BISP vs Other South Asian Welfare – Payment Comparisons

South Asia is home to a huge population, and many families in the region live in poverty or very close to it. Rising prices, unemployment, and natural disasters make life even harder.

To support people, governments have started social welfare programs. These are not charity but safety nets that help poor families survive.

Among these, Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is one of the largest. India has the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), while Sri Lanka runs Samurdhi and the new Aswesuma program.

Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) – Pakistan

• Started in 2008 to fight poverty and inflation.

• Gives Rs. 8,500 every three months to poor families, mostly to women as heads of households.

• Covers more than 9 million families.

• Has helped with education, health, and digital banking access.

Problems: Inflation has reduced the value of payments, some poor families are left out, and food security has not improved much.

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) – India

• Launched in 1995 for elderly people, widows, and disabled persons from poor families.

• Gives a small monthly pension of ₹300–₹500, though some states add extra.

• Provides dignity and basic support but payments are very low and often delayed.

Samurdhi and Aswesuma – Sri Lanka

• Samurdhi supports about 1.8 million families with cash help, small business loans, and skill training.

• Aswesuma is a new program that uses digital data to target only the poorest households, aiming for more transparency.

Both programs are helpful but still don’t cover all poor families.

Common Challenges in South Asia

• South Asian countries spend very little on welfare — only about 0.9% of GDP, much lower than the global average.

• Payments are often too small to meet real needs.

• Many poor families are still left out, especially in rural areas.

Payment Comparison