BISP cards doled out to the rich

GHIZER, June 8: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has crossed all limits in robbing the poor of their right to financial support promised to them under the initiative, and is doling out support to undeserving people on the basis of connections in this backward area of Gilgit-Baltistan. On the other hand, there is no one to listen to the poor people who are still running from pillar to post in search of getting the paltry amount. Former chairman of Union Council Taus and the general secretary of the Taus action committee, Mr Wazir Aman, has said during the survey for selection of the beneficiaries for the BISP, the deserving people were totally ignored and in their places rich and well-to-do persons were included in the list on the basis of their connection. He said when the programme was launched, a committee was formed and whose recommendation 160 deserving people were issued the BISP cards. However, later the number of the beneficiaries was slashed to just 40. Out of these households, only 10 are poor and deserving and the rest are politically nominated and belonged to well to do families, he alleged. Mr Aman demanded that either the programme should be wrapped up altogether or the committee system should be revived for fair distribution of the financial aids. He said only those working in the offices of the BISP were taking advantage of the programme while the poor including widows are still deprived of the benefits. He demanded of the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter and bring transparency into the distribution of the cards in the area.]]>