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• Eligibility Criteria
• Stipend Amount and Disbursement
• Geographical Coverage & Budget
• Administration and Implementation
• How the Application Works

The Girls Stipend Program (Settled) as implemented by the Elementary & Secondary Education Department. This program—often recognized under its revamped name, the Zaver-e-Taleem Programme—aims to promote gender equality in education by enhancing the enrollment and retention of girl students in public schools across selected districts. The information below is compiled from available details on the official program page and related government sources .

Program Overview

• Objective:
  The primary goal is to remove financial barriers that discourage families from sending their daughters to school. By providing a reliable monthly stipend, the program encourages sustained attendance and successful progression from one grade to the next, thereby boosting overall literacy and educational attainment among girls.
• History & Evolution:
  The initiative was launched in 2003 in 16 low-literacy districts of Punjab. In 2017, the scheme was revamped and rebranded as the Zaver-e-Taleem Programme, introducing updated stipend amounts and improved disbursement mechanisms to enhance transparency and efficiency.

Key Details of the Programme

Eligibility Criteria

• Target Group:
  The benefit is available to all female students enrolled in government schools from Grades 6 to 10.
• Attendance Requirement:
  To qualify for the stipend in each quarter, a student must maintain a minimum attendance of 80%. Additionally, she must be promoted to the next grade—those repeating a grade are not eligible for the stipend during the repeating year, though eligibility resumes upon eventual progression.

Stipend Amount and Disbursement

• Monthly/Quarterly Payment:
  Eligible candidates receive Rs. 1,000 per month or Rs. 3,000 per quarter.
• Mode of Payment:
  Initially, payments were made through Pakistan Postal Services at a lower rate (Rs. 200 per month). In its current form, the stipend is disbursed after biometric verification at designated cash-out points. Earlier, disbursement channels included Khidmat Cards and ATMs; however, these have mostly been replaced or augmented by biometric systems to ensure that funds reliably reach the intended beneficiaries.

Geographical Coverage & Budget

• District Coverage:
  The scheme is currently operational in 16 low-literacy districts of Punjab, including:
  Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Chiniot, D.G. Khan, Jhang, Kasur, Khanewal, Layyah, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Okara, Pakpattan, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Vehari.
• Beneficiaries and Investment:
  Approximately 550,000 girl students benefit from the program, with the annual budget estimated to range between Rs. 5.5 to 6 billion. This investment underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring sustainable female education across the region.

Administration and Implementation

• Implementing Agencies:
  The program is implemented by the School Education Department in collaboration with the Punjab Monitoring and Implementation Unit for the Public Education Sector Reforms Program (PMIU-PESRP). The Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) plays a crucial role in the registration process and actual disbursement of stipends.
• Data Management:
  Enrollment and attendance data is meticulously collected by individual schools and then shared with the respective department for data cleansing, verification, and eligibility determination. Biometric verification is used at cash-out points to confirm the identity of beneficiaries before the stipend is disbursed.
• Complaint Redressal Mechanism:
  To ensure transparency and accountability, Complaint Redressal Cells (CRCs) have been established at the District Monitoring Offices (DMOs). Should any beneficiary or their guardian face issues with payment disbursement or data discrepancies, a formal complaint process is available. This typically involves filing a complaint form (with requisite supporting documents), verification by the school’s head teacher, and subsequent resolution by the DMO—ensuring that errors are rectified promptly.

How the Application Works

• Automatic Enrollment:
  There is no separate application process in the traditional sense. Enrollment in the program occurs automatically through the school system. Once a girl is officially registered in a public school and her details are updated in the system, she is automatically considered for the stipend—provided she meets the attendance and progression criteria.
• Maintaining Eligibility:
  It is essential for beneficiaries (and their families) to ensure that the school records, including attendance data and personal details (such as CNIC and biometric data), are accurate and up-to-date. Any discrepancies or updates needed can typically be addressed by the school’s administrative staff.

This comprehensive framework not only provides financial support but also actively encourages consistent school attendance, thereby contributing to improved academic achievement and gender parity in education.