Amendment proposed to increase special needs allowance to MVR 5000

An amendment bill has been proposed to the Act on Protecting the Rights of People with Special Needs and Providing Financial Assistance, to increase the social protection allowance to persons with special needs to MVR 5000.

The amendment to Article 26 (a) of the act was tabled by Fares-Maathoda MP Ibrahim Mutholib. Parliament held the first reading of the bill today.

Proposing the amendment, MP Mutholib said that the bill seeks to increase the allowance enable persons with disabilities to get treatment from abroad. The act currently grants a social protection allowance of MVR 2000 to persons with special needs.

The government last month began distribution of a monthly social protection allowance of MVR 5000 to persons above the age of 65, a pledge made by ruling party Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) during the presidential campaign.