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Solidarity Committee in HoR Approves Budget for Social Affairs


Thu 04 Jun 2020 | 09:35 PM
Ahmed Moamar

 

Al-Kabbaj: This year's state budget preserves the social benefits of the most needy

52% of cash support is directed to people who are unable to work

27% of support was allotted for persons with disabilities, 12.5% ​​for single and porced women, 10.5% for the elderly over 65 and 1.5% for orphans

President Sisi made economic decisions that made Egypt stronger in era of the Corona crisis

Solidarity Minister: The government remains committed to expanding the application of social protection

The number of beneficiaries of cash support programs increased this year to 411 thousand people

Automating "Takaful and Dignity" grievances until we overcome the current crisis

Al-Qasabi hails the Ministry of Solidarity's handling of the Corona crisis

The Social Solidarity and Family Committee (SSFC) of the House of Representatives (HoR), headed by Dr. Abdel-Hadi Al-Qasabi, approved, during its meeting today, a draft budget for the Ministry of Social Solidarity "Social Affairs Sector" in the course of the new fiscal year 2020/2021.

The budget totaled EGP 19 billion and 593 million compared to EGP 19 billion and 371 million this year.

The (SSFC) held its meeting in the presence of the Minister of Solidarity, Dr. Nevin Al-Kabbaj, and Dr. Muhammad Darwish, Advisor to the Minister.

The allocations for the First Chapter (wages and workers compensation) were estimated at EGP 109 million and 844 thousand for the next year, compared to EGP 112 million and 939 thousand in the current year 2020/2019.

But the allocations for the Second Chapter (the purchase of goods and services) amounted to about EGP 36 million and 20 thousand the new year 2020/2021 compared to EGP 28 million and 20 thousand this year.

The allocations for Chapter Four (support, grants and social benefits) reached about EGP 18 billion and 951 million and 977 thousand in the new year 2020/2021 compared to EGP 18 billion and 986 million and 828 thousand pounds this year.

The allocations for Chapter Six, allocated for the purchase of non-financial assets (investments), is decreased in the budget of the new year 2020/2021 from the current year.

Allocations of the new year were estimated at EGP 57 million and 500 thousand compared to EGP 83 million and 500 million.

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevin Al-Kabbaj said that the state budget for this year preserves the social benefits of the citizens most in need and the most caring.

She stressed that the government remains committed to expanding the application of social protection.

The number of beneficiaries of cash support programs increased this year to about 411 thousand beneficiaries, bringing the total beneficiaries to 3.6 million families, comprising more than 15 million citizens.

She pointed out that 52% of the cash support goes to groups who are unable to work.

27% of the support is directed to persons with disabilities, 12.5% ​​for bread-winner porced, 10.5% for the elderly who are over 65 years old, and 1.5% for orphans.

She added that the rest of the 48% of the cash support is directed to non-performing or unemployed groups and the ministry is trying Converting them from support to production.

Al-Kabbaj pointed out that conditional cash support for "Takaful and Dignity" program, is a completely national program and funded from the budget of the Egyptian state since 2015 until now.

She went on to say that the support was multiplied several times, reaching from EGP 6 billion in 2015 to become EGP more than 18 billion in 2019, bringing the total of what was disbursed for that program EGP 44 billion since its inception.

The Minister affirmed that 67% of the total cash support is directed to Upper Egypt governorates.

She revealed that the ministry has become registered with its 8.1 million families database, which includes more than 31 million citizens.

Al-Kabbaj also said that the economic reform process that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi started since he took office has made Egypt a lot stronger during the current time, especially in the era of the pandemic of the novel Coronavirus "Covid-19."

America has demobilized about 38 million citizens to handle the crisis of the Coronavirus.

The mister affirmed Egypt clings to economic stability, perhaps we are not optimal, but we are trying hard.

From this standpoint, the Minister of Solidarity added, that from this standpoint, the ministry seeks not to rely on the states budget during the coming years, as the ministries have to find new sources of income, especially since the government has made every effort, but has taken into account the cash support to maintain the low-income, which has tripled since three 2016.

About EGP 6 billion was allocated to become EGP18.5 billion this year, 2019/2020.

Nevin Al-Kabbaj stressed that the government has spared no effort to support social protection programs, but we know what Egypt is going through this year, and we have to search ministries for other sources.

She indicated that keenness during the current year to harmonize between cash support, social protection programs, insurance and pensions, while giving great importance to the file of irregular employment, not only with its support but also for its organization, especially since the available figures do not reflect the reality.

And there were interviews with workers of fishermen, contractors, laboratories, and dust collectors.

The minister pointed out that the budget allocations during the new fiscal year 2020/2021 may be a little less in some items.

But the situation is reassuring and all the differences are calculated and agreed upon, for what matters most to us is the allocations of Chapter Four, especially, and its direct connection with citizens to provide services to poor and first-caring families.

She stressed that social protection may be the responsibility of all ministries, but there is a direct responsibility of the Ministry of Solidarity, and with the ongoing process of economic reform paralleled by a package of social services in a way that ensures an equitable distribution of resources, economic growth and transit from economic obstacles.

Al-Kabbaj revealed that the budget of the Ministry of Solidarity is not limited only to the general budget presented, but there are parallel budgets, including, for example, those related to irregular employment.

She noted that civil society has played a big role, but it is also important to collect these efforts that reach billions and stand on the pooled money or what has been spent.

As it is necessary to control the aspects of spending public money.

Al-Kabbaj confirmed that the application for an integrated services card had been automated after receiving applications failed in the qualification site due to stopping dealing with the public.

She pledged that work will return by registering on the website soon.

While Dr. Abdel-Hadi Al-Qasabi hailed the handling of the Ministry of Social Solidarity with the Corona crisis and its mobilization of all capabilities and affiliated institutions to confront the crisis in light of the harmonious roles between government ministries and in accordance with the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in which he raised the value of the safety of the Egyptian citizen whatever the cost.