Govt steps up efforts to boost social protection programmes

The Ministry of Local Government and Social Affairs and officials from all districts of Kigali City Monday met to deliberate how best to address the ongoing challenges affecting social protection programmes. The programmes include poverty eradication, welfare and health insurance schemes. Among the challenges affecting the programme are; delays in disbursing welfare allowances unfair categorisation under the Ubudehe stratification and allocation of benefits, and the tendency where people claim to be vulnerable just to benefit from support earmarked for the poor. A recent study to assess the programmes showed that 61.2 per cent of the population is satisfied by service delivery in social protection programmes nationwide. But in Kigali, Nyarugenge District scored 39 per cent, while Gasabo and Kicukiro returned even worse rating. Dr Alvera Mukabaramba, the State Minister for Social Protection Programmes, called on the local leaders to address the challenges and concerns raised. “Some people pretend to be needy but when we conduct physical verification, we find a different story,” the minister said. Mukabaramba further cautioned those who misrepresent their situation and also called on those who record data of the vulnerable to be extra cautious. “A simple mistake in data entry can affect the system and the identity of the person, thus, their category,” she said. Ubudehe stratification is updated every three years but there might be changes, for instance when someone dies, they are removed on the list and when someone is born, they are added. Emmanuel Bayingana, the vice mayor in charge of social affairs in Kicukiro District, said that many people claim not to be happy because they don’t get the benefits that those who are less privileged get. “People should avoid the habit of always wanting to be dependent on the government,” he said. One of the problems raised by citizens is the law requiring them to wait for 30 days to get treatment after the acquisition of health insurance card. Bayingana admits that the law was unfair and promised that ‘we can advocate for change of the law’ though he maintained that there might be other crucial reasons behind it. Officials also discussed developing the historically marginalised people so that they can be on the same footing as others, improving sanitation through construction of latrines, as well as distribution of mosquito nets. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Govt steps up efforts to boost social protection programmes