The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has said the number of registered poor in the capital Male’ has quadrupled to 9000.
These include the wards of Hulhumale and Villingili, explained the Ministry’s Assistant Director Ahmedullah Jameel.
Haveeru reported that while Jameel was unsure of the reasons for the increase, the criteria for poverty had been amended and made “more lenient” this year.
Prior to the introduction of criteria for alms distribution there were 78,000 registered poor in 2008, Jameel said.
The Ministry will distribute over Rf2 million in alms on Wednesday.