RADIO SEGMENT/TRANSCRIPT: Pakistan Fights Radicalisation by Improving Women's Welfare
Pakistan has earmarked 750-million dollars to create jobs and alleviate poverty in its troubled border regions with Afghanistan where it's estimated that 70 percent of men are illiterate and unemployment runs at over 50 percent.
Now the government's Benazir Income Support Programme aims to provide women with funds for food, healthcare and training in the tribal regions. In a national first, the cash welfare payments can only be accessed by the female head of a household, despite women's marginal position in tribal society.
Reporter: Alma Mistry
Speakers: Dr Samina Ahmed, Project Director South Asia, International Crisis Group; Farzana Raja, MP, Pakistan People's Party, Chairperson, Benazir Income Support Programme
MISTRY: Pakistan's tribal belt is made up of seven administrative areas, also known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas or FATA. Since September 11 and the United States led "war on terror" there's been increased focus on the tribal regions, which are thought to be a prime training ground for Islamic militants who cross the porous border into Afghanistan. Dr Samina Ahmed from the International Crisis Group in Islamabad, says international donors have poured millions into FATA areas --with little results.
AHMED: There's a huge amount of money that's been thrown at FATA - 100s of millions of dollars. With no oversight, through imperfect mechanisms, that hasn't lead to any development in FATA. 100's of millions of dollars. And this is a tiny little program with a little amount of money and it's likely going to have far more, with a word of caution, used properly, likely to to have far more of an impact.
MISTRY: With funding from the United States, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank the Pakistani government is putting aside 750 million US dollars, to provide women with small allowances for food, health and training. While the program is national, a focus is now on women in tribal regions. Dr Ahmed says its the first time women have been prioritised by the State.
AHMED: This is the first time that there's been the creation of a social net for women and in particular, women that live below the povety line. This empowers them. It also helps them not only economically, it helps them create for themselves an internal position within their community that they never had before, a position of self empowered, entepreneurial.
MISTRY: The program sees women receive a monthly payment of 1000 rupees, or 12 US dollars. Skills training and other income support will be offered. Dr Ahmed says the cash allows women to direct economic choices.
AHMED: Most women don't have a standing at all in the society. They have a position more or lesss of that of unpaid serf because they dont have economic power. And let me also say this, why is it important that this program gives cash? Because there's nothing that empowers you as much as the ability to decide what to do with money. So let's assume donors had gone in and said 'ok we'll empower women, teaching them say a craft?' Is that the same thing as having the money in your hand and saying this is what I want to do with it?.
MISTRY: The scheme is being run by the Benazir Income Support Programme, a welfare body, set up after the asassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. It's Chairwoman, member of parliament Farzana Raja, says the female-only requirement initially met with opposition from male authorities in the tribal regions.
RAJA: But we were really committed to this cause of women's empowerment. But when we are talking about women's empowerment But when we are talking abut womens empowerment in Karachi in Peshawar in Lahore so why not in FATA? So because if we want to change the system, so we have to bring everyone on board, so we refused and we tried to convinced all of them and they were agreed to provide female names and ID cards. Now we have through the first phase we have 45 thousand with BISP getting the support.
MISTRY: Violence against women in FATA areas is high, but Raja says the program will increase respect for women, because they will be economic providers who help alleviate poverty.
RAJA: If they know that we are getting support of life insurance, health insurance, technical training, cash grants and so many things. And micro-financing loans, and if they're getting this package through this female and if they disallow, disrespect or if they mishandle this female. So if she leaves everything goes with her.
MISTRY: It's also hoped the increased support and skills training will stop people from becoming radicalised.
RAJA: We have to take care of poverty and the youth through the vocational technical training. Instead of giving guns into their hands we have to give skills so they can do their own work with respect and dignity and take care of their families. Rather than leaving them into the hands of those radical forces.
MISTRY: But Dr Samina Ahmed from the International Crisis Group says the program's first outcome should be the welfare of women.
AHMED: Is militarisation, radicalisation the result of poverty? In some instances it is. But I think we're talking about a much bigger issue here , which is a status of women in Pakistan. Empowering them empowers them the family, raises the possibility that these women can be strong members of that society and then perhaps they can influence the way their children behave. But that's an additional benefit.