Egypt's Sisi approves EU-funded Green Facility grant agreement    EGP closes stable vs USD on Thursday July 17th    Egypt expresses condolences to Iraq over fire tragedy    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    At London 'Egypt Day', Finance Minister outlines pro-investment policies    Egypt's FRA chief vows to reform business environment to boost investor confidence    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    EU–US trade talks enter 'decisive phase', German politician says    Sri Lanka's expat remittances up in June '25    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt's EHA, Schneider Electric sign MoU on sustainable infrastructure    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Government studying means to increase citizens' cash allowance for rations: Supply minister
Published in Daily News Egypt on 25 - 08 - 2014

The government is considering an increase in citizens' cash allowance for rations, which currently stands at about EGP 15 per month, in expectation of a rise in product prices due to inflation, according to Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Khaled Hanafy.
He added that this measure would be taken to ensure that the value of the cash allowance can match the expected rise in the price of basic commodities such as oil, sugar and rice.
In a statement to Daily News Egypt, Hanafy said his ministry has finished developing a proposal that will compensate citizens for the critical rise in inflation rates. The cabinet will develop the proposal soon, but he added that "the priority now is to provide a diversity of more than 20 food items and non-food items under various classifications to the [ration] cards, which will benefit nearly 70 million citizens."
Hanafy did not specify how much the monetary value of the ration card would increase from its current amount of approximately EGP 15, stating: "We are waiting to see the results of the inflation... but the most important thing is that the citizen's in-kind share for goods does not decrease from his rations."
"We are working to increase the list of goods on the ration cards, to provide 30 instead of 20 within a few months," said Hanafy. "The development of supply stores and offices to number over 25,000 nationwide outlets will provide 75,000 jobs."
According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), inflation rose to 10.6% last July, compared to 8.2% last June. This was influenced by the government's decision to raise fuel prices by 78%, "which reflected on all walks of life". The government slashed these subsidies in order to control the budget deficit and its internal and external debts.
According to the new rationing system, each citizen receives EGP 15 of rations or subsidies on basic commodities on his ration card (and EGP 7 extra during the month of Ramadan). Rations are determined by inflation rates and are adjusted based on fluctuation in prices, so as to ensure that the citizen is able to afford buying staple goods each month.
The new system has been influenced by last July's events, which saw a governmental shift from in-kind to cash support, sparking fears among citizens that their ration of approximately EGP 15 would not be enough to cover their basic needs. Adel Abdul Rahman, a government employee working at a water facility, said: "In two years with EGP 15 in rations I'll only be able to buy a kilo of sugar," and urged that the government make sure there are enough quantities of sugar, oil and rice for every citizen and then give citizens a cash allowance to buy meat or poultry.
According to the old rations system, each citizen was able to obtain approximately 2 kilograms of sugar, 2 kilograms of rice, 1.5 kilograms of oil and a share of tea. According to government subsidised prices, citizens were able to buy a 1 kilogram of sugar for EGP 1.5, 1 kilogram of rice for EGP 1.25, and a bottle of oil for EGP 3.
But the new rationing system gave each citizen approximately EGP 15 of rations while the government also freed commodity prices, wherein the citizen would buy 1 kilogram of sugar for EGP 4, 1 kilogram of rice for EGP 4.9, and a bottle oil for EGP 7.
According to the Ministry of Supply website, the new list of goods includes "meat, poultry, vegetables, flour, and industrial products like detergent from both the public and private sectors".
According to Hanafy, his ministry is working on the establishment of an SMS service for citizens in order for them to submit inquiries and receive responses regarding the status of their shares and rations for goods each month, including what food commodities may or may not be replaced in the coming months.
He added that the new rations and supply system provides EGP 7bn a year, out of a total of EGP 13bn, in subsidies for supply commodities. He said that the smart cards and smart card machines that are being used at certain supply outlets are connected to computers in the ministry, which prevents any manipulation of the rations.
Commenting on the apparent imbalances following the administration of the new rations system, Hanafy said: "In terms of the product shortages, we have told factories to work at full capacity in order to fulfill all the required quotas. I expect that citizens' shares for groceries will be organised through the end of September."


Clic here to read the story from its source.