BISP
The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) is the premier safety net institution in Pakistan, launched in July 2008. BISP, Benazir income, Benazir program, income support, BISP program originally came into being in the face the rapid food price inflation, which saw food, grain, and fuel prices reaching a 30-year high in 2008, while the global economic downturn in 2009 further decreased the welfare of already vulnerable households. The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) is a targeted unconditional cash transfer program in Pakistan. The program targeted poor women with the immediate objective of consumption smoothing and cushioning the negative effects of slow economic growth.
According to the World Bank (2015), social safety net programs help in reducing the poverty gap by 15% around the world. Against such a backdrop, the core objective of the program is consumption smoothening among poor families and cushioning them against negative economic shocks, such as global financial crises and rising food prices. Its long-term objectives include meeting the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to eradicate extreme and chronic poverty and empower women.
Main idea
The Benazir income Programme, having been established through an Act of Parliament, functions under the executive patronage of the Prime Minister, while the President of Pakistan is its Chief Patron.
•Enhancing the financial capacity of the poor people and their dependent family members.
•Develop and implement comprehensive policies and targeted programs for the uplift of underprivileged and vulnerable populations. To alleviate poverty and foster equitable distribution of wealth, more particularly among the low-income groups. To the extent of a supplementary objective of women empowerment, BISP, income support, Benazir scheme, support program are the extends its support entirely through female members.
The target group of beneficiaries is among the most underprivileged, excluded, marginalized, and vulnerable sections of society, living in abject poverty.
Economic deprivation, irrespective of political affinity, racial identity, geographical location, and religious beliefs is the only parameter for the selection of BISP beneficiaries.
Much of this information has been revealed on the internet, as the BISP is reported to have the largest database of poor families amongst the national platforms across the globe. This is the output of the first-ever door-to-door poverty survey in Pakistan to be shared through protocols internationally and nationally for research purposes of various organizations.
Poverty alleviation and mainstreaming éof marginalized and underprivileged sections of society, in particular, women, by developing a comprehensive Social Protection Net.
BISP vision
It is the vision of BISP to fight poverty through a multitude of social protection instruments tailored to, in a sustainable manner, bring about positive change in the lives of persistently excluded and deprived families.
One such social protection program is known as the ‘Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)’, whose aim is the work on women’s protection in the country of Pakistan at home. The BISP has contributed to the social safety net system by providing women with opportunities to have access to sources of income and hence be in a position to improve their future. It has its ups and downs in life, and so has BISP.
It failed at the efficacy of the program mainly because of the insufficiency of concerned governing bodies’ attention and lack of support and assistance for the same. Although there are few outcomes achieved that demonstrated a portion of the population of women living in the interior part of the Southern Punjab and Sindh have received benefit from this program; however, unclear evidence is found thereafter on the rise in the success rate and further development. This may be attributed to the fact that this program’s objective
was no doubt appreciative but means were not there to lead this mission ahead and make it bigger effectively.
Purpose of BISP
The purpose of the social safety net programs is primarily to enable reduction of the adverse effect of poverty on the concerned part of the population and this is one of the important endeavors. Taken by the government. The same case has been found in the country of Pakistan.
During the course of time around the years 2007-2008, there was a severe upsurge in oil prices, a rise in the primary product prices in the markets: both domestic and international leading to heightened inflation going from single to double digits that chopped off the purchasing power almost to half weakening the prospect’s position. These situations demanded a quick and efficient effort from the government of Pakistan.
Then BISP emerged on the scene as a remedy to the problems being created to give direct, quick and efficient relief and aid to the affected, under-privileged and needy part of the region in the country. It can be concluded that the introduction of this scheme has provided a positive influence on the reduction of poverty to an extent and at the same time has provided a platform for women Empowerment which resulted in the rise of living standards of the individuals in the rural regions of the country. There has been an increasing a great number of women who have benefited from this scheme and are being provided with protection from going into worse.
Benefits of BISP
Moreover, these benefits aren’t limited to women only, but also to their families as well where they have an increased level of between food, health, and education through the application of monetary relief. Their living conditions are also improved. This program has given a structure where the females can protect their basic requirements and at the same time, better their economic statuses. They have given them the choices they exercise their skills and competencies in decision and plan-making and are in a better position to take care of their families as well. This has increased the importance of the role of the women of how they can take part in the economic drive and make s good source of income for themselves and their families. This scheme has enabled the rise of income-generating facilities and activities for livelihood and economic progress.
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