Africa-Press – Mauritius. Various important measures to further strengthen the provision of welfare to the most vulnerable were announced this evening by the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy, during the presentation of the Budget 2023-24.
The elderly The Finance Minister reiterated Government’s recognition and respect for the elderly, which is being testified through its decision of increasing the basic retirement pension by Rs 1,000 to reach Rs 11,000, as from the 1st of July 2023.
The Budget, he added, also caters for an increase of Rs 1,000 in the Basic Widow’s Pension, the Basic Invalidity Pension and the Basic Orphan’s Pension.
As for the CSG Disability Allowance of Rs 2,500 to cater for cases where the level of disability is between 40 to 59 percent, the Budget has reviewed the assessed disability of individuals suffering from amputation, so that henceforth an individual who has been amputated or lost his or her arm, leg or hand shall benefit from the Basic Invalidity Pension of Rs 11,000.
Child Welfare The Budget provides for a CSG Child Allowance of Rs 2,000 monthly for some 48,000 children aged up to 3 years, which together with the free pre-primary education, will support parents in their day-to-day-life.
Additionally, an increase in the monthly allowance granted under the Foster Care Scheme in respect of a child from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000, along with the introduction of an enhanced allowance of Rs 15,000 for a child with special needs, have been catered for.
The Finance Minister also announced that he is increasing the monthly child allowance paid to beneficiaries of Basic Widow’s Pension, Basic Invalidity Pension and Survivor’s Pension to Rs 2,000, and will allow the extension of the child allowance to all Basic Retirement Pension beneficiaries.
Concerning the income threshold criteria for eligibility under the Multiple Birth Social aid scheme, Dr Renganaden Padayachy stated that the Budget provides for an increase in the household income ceiling to qualify for Multiple Birth Allowance of Rs 3,272 per month for a child, from Rs 150,000 per annum to Rs 390,000 per annum.
Hence, a household earning up to Rs 30,000 monthly will benefit from the scheme. Youth to Adulthood Another key benefit targeting the young population announced this evening, is the introduction of the Independence Scheme, catered for to mark the 55th year of Independence of the country. As from the 1st of January 2023, each and every one reaching 18 years will be provided with a grant of Rs 20,000.
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