COVID-19 outbreak was first time experienced in the Wuhan City of China at the end of December 2019. Different steps have been taken worldwide for the control of COVID-19. Even with less resources Pakistan also taken rigorous measures like designed special hospitals, laboratories for testing, quarantine facilities, awareness campaign and lock down to control the spread of virus.
According to the Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan, the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has risen to 277,402 as of 30 July.
Since the outbreak of Corona Virus, Ujala network1 under the aegis of AwazCDS-Pakistan decided to contribute in difficult economic and health pandemic period by running different awareness raising campaigns to educate communities on COVID-19. To provide the financial assistance to deprived segment of the society, Ehsaas Emergency Cash program was launched by the Prime Minister on April 1, 2020 in the context of the economic hardship being experienced by the vulnerable due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The financial help under the program was meant to help poor buy rations so that they don’t go hungry during lock down period. The program covered 12 million families; PKRs 12,000 per family was given and worth of PKRs. 144 billion were successfully distributed.
Other emergency responses were also designed, financed and implemented by many people in their private capacity as well as on behalf of hundreds of thousands of NGOs and other private sector organizations across the country.
In this regard AwazCDS-Pakistan and its 44 partner organizations working together in 44 districts across the country including J & K and Gilgit Baltistan under its Ujala Program decided to divert its resources in to Ujala Corona Emergency Response Program. Apart from mass sensitization campaign through the display of 550 banners, 150 Op-eds’, 150 radio programs, Ujala Partners also did Tehsil level survey with 100 target group in each of their respective districts. The target group was comprised on Women headed families, Person with special abilities, Religious minorities and transgender community, the target group was initially planned with 25 persons against each category from each district. Therefore, altogether 4400 surveys were planned.
Finally, 44 Ujala partners carried out Tehsil level survey in their respective district headquarter to collect basic data on some of the basic indicators included information of Ehsas Cash Grant Program, its process and challenges faced by them. We also tried to understand how much vulnerable groups are aware from Corona virus, their economic challenges, status of behavioral changes, inclusion of most vulnerable groups of society and if elected representatives have played their role in educating and facilitating public. comprehensive survey format was developed and a half day online capacity orientation on how to conduct the survey was given to all the district focal points of partner organizations.
National Assessment of Ehsas Cash Grant Program-LNOB
Posted in Research Studies / Reports.
