BISP adopts computer-assisted personal interviews

Islamabad: In order to make the new poverty survey fool proof and to overcome the inclusion and exclusion errors, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has adopted Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) instead of Paper Assisted Personal Interviews (PAPI).

In addition, Poverty Scorecard has been revised and two approaches of resurvey i.e. Desk Approach and Door to Door Approach have been adopted so that no deserving family is missed out.

The information was shared by the Minister of State and BISP Chairperson MNA Marvi Memon while she was paying a surprise visit to Haripur for spot checks where registration desks for BISP’s new poverty survey have been set up. The purpose of the visit was to ensure the smooth registration process of the families in the resurvey through on spot inspection and feedback from people and the officials.

She added that for verification of the authenticity of the survey done by the Targeting Firms, Operation Review Firms are being procured through a competitive and transparent process.

The pilot phase of BISP’s new poverty survey started from Haripur in June 2016 where Desk Approach (Self-Registration) has been adopted. BISP has set up 52 operational counters at 31 operational sites in collaboration with NADRA. Till date, 25 per cent of the expected registration has been completed and by October 2016, registration process will be completed in Hripur.

BISP chairperson visited the registration desks in the union councils of South Haripur, Sarai Saleh, Alikhan, Sikandarpur, Khalabat Township and Tarbela. She inspected the sites and interacted with people, coming for registration, for their feedback. She instructed the concerned officials to facilitate the people in registration process. She also informed people to contact BISP in case of any complaint at BIP Hotline no. 0800-26477.

BISP chairperson also visited press club in Haripur where she talked to reporters about the new poverty survey of BISP. She informed that the pilot phase of resurvey includes 16 districts across the country. Desk Approach will be employed in 4 districts while in 12 districts, Door to Door Approach will be utilized. Desk approach survey will start in Bahawalpur on August 31, 2016 and in Naseerabad and Sukkar, it will be initiated in the first week of September, 2016.

BISP chairperson also said that 12 districts of Door to Door survey in pilot phase include Jacobabad, Thatha, Mohmand Agency, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Layyah, Chakwal, Faisalabad, Kech, Qila Saifullah, Lakki Marwat and Charsadda. Door to Door survey in these 12 districts will start in mid October and it will be completed by the end of February 2017. National roll out of resurvey will be followed by the pilot phase.