Cash Aid Boost for Poor and Vulnerable
Prime Minister Hun Manet on Dec. 5 established guidelines on the national family assistance program and on the social security fund program responding to crises, targeting families in four categories. Photo: STPM
- By Meng Seavmey
- December 6, 2023 9:50 AM
PHNOM PENH – Vulnerable people and people living with AIDS from poor families will receive protection from the new national family assistance programs.
Prime Minister Hun Manet on Dec. 5 established guidelines on the national family assistance program and on the social security fund program responding to crises, targeting families in four categories.
These include a cash transfer program for pregnant women and children under two, a scholarship program for poor students at primary and upper-secondary education levels, a cash transfer program for people with disabilities, and a cash transfer program for people aged 60 and older.
The program aims to support the livelihood of poor and vulnerable households after the Cash Transfer Program for Poor and Vulnerable Households During COVID-19 ends.
The national family assistance program will be effective from April next year, he said.
In addition to the four programs, there will be a base cash assistance for families with ID-poor cards or with a family member living with AIDS.
“The provision aims to meet the needs of individuals’ livelihoods and to provide solutions to their problems on risks or vulnerability,” Hun Manet said.
People living with AIDS in poor households will receive 28,000 riel ($7) per month.
The Prime Minister ordered the Ministry of Economy and Finance to continue leading the social security fund, and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and other relevant ministries to work with sub-national administrations to contribute to the policy in accordance with their authorization.
The Ministry of Interior must urge capital-provincial administrations to earn the trust of citizens by serving them accordingly.
The National Committee for Disaster Management must work with the National Social Security Fund to accelerate the assistance provision when necessary.
About 700,000 families have ID-Poor cards, accounting for more than 2.8 million people. The assistance is expected to amount to 674.5 billion riel, or $165 million, in 2024.
