All you need to know about the Ehsaas Initiative

Recently, the World Bank has recognized Ehsaas Cash Emergency programme among the top four social protection interventions globally in terms of the number of people covered.

Pakistan ranks 4th globally in terms of the number of people covered and 3rd globally in terms of the percentage of population covered amongst those that covered over 100 million people.

Ehsaas is Pakistan’s biggest and boldest program for poverty eradication which aims to collaborate with all stakeholders—public, private, civil society, philanthropists, and expatriate Pakistanis towards one collective goal – poverty alleviation. What are these programmes and how a person can apply to them? Let’s find out.

Ehsaas Kafaalat

Ehsaas Kafaalat – a government’s programme through which it will give cash stipends of Rs. 2,000 monthly and bank accounts to the most deserving and poorest women across the country. Through a parallel Ehsaas policy initiative, women will also get better access to smartphones, as a step towards digital inclusion.

For the programme, beneficiaries will be identified through a household survey and through Ehsaas NADRA Desk Registration Centres assisted by sms and Kafaalat web-service. At least one desk registration centre will be set up in each Tehsil of all districts across Pakistan.

Ehsaas Nashonuma

Ehsaas Nashonuma – a health and nutrition conditional cash transfer programme that aims to address stunting in children under 23 months of age.

Prime Minister Imran Khan launched this programme on August 13, 2020 as a pilot project in 9 districts of the country selected on the basis of high stunting rate and in consultation with the provincial health departments.

Under the programme, 33 Ehsaas Nashunama Marakiz/Centers will be established at Tehsil level health facilities to provide all the services under one roof under the programme. World Food Programme has been hired as an implementing partner to carry out all the activities of the programme.

Ehsaas Amdan Programme

Through Ehsaas Amdan programme, assets are given to the deserving to enable them to graduate out of poverty. For the purpose of this programme, assets include livestock (goats, cows, buffaloes and poultry), agricultural inputs, body of Chingchi rickshaws, and inputs for small retail outlets and small enterprises etc.

The total budget of the programme is approximately Rs15 billion. Ehsaas Amdan is being implemented in 375 union councils of 23 poorest districts across four provinces of Pakistan.

Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Programme

Under this program, every year, 50,000 students from low-income families will be awarded scholarships for 4 to 5-year undergraduate degree programs. Scholarships will cover 100% of the tuition fee and a living stipend of 4,000 per month.

The geographical spread of the program covers all four provinces, AJK and GB. Visit official website of Higher Education Commission to Ehsaas online application. Completed forms along with necessary documents can also be submitted to Financial Aid Office of selected universities.

How to apply?

1. People can check the details and eligibility of Ehsaas program on NADRA online portal.
2. You can check your eligibility online by providing your CNIC number.
3. If you are not currently registered, verify your eligibility and register online.
4. Enter your phone number and mobile network. Then enter the code on the image and send it by clicking on the (add) button.
5. In the last step of sending the application, enter your full address and confirm all the given details. Accept the terms and conditions on the form and submit the application.