ISLAMABAD: The social welfare programme of the government has launched another facility, Ehsaas Digital, for poor sections of the population, in order to enable them to access information and services related to all initiatives of the project.

This e-portal is part of the One Window Ehsaas initiative.“The digital e-portal offers Ehsaas specific people-centered information. People usually have questions about how they can benefit from Ehsaas. So, we have built the Ehsaas digital e-portal designed specifically on the basis of questions which we get on social media about various Ehsaas programmes,” Dr Sania Nishtar told a press conference here on Wednesday.

The initiative is a one stop source of information on Ehsaas, electronically linking public with the right set of information, needed to enroll and benefit from the programme. It integrates Ehsaas benefits and services for the most vulnerable groups of society including students from low-income backgrounds, the unemployed, farmers and labourers, and the sick in need of help.

Specifically designed instructional programme pages in Urdu allow masses to read and understand information about Ehsaas programmes and initiatives including: Ehsaas Kafaalat, Ehsaas Survey, Ehsaas Registration Desks, Ehsaas Nashonuma, Waseela e Taleem Digital, Ehsaas undergraduate Scholarship, Ehsaas Interest Free Loan, Ehsaas Bachat Account, Ehsaas Amdan, Dar-ul-Ehsaas, Ehsaas Panagah, Ehsaas Langar, Ehsaas Koi Bhooka Na Soye, One Window Ehsaas, Ehsaas Tahafuz and several others.

Ehsaas Digital will provide people ample information about features, eligibility criteria, benefits and addresses of Ehsaas offices in every region along with helpline numbers. One can access programme pages by clicking on the name of the relevant programme given on the main page of this portal. The Ehsaas Digital portal can be accessed at: http://ehsaasdigital.pass.gov.pk/

The chief of the welfare programme said that Ehsaas Digital would strengthen transparency and communication loops with the public – particularly beneficiaries of the welfare programme. Being able to respond to queries and concerns of beneficiaries in Urdu, will enable Ehsaas to tailor its social protection and poverty alleviation response to be more efficient, Ms Nishtar said, adding this digital information and services platform will deter corruption and fraud by alerting the common man with relevant and appropriate information.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2021