The PPI survey of the members revealed that they not only need financial assistance but also require products for consumption purpose in their households. Keeping this point in consideration a Need Assessment survey was conducted in Lahore and Kasur areas. Besides this another survey was conducted in Swat to determine their household income and expense analysis. As a result of these studies we came to the following conclusions:
- 62% of the total household income is spent on food items.
- There is no concept of purchasing monthly grocery in these households; they are more in the habit of day to day purchases.
- They buy things at market rate but even then the quality of the product does not match the price that they pay for.
- The income is not fixed/stable whereas the household expenses are there and as a result they have to pull out money from their businesses in order to meet their daily expenses.
- Daily wagers often borrow money to meet their expenses thus resulting in debts, leading them further into financial crisis.
- In case if the breadwinner of the family dies the family is left with no other option but to ask for loans or beg.
- In most of families having no stable income, they take the loan from MFIs and instead of fully investing in the business they use the money for emergency or some other domestic purpose. As a result they fall deeper into the poverty quagmire.
DEFINITION OF THE FOOD SECURITY
The term food security reflects the desire to eliminate hunger and malnutrition.
The World Food Summit in 1996 defined food security as, “when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet the dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”.
Almost 49% of Pakistan's population does not have access to healthy food.
OBJECTIVES OF THE FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM
- Provide consistent access of quality food to community for active and healthy life.
- Elimination of hunger and malnutrition of vulnerable poor especially women and children.
- In order to achieve these objectives, Asasah has launched interest free loans for the food security program so that
- All members get the monthly grocery on the first of each month, all year round.
- Provision of quality products at economical rates.
- Asasah provides this food package every month without any additional cost and the members pay back at the time of their convenience.
The Need Assessment report highlighted that in case the breadwinner of the family dies, the family is left with no other option but to beg for money in order to meet their food needs. Asasah, in collaboration with an Insurance company, designed a product specially suited to the needs of the members.
Objectives of the Insurance Product
- In case of family head's death or disability, Asasah shall provide food security for a period of 6 – 18 months
- The money received from the Insurance company shall be reinvested in the family business to keep it up and running
- Under the circumstances that the sole breadwinner of the family dies, the family will get a waiver and will not pay the remaining installments of the food security plan and Rs 5000 shall be paid for the final rights/burial of the deceased.
- In case if either of the spouses dies, Asasah shall provide, free food package worth Rs 2500 monthly, for a period of 6 months.
- However, if the person who dies was the sole breadwinner of the family, then the same food package will be provided for another 12 months, as a grant, at the cost of Rs 2500/month, thus resulting in 18 months of food security.
- Asasah shall pay Rs 50,000 in case of natural death and Rs 100,000 in case of accidental death of the member.
No comments:
Post a Comment