SHANGLA:(IN)Beneficiary families in Shangla have welcomed the recent increase of Rs1,000 in the quarterly cash assistance under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), describing the move as timely relief amid soaring inflation. Currently, around 114,000 deserving families in Shangla district are benefiting from various BISP initiatives, which provide crucial financial support to households living below the poverty line and help cushion them against economic hardships.The increase was announced by BISP Chairperson Rubina Khalid during a live open forum (Katcheri) at the BISP headquarters in Islamabad on the eve of Ramazan. Following the announcement, the quarterly installment has been raised to Rs14,500, providing direct relief to thousands of low-income families in Shangla, particularly women beneficiaries from remote and hard-to-reach areas.Women beneficiaries from far-flung regions of Shangla termed the increase a positive and much-needed step, especially in the face of rising prices of essential commodities. However, many of them said that for a backward and underdeveloped district like Shangla, the revised amount still falls short of meeting basic household needs. They urged the government to further enhance the quarterly installment by another Rs1,000 so that poor families can better manage food expenses and other daily necessities.Local residents noted that while the recent increase in BISP payments has provided temporary relief, the broader challenges of rising inflation, unemployment, and escalating food prices continue to place immense pressure on low-income households in Shangla. They appealed to the government to announce a special relief package for the district to help curb poverty and address the structural economic vulnerabilities of the area.At the same time, citizens expressed satisfaction over the recent Rs500 increase in stipends under the Benazir Education Stipends and the Benazir Nashonuma Programme.
According to local women, the enhanced education stipends will help improve school attendance and learning outcomes among children in Shangla, while the additional support under the Nashonuma Programme will assist mothers in meeting the nutritional needs of infants and young children, contributing to better maternal and child health outcomes.The people of Shangla also called on the government to ensure that BISP payments are transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary women to prevent illegal deductions and complaints. They further demanded an increase in the number of BISP facilitation centers in Shangla so that women from remote areas do not have to undertake repeated and lengthy journeys to access their payments and related services.It is pertinent to mention that during the live Katcheri at the BISP headquarters in Islamabad, the Chairperson had instructed beneficiary women to receive the full amount of their entitlements and not to tolerate any form of deduction. In case of complaints, beneficiaries were advised to contact the BISP helpline at 0800-26477 or approach the nearest BISP office.Social circles in Shangla have expressed hope that the recent increase will prove to be a positive step towards poverty alleviation in the district. However, they emphasized that for sustainable improvement, further enhancement in cash assistance along with a transparent and efficient delivery mechanism is indispensable to ensure that the intended relief reaches the most vulnerable segments of society.
