$32M allocated to Social Welfare Ministry

A total of $32 million has been allocated to Social Welfare Ministry for their Social Protection Programs.

13,000 households will receive a maximum assistance of $150 per month including $30 worth of food voucher from next year.

The coverage of the population living in poverty will increase from 3 percent to 10 percent going into next year for which a budget of $22.7 miilion has been set.

A new initiative which will start from next year will see the elderly over 70 years of age having no source of income receiving a $30 pension from government for which $3.2 million has been allocated.

Also $500,000 has been allocated to the ministry for the welfare graduation scheme to focus on making welfare assistance recipients to become independent.

Story by: Vijay Narayan