Peoples Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF)
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Civil Society Floods Situation Report (CSFSR)
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Pakistan Card
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Prepared and Released by
Peoples Accountability Commission on Floods
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Table of Contents
This Report
Peoples Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF) is going to issue the fifth report with the title Civil Society Flood Situation, on the issue of Pakistan Card. The situation report of Pakistan card and its gaps faced by the end beneficiaries, generally in flood affected districts of Sindh particularly in eight districts as Umerkot, Nawabshah, Badin, TM Khan, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, and Sanghar, Tando Allahyar. Civil Society Flood Situation (CSFS) report covers the local community and civil society perspective on the response to the flood affected communities in the specified districts for further advocacy campaign. This report is issued and released by the PACF, by undergoing in affected areas and coordination mechanism is observed to validate the data. The PACF has already issued four reports on very practical themes which have been covered by Print Media with encouraging response.
Key Priorities
· Relief phase interventions are expected to support flood affected population with Cash Assistance to compensate the damages at some extent.
· Current status of the beneficiaries of Pakistan Card in eight districts
· Challenges and Response of the Government
· Gap Analysis
· Meaningful Access to the Pakistan Card Service of flood affected communities
Data Collection Methods and Tools
The primary data gathered by going to affected communities and conducting FGDs, the information has collected and elaborated, the primary source of the information is local communities and civil society practitioners. Secondary data gathered from NADRA. Field Inputs through FGDs and Cluster Meetings at district level in each of the sites specified. District cluster meeting is another source of information in report.
Background of Issue
Cash support to the naturally affected population has always been welcomed by societies, the need of the system is worthy in each way adopted to support the peoples, which includes the conditional cash transfers the direct cash dispersal, cash vouchers, bank cheques, ATM cards and others ways adopted in developing countries. While the unconditional cash transfers includes uncertain ways for direct cash in the areas. Unconditional cash are becoming prominent in a variety of social protection instrument in developing countries. This kind of cash assistance is supposed sufficient in overcoming the risks of potential dangers, because of this the popularity of the unconditional cash transfer. It is observed that the cash transfers are sufficient in isolated settlements; under contexts of the need based assistance this need to be included in a certain package to cope the cash needs in emergencies. Delivering regular and predictable cash transfers should be seen as a ‘social contract’ between government and its citizens vulnerable to floods and other natural catastrophes, that must be advocated and sustained in the long-term, with or without donor support.
Pakistan Card has in fact increased their sufferings of those living scattered in areas, according to field survey by PACF researchers still majority of the flood affected communities in the worst affected districts have not received their Pakistan Card, in district Umarkot it was observed that 480 families near fort are not registered yet, PACF researchers intervening in the areas had found that the peoples from Sanghar, Tharparkar, Nawabshah are not in access from the unregistered settlements from fort camp Umarkot. Temporary settled communities are not given food and other facilities for assistance in Naukot (Fort camp) had protested and marched over 60km from Naukot to Mithi. Pakistan card has not been issued in Mithi/Tharparkar.
NADRA also launched a mobile SMS service in collaboration with the PTA and all operating telecom companies to determine if a citizen is included in beneficiary list for Pakistan Card. The project was deemed to facilitate the rain-affected people to check the status of their requests. To verify the card, simply one has to send his CNIC number to 9777, in response, a text message will be sent from NADRA confirming if the CNIC is on the beneficiary List.
NADRA also issued 77,833 CNICs by mobilizing Mobile registration Vans (MRVs) to process CNICs free of Charge in all affected areas.
Socio Economic Benefits of Pakistan Card
Conditional cash transfers which are being given through Pakistan Card can’t fulfill certain requirements of the affected. The challenges like shortage of water, shelter and health related issues are rising, the effectiveness of the Pakistan card can be seen in purchase of food items and other winterization items in complete absence of humanitarian organizations.
