1700 children to receive allowances in 2012

Seventeen thousand children from disadvantaged or impoverished families will be the recipients of the Ministry of Social Solidarity (MS) Mothers Allowance to facilitate access to education, and other public services for chilren.

The recipients were carefully selected from all over the country and were told will have access to their money after the parliamentary elections.   
“The Mother’s Allowance is very important and will be of great benefit supporting impoverished families, especially mothers and children in orphanage,” said Department for Child protection (DPL) Chief, Florencio Gonzaga, recently in Caicoli, Dili.
Parents eligible for the benefit must declare they will provide proper care of their children and use the money towards their children’s health and education. The money is paid to the persons directly responsible for the children’s welfare, especially parents.

Whether this allowance will continue depends on further analysis and assessment of the recipient families.
Amongst the beneficiaries of this scheme are very low-income families, orphans, children of parents living with a disability and widows.

Josefa Alves Soares President of former Women in Parliament Group (GMPTL) said this was a good initiative however, there are still many vulnerable families missing out, especially those in rural and remote areas, because they do not have access to information. 

“This program began in the previous Government, and with the current emphasis on vulnerable sections of the population, I hope It will continue,” said the MP. 

According to her, to avoid any problems arising there should coordination with local authorities to ensure the allowance is rightfully afforded to those most in need.