TO extend ready support to the needy and the poor in the wake of Covid-19, Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced a massive cash distribution plan to the tune of Rs144 billion.

It will provide 12 million households with Rs12,000 each. This sum is meant to support them for four months. Different expert opinions have emerged about the effectiveness of such programmes. Many believe that this one-time relief will be a temporary measure and has limited benefits for targeted households.

Care and prudence are needed to deliver it to the rightful as lapses and malpractices are possible. The absence of a credible database providing the enlistment of the poor is also a shortcoming. And the fact that Pakistan’s macroeconomic situation is infested with many ailments, the sustained availability of similar cash transfers in the future is questionable.

Covid-19 has already cast deep shadows on the working of regular sectors of the economy, performance of which directly and indirectly generates fiscal space for such schemes. Enabling the poor sail through the livelihood- and enterprise-related challenges with the near-sustained impact of Covid-19 in the times to come becomes a core question for deliberation.

Our decision makers at the federal and provincial levels may consider four key steps alongside the emergency cash distribution. Poverty mapping must be done on the basis of updated information with relevant departments such as the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and similar provincial outfits.

The knowledge to deal with the poor and poverty lies with institutions that have experience of working in these sectors

The mapping may identify the incidence of poverty with the profiles of causes. This information can be utilised as the baseline for planning interventions. These interventions can be integrated with the ongoing and upcoming development schemes where the local poor can be absorbed as labourers and vending service providers.

The construction sector package and other subsidy-driven initiatives in other sectors can be brought in direct contact for the absorption of idle labour force. When a reasonable part of subsidies will transform into wages for labour and earnings of small-scale enterprises, enormous monetary benefits will trickle down to the bottom strata of society. This is just the right moment as our financial year is coming to a close and the federal and provincial governments are busy finalising the budget proposals and development programmes for 2020-21.

The knowledge to deal with the poor and poverty generally lies with institutions that have experience of working in these sectors and locations. Prominent organisations with experience in poverty reduction and social sectors may be consulted. They comprise public and corporate entities such as the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Ehsaas Programme (and the Benazir Income Support Programme remnants) and Pakistan Red Crescent Society. Most of them possess capable people in senior management and as affiliates who can help shape up a viable strategy to deal with the next phase of the current challenge.

In addition, many non-governmental organisations have tremendous understanding that can be utilised for up-scaling and replicating successful development models after suitable modifications in line with Covid-19 peculiarities. Aurat Foundation, Shirkat Gah, Rural Support Programmes, Orangi Charitable Trust (OCT), Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) and Akhuwat Foundation are such institutions.

These and many more organisations of similar profiles are capable of managing large-scale programmes and funding. They generally possess capable manpower and penetration in various districts of the country. As their records show, they also practise due diligence in financial practices, including accounting, audit and controls. The governments can do well to devise pre-qualification criteria and involve them in the delivery of socially oriented livelihood support initiatives.

An attempt may also be made to recognise the efforts of local community-based organisations (CBOs) and their useful work done over a period of time. There is a long trail of CBOs existing in almost all locations in the country. Many have done useful work in different sectors and programmes in different timeframes.

At present, the CBOs will be required for mobilising communities to align themselves with various interventions that the government and other entities may introduce. Support in documentation, extending communication and messages related to social distancing and other precautions, targeting the right type of manpower for different tasks and helping women participate where there are opportunities are some options.

Given Pakistan’s situation, transparency and efficiency must be ensured at every stage of the proposed programmes. Some critical areas for extending benefits may require extra caution. Manhandling of women who went to collect cash support has been reported in many instances. This must be avoided by an intelligent modification of programme efforts. To ensure the distribution of benefits to the actual target womenfolk and their households, innovative approaches may be adopted.

This crisis can serve as a launching pad for the capacity building of our masses. Once the conditions become favourable to for such initiatives, capable young people may be invited to join specially designed programmes for skills building. Interfaces between the vocational and technical training institutes with potential target groups must be planned in this reference.

It may be remembered that the country has a well-laid structure of polytechnics, monotechnics, vocational schools and skill-building centres. Our provinces have specific authorities to manage technical and vocational training. Many federal programmes also augment this sub-sector. At present, trained health care support staff, medical technologists, bio-medical technicians, data-entry operators and other logistics-related staff will be immediately needed.

Besides, some occupations in our society are graded according to strict social taboos and stigmas. Janitorial and sanitary workers are considered socially untouchables. No one would even allow them to share home utensils or drinking glasses within the working environment. Similarly, health care technicians face similar social tribulations in everyday life. Society does not give a respectable status to the practitioners of vocational and technical trades in general.

But Covid-19 has proved that the services of all such technical hands are utmost vital in combating health emergencies. If we prepare them today, we will be safer tomorrow.

The writer teaches at NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, April 27th, 2020