The Ehsaas Women Empowerment Programme is a step towards closing the gender gaps in Pakistan. It ensures that women from marginalized communities receive financial support, education, and health services.

For a nation that has historically oppressed women, the 8171 Ehsaas program is providing the necessary support to help women escape the clutches of poverty and enable them to participate in the country’s economic growth. Now, let us explore the features and components of this transformative program.

The Ehsaas Kafalat Programme is a very effective element of the Ehsaas Women Empowerment Programme. This initiative targets women in poor households, providing them with cash payments to help them become economically self-sufficient.

• Quarterly Payments: Women are paid a cash grant of PKR 10,500 after every three months.
• Who Qualifies: Economically vulnerable women can enroll in the program.
• Women’s Financial Independence: The program enables women to meet basic needs like food, health, and education while nurturing financial autonomy.

One feature that stands out about this program is how it caters to students’ learning. Mothers enrolled under the Ehsaas Kafalat Programme are eligible for the Ehsaas Education Scholarships, which help the child through school. This initiative focuses on empowering women both socially and economically so that they are not limited in any way for the future.

• Scholarships For Girls: Over 50% of the program allocation for these scholarships is used for girls who are the recipients. This ensures there is no discrimination in pursuing education.
• Long-term Impact: By educating girls, Pakistan is investing in a woman workforce ready to use their knowledge and skills to grow the country’s economy.

The Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme was intended to be used during the COVID-19 pandemic and proved to be efficient in helping distressed women and families in Pakistan. Women are usually the most impacted during crises, and this initiative was meant to help them.

• Cash Transfer: The authorities decided to provide each eligible family with a cash payment of 12,000 PKR.
• Large-scale Impact: This program benefits approximately 15 million households and reaches more than 100 million citizens in the country.
• World Bank Recognitions: In 2021, the program was praised for its rapid implementation and coverage of the most vulnerable, especially women.

The most impactful part of the Women’s Empowerment program is the pervasive Ehsaas interest-free loan scheme. It provides funds to women entrepreneurs to start small businesses or further their education and skills.

• Interest-Free Loan: Women looking to start or grow their businesses no longer worry about paying additional interest.
• Financial Independence: This initiative allows women to earn an income and become financially independent rather than relying on others.
• Focused on Women Entrepreneurs: Above all, the programme prioritises women interested in entrepreneurship by helping them start small businesses that will support their families.

The Ehsaas Nashonuma program is designed to support women and children and meet the nutritional targets set to face stunted growth among young children. The program safeguards mothers and children against any undernourishment that can lead to chronic development.

• Conditional Cash Transfers: A payment is allocated to the group of mothers and pregnant women to receive assistance with nutrition and health obligations, including attending baby check-ups and vaccination sessions.
• Stipend Amount: Women with boys are given Rs. 1500 per quarter, while those with girls are given Rs. 2000 per quarter.
• Addressing Gender Equality: The program strives to promote social equity in health and nutrition by offering boys’ parents less cash than girls.

In the elite section of the Women Empowerment Programme of Ehsaas, another vital program is the Ehsaas Aamdan program, which intends to give women the necessary help to build their sustainable means of income and employment.

• Providing Assets: Women are given sewing machines, livestock, shops, vehicles, etc., as assets to run or start their businesses.
• Entrepreneurial Growth: The economy of the region is growing and women are empowered through financial help which enables them to support their families.
• Long-Term Impact: In addition to improving the livelihoods of individual women, it also promotes communities by promoting economic independence.

The Ehsaas Women Empowerment Programme has achieved a name in Pakistan and abroad.

• Reduction of Poverty: The program’s benefits expansion has greatly reduced poverty in the country as millions of households and women regularly get financial help.
• World Bank Praise: Because this socioeconomic initiative is fluent and fast, the Ehsaas Program has ranked high in the World Bank report.
• Improved Educational Access: Thousands of girls who were not previously attending school due to poverty can now receive an education because of Ehsaas Education Scholarships.

The Ehsaas Women Empowerment Programme is more than just a social program; it is a help that actively participates in the economy. This includes cash transfers, loans, and educational support. The program is helping women gain access to multiple sectors of life that they had been denied previously.

With the help of the Ehsaas Women Empowerment Programme, Pakistan is on the path to improving gender equity and tackling poverty while facilitating economic growth. This has given Pakistani women the opportunity to have a place in society and stay away from old, oppressive ideas.