CAIRO: In an effort to further broaden the social security network, the Ministry of Social Solidarity will begin issuing individual ration cards for citizens who move out of their family's home. The new system aims for the social security network to cover everyone in need, and especially the unemployed, said Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Moselhi on the primetime television show “Masr Elnaharda” (Egypt Today) on terrestrial TV. Citizens may apply for their own ration card starting next week by submitting an electricity bill, a marriage certificate, or a contract that proves they live away from their family. The government issues ration cards to families with a monthly income less than LE 1,000 and those with a monthly pension that is less than LE 750. The Ministry of Social Solidarity's ration cards have reached 12 million families, through which people can get basic commodities at subsidized prices, such as rice for LE 1.5 per kilogram, and oil for LE 3 per bottle. Moselhi also stated that macaroni will not replace rice in terms of ration card eligibility. However, Moselhi added that macaroni will remain an available alternative in case there is ever a rice shortage. According to the social solidarity minister, if they cannot continue to supply the monthly quantity of 80,000 tons of rice and must offer macaroni instead, the subsidized price of LE 1.5 per kilogram will not be increased. Moselhi added that the government will continue issuing ration cards indefinitely. The Ministry of Social Solidarity has been steadily working on developing its ration cards. Last summer it executed a project, in cooperation with the Ministry of State for Administrative Development, in which it distributed new electronic ration cards to a small sample to test the feasibility of distributing the electronic cards on a broader scale in the future. Furthermore, the social solidarity ministry is also working with the Ministry of Petroleum to subsidize the costs of gas cylinders via ration cards. On a related note, Moselhi stated that there will be no shortage on gas cylinders this year, as the ministry increased its cylinder production by 25 percent. The gas container is offered at LE 4, but reaches LE 6¬¬–7 if it is delivered to one's home.
