the ‘Wasila-e-Haq’ programme in four districts - Badin, Faisalabad, Nowshera and Quetta. The study found that the funds were primarily being used by the men of the families on domestic affairs, rather than on the needs of mothers and children.
According to the report, in Badin, the BISP fund was designed according to the needs of poor women. In reality, however, the funds were being used for other purposes. The researchers suggested the authorities make the cash transfer system simpler. The current system did not have a way to address complaints and women had a hard time getting the money.
In the programme, a female member of the family is given Rs1,200 per month, while an annual amount of Rs25,000 will be given to each family through the new ‘Wasila-e-Sehat’programme. SPO suggested that the funds given to these women, in the name of ‘Wasila-e-Sehat’, must be made conditional to appropriate use.
The study went on to suggest that after the 18th Amendment, the BISP should be run by the provincial government. Ironically, there are no officials in the BISP offices in Badin to deal with the beneficiaries. There is no complaint mechanism and no coordination among stakeholders. What is even more striking is that none of the district government officials have any records of the BISP.
“The recipients, if they utilise the funds on their health, could reduce poverty in the province,” said the SPO’s regional head, Ellahi Bakhsh Baloch. “The programme was meant to decrease poverty levels but it will not help unless the funds are made conditional to usage by mothers and children.”
Javed Jabbar, a member of the SPO’s governing body, was of the opinion that such research was vital to understand the realities of the situation. “Several inspiring projects failed due to a lack of baseline studies,” Jabbar said, giving the example of the Left Bank Outfall Drain, which had caused environmental destruction. “This was because there was no study to predict its future impact.” He explained that the recent study had not only uncovered the shortcomings in the BISP programme, but also gauged society’s behaviour towards women and children.
Speaking about the recent crisis in Tharparkar, Jabbar said that the needs of pregnant women were often ignored. “The study’s findings should be shared with the men who often ignore the importance of healthcare for women and children.”
The study recommends that a conditional cash transfer, empowering women to make the decision on how it is spent, is the only way to reduce the mortality rate and alleviate poverty.
The findings also show that the behaviour of communities towards mothers and newborn babies is questionable. The health of the mother and the child is being ignored by both the families and the government. Under the circumstances, the BISP will neither improve socio-economic conditions, nor support the families to alleviate poverty, the study states.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2014.
The financial support being given to poor women through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is not benefiting those it is designed to cater to.
Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), a non-government organisation, recently studied the spending patterns of the income support being given through the ‘Wasila-e-Haq’ programme in four districts - Badin, Faisalabad, Nowshera and Quetta. The study found that the funds were primarily being used by the men of the families on domestic affairs, rather than on the needs of mothers and children.
According to the report, in Badin, the BISP fund was designed according to the needs of poor women. In reality, however, the funds were being used for other purposes. The researchers suggested the authorities make the cash transfer system simpler. The current system did not have a way to address complaints and women had a hard time getting the money.
In the programme, a female member of the family is given Rs1,200 per month, while an annual amount of Rs25,000 will be given to each family through the new ‘Wasila-e-Sehat’programme. SPO suggested that the funds given to these women, in the name of ‘Wasila-e-Sehat’, must be made conditional to appropriate use.
The study went on to suggest that after the 18th Amendment, the BISP should be run by the provincial government. Ironically, there are no officials in the BISP offices in Badin to deal with the beneficiaries. There is no complaint mechanism and no coordination among stakeholders. What is even more striking is that none of the district government officials have any records of the BISP.
“The recipients, if they utilise the funds on their health, could reduce poverty in the province,” said the SPO’s regional head, Ellahi Bakhsh Baloch. “The programme was meant to decrease poverty levels but it will not help unless the funds are made conditional to usage by mothers and children.”
Javed Jabbar, a member of the SPO’s governing body, was of the opinion that such research was vital to understand the realities of the situation. “Several inspiring projects failed due to a lack of baseline studies,” Jabbar said, giving the example of the Left Bank Outfall Drain, which had caused environmental destruction. “This was because there was no study to predict its future impact.” He explained that the recent study had not only uncovered the shortcomings in the BISP programme, but also gauged society’s behaviour towards women and children.
Speaking about the recent crisis in Tharparkar, Jabbar said that the needs of pregnant women were often ignored. “The study’s findings should be shared with the men who often ignore the importance of healthcare for women and children.”
The study recommends that a conditional cash transfer, empowering women to make the decision on how it is spent, is the only way to reduce the mortality rate and alleviate poverty.
The findings also show that the behaviour of communities towards mothers and newborn babies is questionable. The health of the mother and the child is being ignored by both the families and the government. Under the circumstances, the BISP will neither improve socio-economic conditions, nor support the families to alleviate poverty, the study states.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2014.