First couple’s cash handouts to single parents spark concern
Cash handouts to single mothers from President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim has sparked concerns of corruption and a return to the patronage systems of old.
08 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM
Cash handouts to single mothers from President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim has sparked concerns of corruption and a return to the patronage systems of old.
Single mothers who have children under the age of 18 are eligible to collect MVR1000 (US$65) per child. Since Thursday, the first couple have now disbursed MVR790,000 (US$51,232) for some 790 children.
There are some 3000 single parents registered with the state. They receive MVR1000 per child under 18 years of age, up to a maximum of MVR3,000 (US$195) per family. More than 5,000 children benefit from the allowance, which means the first couple will distribute more than MVR5million (US$324,254) to single parents.
According to Fathimath Zaina, an aide at the First Lady’s Office, the charity handouts is aimed at “helping single mothers with the costs of the upcoming academic year.”
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