ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar visited the Jura sector near the Line of Control (LoC) in Neelum Valley on Sunday to review arrangements for Ehsaas Cash disbursal to the families residing in villages around the LoC.

Dr Nishtar also oversaw digital disbursement of Rs12,000 Ehsaas Cash handouts to vulnerable families living along the LoC in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), said a news release issued here.

She interacted with women who came to the Jura Bazar to collect cash grants.

Under Ehsaas, the government is disbursing some Rs3 billion among all the families residing in 219 villages near the LoC.

Visits houses hit by Indian firing

All families in 219 villages near the LoC in AJK are under the persistent risk of unprovoked attacks and have sacrificed their lives, livestock, and properties. All families in these villages have been included in the Ehsaas programme, said Dr Nishtar.

In the last week of June 2020, the prime minister had announced Ehsaas Cash package for around 138,275 families of 219 villages living. The families will receive a monthly stipend of Rs2,000 as well as an emergency cash payment of Rs12,000 to be given to the women of these households.

The SAPM appreciated the steps taken by the Pakistan Army and district administration of Neelum Valley for assisting Ehsaas in the process of updating lists of households ensuring that none remains deprived of Ehsaas Cash in line with the cabinet’s decision.

Dr Nishtar met the victim families in Jura Bazar who had suffered severe damage to their properties as a result of unprovoked attacks by Indian troops.

She lauded the measures being taken by the district administration and Pakistan Army for provision of financial assistance to the poor along the LoC.

The ongoing Ehsaas national socio-economic registry survey was also discussed along with the opening of registration desks in AJK after survey completion.

To roll out the survey in AJK, training of teachers as master trainers is just commencing in collaboration with the Education Department of AJK.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2020