Steep increase in OVC grants
President Hage Geingob believes the administration of targeted social grants continues to uplift livelihoods.
Over the past two financial years the number of grants for orphans and vulnerable children rose by nearly 60 000 to a total of nearly 345 000.
In his State of the Nation Address earlier this month President Hage Geingob noted that during the 2016/2017 financial year, 285 431 orphaned or vulnerable children received the monthly N$250 grant.
In the 2017/2018 financial year that number grew by 58 624 to a total of 344 055.
In September 2016, Namibian Sun was informed by the gender equality and child welfare ministry that the ministry had identified 125 000 vulnerable children in dire need, and as of the end of September 2016, 75 549 vulnerable children were to receive the child grant.
Recipients of the N$250 disability grant increased from 35 217 to 39 245 between the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 financial years, Geingob said in his speech.
“The administration of targeted social grants continues to uplift livelihoods,” he said.
Another social grant the president highlighted was the old-age pension.
He noted that an additional 6 061 pensioners were now receiving the N$1 200 monthly benefit, up from 159 315 registered pensioners to 165 376 this year.
This represents 99% coverage, the president emphasised.
“This monthly grant towards our senior citizens is transformational because it raises household income and benefits more people beyond the direct beneficiary,” he said
The school feeding programme, headed by the education ministry, was a key poverty eradication strategy, Geingob added.
During 2017/18 the government was able to provide food for 365 854 learners at 1 456 schools.
This signified an increase of 1 000 learners receiving one daily meal under the programme.
Geingob further announced that the school feeding programme would be linked to smallholding farmers in order to diversify the food basket while stimulating local economies.
JANA-MARI SMITH
In his State of the Nation Address earlier this month President Hage Geingob noted that during the 2016/2017 financial year, 285 431 orphaned or vulnerable children received the monthly N$250 grant.
In the 2017/2018 financial year that number grew by 58 624 to a total of 344 055.
In September 2016, Namibian Sun was informed by the gender equality and child welfare ministry that the ministry had identified 125 000 vulnerable children in dire need, and as of the end of September 2016, 75 549 vulnerable children were to receive the child grant.
Recipients of the N$250 disability grant increased from 35 217 to 39 245 between the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 financial years, Geingob said in his speech.
“The administration of targeted social grants continues to uplift livelihoods,” he said.
Another social grant the president highlighted was the old-age pension.
He noted that an additional 6 061 pensioners were now receiving the N$1 200 monthly benefit, up from 159 315 registered pensioners to 165 376 this year.
This represents 99% coverage, the president emphasised.
“This monthly grant towards our senior citizens is transformational because it raises household income and benefits more people beyond the direct beneficiary,” he said
The school feeding programme, headed by the education ministry, was a key poverty eradication strategy, Geingob added.
During 2017/18 the government was able to provide food for 365 854 learners at 1 456 schools.
This signified an increase of 1 000 learners receiving one daily meal under the programme.
Geingob further announced that the school feeding programme would be linked to smallholding farmers in order to diversify the food basket while stimulating local economies.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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