The Ministry of Gender, Children Disability and Social Welfare has disclosed that it will complete rolling out the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) programme in the remaining 10 districts by 2017.
Minister of Gender, Children Disability and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati, said although this is the case, plans are underway to upgrade the payment system from manual to electronic system in all the districts.
Kaliati said government has obtained a grant from the European Union (EU) to cover the remaining 10 districts out of the 28.
Although she did not disclose the amount of the grant, Kaliati said the EU has also bought 18 cars to be used in identifying the intended beneficiaries throughout the country.
“These cars are also going to help us in identifying the vulnerable children, disabled people and also the elderly. The cars will also help us to monitor the way we are paying money in other districts and also improve some of the districts that we need to be on the electronic payments,” she said.
With Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (Gewe) Programme now being implemented in 13 districts, Kaliati said the enrolment rate in primary and Secondary schools has improved by 40 percent.
“That is why our schools are overcrowed, because through the cash transfer programme, people are able to pay the school fees, they are able to buy the amenities and the food we are talking about,” said Kaliati.
She believes that if the Gewe programme is rolled out through out the country, as time goes women will be empowered and will be able to make informed decisions.
In the 2015/16 fiscal year government has planned to disburse K10, 140,984,864 covering 304,534 household in 18 districts.
Each household receives between K600 to K1,000 per month and per head depending on how poor the family is.
Government with support from United Nations Children Fund began the SCT programme as a pilot project in 2006.
The programme is meant to tackle poverty. To qualify, families must be labour-constrained and meet the criteria for being at the extreme poverty line, such as an inability to have more than one meal each day or purchase essential non-food items like soap, clothing and school supplies.
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