Economic benefit is either limited, but it can give temporary support to the affected communities. The peoples when asked about the usage of the money they responded that “We would give certain share to the relatives from whom we had taken credit during rapid displacement”, in other place the response varies; the respondents replied “We would purchase food items and other winterization material, because we need both of them”
Situation Overview
To provide relief to the flood-affected people, the Sindh government, NADRA and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) joined hands to start a relief programme in notified calamity-hit areas in Sindh. Pakistan Card an ATM card was expected to be given to each calamity-hit family after necessary validation by PDMA and biometric verification by NADRA in order to ensure transparency in cash disbursement. Pakistan Card will have a cash tab of Rs 20,000 in two equal installments of Rs 10,000 for each affected family.
NADRA has so far processed as per progress report up to 10th of December 1,156,612 Pakistan Cards to the heads of rain-affected families in Sindh. 136,739 cards have been distributed in Mirpurkhas, 278,680 in Badin, 81,351 in Tando Mohammad Khan , 189772 in Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah), 77962 in Tando Allahyar ,347345 in Sanghar and in Umerkot 44763.
The Government of Sindh and Federation of Pakistan announced the releasing of the funds to be given to each beneficiary Rs 20,000 and both parties would withdraw one installment of 10,000 and currently Sindh government has distributed cards 1,156,612 in eight districts mentioned above districts. Yet first installment has been completed till 1o of the December with uncertain situation for next installment
With regard to the eligibility criteria for the beneficiary of Pakistan Card on has to undergo with the nucleolus family number, address of the calamity-hit area announced by the District Government and PDMA, Automated Fingerprint Identification system (AFIS) and Facial recognition system (FRS) where as field reports reveal that modification or attainments of CNIC takes prolonged time with claim of bribery from the local agents of NADRA and Pakistan Cards Facilitation Centre.
Underlying is the data generated in progress report of Pakistan Card project up to 10th of December
Pakistan Card Project - Progress Report (10th December 2011)
S#
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District
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Caseload
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Card Processed by NADRA
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Card Processed by Banks
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Card Activated
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PCs yet not activated
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Open Sites
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Closed Sites
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Total
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1
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Badin
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238,205
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278,680
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244,612
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244,357
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-6,152
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1
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14
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15
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2
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T M Khan
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81,351
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81,351
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81,286
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80,074
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1,277
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1
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8
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9
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3
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Mirpur Khas
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138,618
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136,739
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136,552
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132,141
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6,477
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2
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4
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6
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4
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Shaheed Banazirabad
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217,624
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189772
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189150
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183087
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34,537
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4
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14
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18
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5
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Tando Allahyar
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105,984
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77,962
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71,023
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65,384
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40,600
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7
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0
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7
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6
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Sanghar
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332,871
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347345
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313402
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102607
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230,264
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11
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0
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11
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7
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Umar Kot
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123,272
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44763
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43848
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30612
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92,660
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6
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0
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6
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Total
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1,237,925
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1,156,612
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1,079,873
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838,262
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399,663
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32
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40
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72
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As per Pakistan Card Project - Progress Report (10th December 2011 issued on 10th of December, out of 72 Pakistan Cards Distribution sites 42 are closed and 32 sites are running in eight districts of Badin, TM Khan. Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Umerkot. In above mentioned Districts 1,237,925 caseload was identified whereas 838,262 cards have been activated as per said report with deference of 399,663 yet to be activated and 81,313 are yet to be processed by NADRA.
Methodology of selection of the Area for the facility of Pakistan Card
Demonstration of protest in District Tharparkar (Picture By: PACF)
