The Benazir Taleemi Wazifa (BTW) programme by BISP aims to drive school enrollment and attendance among underprivileged children through monetary assistance. But how much economic value does it create for recipients beyond mere stipends?
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This article quantifies the holistic financial gains unlocked by availing BTW, spanning direct payouts and indirect savings. Analyzing how it alleviates education expenses burden for struggling groups offers a lens towards the transformational upside.
Benazir Taleemi Wazifa Cash Transfer Potential
At the outset, assessing the sheer stimulus injected by BTW aids gauging the economic advantage conferred. As per latest 2022-23 fiscal year budget allocation, the programme carries:
- Cash Rewards Budget: PKR 30 billion
- Beneficiary Children: 7.6 million
Considering disbursement of the full provisioned amount across the targeted student base, the monetary advantage per child averages annually to:
PKR 30,000
While seemingly small, for income deprived groups battling poverty, external assistance to this extent significantly eases financial stress helping retain children in schools.
Alleviating Education Expenses Burden
Families from marginalized sections often face tough trade-offs between earning sustenance wages or bearing schooling costs for kids. By delivering money directly into accounts of deserving women beneficiaries, education gets prioritized.
According to PPAF surveys, average annual household spending on each child goes up to PKR 18,000 – spanning uniforms, books, bags, fees etc.
This translates to over 60% savings in education expenses annually for every child under BTW assistance. For girl students entitled higher stipend rates, buffers extend further.
Thereby, guaranteed cash transfers effectively offset majority of the financing burden which the impoverished struggle with.
Savings on Ancillary Spending
Apart from academic expenses reduced through external stipends, BTW registered groups also save significant ancillary costs owing to:
1. Travel Expenses
Schoolgoing children receive free pick and drop facility from home to institute through dedicated vehicles.
2. Daycare Needs
Little siblings and toddlers can also avail free rides simultaneously removing childcare costs.
3. Health Insurance
Injuries or medical crises related to schoolgirls get covered under the group health insurance schemes.
Collective Family Welfare Protection
Furthermore, program assistance safeguards entire households from income shocks or debts taken considering education needs through:
1. Secured Life Insurance
Guardians of enrolled kids attain free life coverage thereby avoiding child discontinuity threats due to demise of earning members.
2. Emergency Fund Eligibility
Necessities like books, copies or bags get covered through one-time grants if families undergo situations like accidents, job losses etc.
Thereby, the different components structurally elevate social security for recipients broadly by cushioning against vulnerabilities.
Quantifying the Net Value Addition
Based on indicative estimates, the annual advantage created for supported groups across key dimensions totals out to:
| Benefit Type | PKR Saved Per Child |
|---|---|
| Quarterly Cash Transfers | 18,000 |
| Savings on Academics Spend | 10,000 |
| Zero Travel Needs | 3,600 |
| Healthcare Buffer | 1,500 |
| Total | 33,100 |
Thus, the accompanying benefits enhancing affordability, risk protection and continuity adjacently amplifies education access outcomes enabled via core financial transfers.
Conclusion
While ensuring present affordability, the safety net created structurally equips vulnerable communities to focus on securing their next generation’s future. Quantifying savings facilitated beyond stipends spotlights the holistic financial contribution effected towards poverty alleviation through sustained access.
Nauman is an education policy analyst associated with BISP as senior program consultant for the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif conditional cash transfer initiative. He heads portfolio management for the program including planning, budgeting and performance monitoring. Nauman has over 10 years experience in the social impact space. He completed his MPhil in Economics from Government College University Lahore, focusing his research on financial inclusion for literacy and skills development.