Question

Most government policy decisions have winners and losers.

1. What are the effects of Ehsaas Emergency Cash program in the wake of COVID-19?
2. It is more complex than simply government loses and poor’s gain. Who are the winners and who are the losers, and what exactly do they win and lose?
3. To what extent will this impact the overall economy of Pakistan?

Answer 1

One of the largest protection schemes which introduced in the history of Pakistan is Ehsaas Emergency Cash. In 6 weeks, Rs. 112 billion distributed among 9.2 million families. This programme mainly focuses on daily wage earners who loss job due to COVID19. Payments are given after the biometric verification. The digital capabilities were used to deliver thus cash. Uses of national ID number become necessary. This Ehsaas programme launched in April 1st 2020. The upliftment of marginalised people is considered as one of the main aim of this programme. This programme focused the people who are affected by corona virus and lost their job.
The transaction was mainly based on the online mode. Each beneficiaries having Limited Mandate Account (LMA) to open a mobile saving which liked to the account. In the lowest income category people of Pakistan don’t have mobile phone. They did not get any benefits through this. Most of the benefices were the retail shops and those who have accessibility to get digital banking. The people who don’t have mobile and digital banks did not get anything from this Ehsaas Emergency Cash. Women get money through this programme, not for everyone. There is a digitalized inequality related in Pakistan. These create the condition make worse among the people. The daily wage earners who don’t have mobile phone and other digital sources. So they did not get any help through this programme.