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1. Computerized CNIC
2. With married status and nuclear family number
3. Address of affected area
4. Automated Fingerprint Identification system (AFIS) and Facial recognition system (FRS).
5. Female beneficiary if declared widow in NADRA record
Women who were not declared widows in NADRA data base were to produce Death Certificate from UC secretary with official fee of one hundreds rupees. The application was produced before the FCM or the man nominated by district revenue department with death certificate of her husband to change her marital status. After submission of application District Revenue department has to send her name in the list of beneficiaries. In this regard multiple reports and public cry have been published in regional and national electronic, print media and humanitarian protection clusters that in this gender sensitive society woman already lack meaningful access to the services being carried on and widows are experiencing denial of privacy and lack of prioritized mechanism for vulnerable in NADRA established Pakistan Cards facilitation Centers. Besides it illegal charge for death certificate has also been reported by public in news paper and our net work Peoples accountably Commission on floods also confirms it on basis of field and Focus group discussion (FGDs)
In District Tando Allahyar Mr. Mansoor Punjabi of fifty years old died out of the rush and suffocation for Pakistan Card which shows lack of the meaningful access of vulnerable to Pakistan Card Service. (Source Kawish 28th Navember). The notifications of the Pakistan Cards distribution schedules were passed at revenue village to UC level but violated due to the political influence and corruption and multiple cases of corruption during distribution of Pakistan Cards were reported on the part of the NADRA officials, police and Local agents. Extraordinary rush was found in Facilitation centers with the cry of undue delay without reason and due to the bribery and nepotism common man could not receive Pakistan Card without losing his dignity. As per report based on filed in District Mirpurkhas agents of NADRA and Private Banks claim bribery of three thousands rupees for attainment of Pakistan Card. Peoples comments in Hide park of Kawish and rally and road block of the Mirpurkhas against the corruption in Taluka Khipro dated on 13th December suggest that peoples are unnecessarily made delayed in getting facility from three to four thousands are being spent by flood affected in heads of transport cost, labor, substance and pocket money of agent to receive Pakistan cards.
As per protection cluster meeting minutes in District Mirpurkhas and Sanghar wrong pin codes have been given to the beneficiaries that show the incompetency of the system.
NDMA has suggested the withdrawal of direct Cash Assistance and there is uncertain situation for next Pakistan Card installment of ten thousands and people are suspicious about second installment in the situation where government has stopped food assistance to five Districts namely Tandfo Allahyar, T.M Khan, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad and Badin.
Issues/Constraints
· The Caseload of the District comprises of those who are available on the NADRA record where as it has come out from research findings that 25% people are lacking CNICs and those who have attained their new or modified CNICs do not avail facility without paying bribery. In this regard every day newspaper report the corruption and inhuman attitude being charged on the flood affected people.
· Reports also reveal that for the fresh, Modification, Renewal and Duplicate CNIC fees for the ordinary process are declined from the NADRA Officials but priority is given to the Fast Track and affected people are being charged the fees of the Fast track which consist of Rs 1000 rupees.
· Beneficiaries are looted by middleman’s at cash withdrawal at ATMs.
· NADRA Centre of District Umarkot has been disseminated as the UC based distribution is allocated the period to execution of cards.
· Due to authorization of a single Banks at Umarkot, a private bank has been facing burden, because of this the critical situation, beneficiaries use to wait for their tern for hours.
· Demonstration of protests has also been seen from the communities of Mithi/Tharparkar.
Suggestions and Recommendations
· Service of MRVs be motivated and registration through MRVs be spread to other far more away communities in Umarkot, and Tharparkar.
· Pakistan Card Registration should be initiated in Mithi/Tharparkar.
· Small temporary settlements should not be neglected while MRVs is available.
· Priority based fast track solution should not be observed, the process should evenly be neutralized.
· Declaration of widows in NADRA data base and producing of death certificate from UC secretary and application procedures to revenue should be maintained at one spot clearance.
· Due to lack of meaningful access to the services being carried on and widows are experiencing denial of privacy, to cope this situation women facilitation centers be established.
· Lack of prioritized mechanism in NADRA established Pakistan Cards facilitation Centers is causing frustration among the communities; the situation has caused the denial to obtain the facility.
· At district Umarkot at NADRA Centre, UCs are allocated the period to execution of cards. While the situation in which immediate cash assistance is needed, this can cause delayed assistance in certain areas.
· Certain time scale should not be given for withdrawal at banks, as reported in Umarkot. There is only one private bank which is providing cash withdrawal facility. This can extend to other banks as well.
