3rd child of newly enrolled Egyptian families to be denied subsidies

BY

-

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 - 11:54 GMT

BY

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 - 11:54 GMT

Wikimedia Commons

Wikimedia Commons

CAIRO – 22 December 2020: Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabaj stated in a phone-in that the third child of new families who will enroll on the in-kind subsidies and monetary subsidies programs will be denied the benefits offered by such social safety schemes.

 

The minister asserted that overpopulation has a negative impact on the state's budget and the Egyptian economy.  She added that families having only two children will be granted benefits embodied in schools' tuition fees.

 

Qabaj clarified that the policy has been applied to the monetary subsidies program, Takaful and Karama, and that it will go into effect for the in-kind subsidies program in January after the prime minister makes the official announcement.

 

The minister added that legislations criminalizing child labor, denying children access to education, and minors' marriage will be introduced so that families committing such violations will face criminal charges.

 

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli will present in January the National Strategy for Population. At present, the Cabinet has finalized the Executive Plan for the National Family Planning Project 2021-2023 aimed at reducing birth rate.

 

The plan consists of five components. One is economic empowerment; family planning services; awareness; digital transformation; and, legislation.

 

The economic empowerment initiative targets 60,000 women aged between 18 and 45. Every year, 20,000 females, particularly living in low-income villages, will be granted training and funding worth LE4,000-20,000 so they would start their own projects. In addition, 30,000 women in the same age group will be trained every year to work as seamstresses at state-owned factories.

 

Family planning services will be improved by providing 75 percent of women with free contraceptives. Further, means of safe storage of contraceptives will be secured. As for medical cadres working in the sector, 1,500 female doctors trained on contraception medical services will be distributed on medical units across the country. Also, 336 male doctors and 336 male nurses will be trained to work in family planning.

 

Awareness will be promoted through TV ads, 12 million visits to households, 10,000 forums, and 500 play shows targeted at four million women in 20 governorates. Also, one million youths will be exposed to family planning messages before getting married through a program called Mawada providing counseling to engaged couples.

 

In tandem, 10,000 clerics will be trained to communicate family planning messages in their speeches and in one-on-one interactions. Content on the risks of overpopulation will be introduced in school curricula. A campaign targeting male university students dubbed "I'm Responsible" will be launched but no more details on it are available now.

 

Digital transformation within the project aims for linking the databases of the 100 Million Healthy Lives campaign with Takaful and Karama monetary subsidies program as well as automating family planning services.

 

The legislation aspect focuses on articulating laws that support family planning, and combat crimes against children and minors by penalizing parents and guardians involved.

Comments

0

Leave a Comment

Be Social