Poverty score card system introduced

CHITRAL, Dec 5: The Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) has introduced a modern tool of poverty score card (PSC) system to quantitatively measure the poverty prevalent in Sheshi Koh valley and classify the poor into different categories to fight the ultra-poverty in the area. Addressing a function held in Sheshi Koh valley the other day, district program officer of SRSP Tariq Ahmed said the Sheshi Koh valley contiguous to Swat district has a mountainous topography giving nominal land for agricultural activities leading to poverty. He said that the organization has targeted the valley for carrying out poverty alleviation activities and conducted an extensive poverty on household level to collect hard facts about financial capacity of each family. Mr. Tariq said that quite a new approach has been adopted to alleviate poverty by providing the poor and the indigent with resources and training for self-employment. “The traditional method of doling out a sum of money or distributing food items to the poverty stricken has been replaced by a gadget which is sustainable in nature and promises them a bright future”, he said. He said that vocational training is imparted to both men and women folk in different trades for self-employment as per their capabilities and keeping in view the scope the vocation in the area. At the end of the training, they will be provided with tools and apparatus to enable them to establish their own workshops and working centres, he said and added that this will drastically bring down the magnitude of poverty in the valley. Mr. Tariq said that the women folk will be given training in livestock keeping and for this purpose, cow and goats will be provided to them. On this occasion, tools and apparatus were given to the first batch of ninety eight persons of the valley while food items and utensils were also distributed on this occasion. Livelihood development officer Salahud Din Saleh and the representatives of the local community Taj Khan and Noor Hameed also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of the livelihood program in the valley.–Zahiruddin]]>