Might affect IMF aid

Samurdhi officials’ refusal to collect data to prepare a social welfare register to enhance transparency of government welfare programmes has caused many issues.This was revealed when the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2302/23, published under the Welfare Benefits Act No. 24 of 2002, was taken into consideration before the Committee on Public Finance recentl under the Chairmanship of Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha De Silva.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has proposed that welfare activities be carried out transparently without corruption. The responsibility for paying Samurdhi and welfare benefits is assigned to the Welfare Benefits Board.

Accordingly, the Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board B. Wijeratne said that Trade unions of Samurdhi Department officers, Grama Niladharis and Economic Development officers had informed that they would not carry out the next phase of this programme until measures were taken to amend the section 21 and 22 of the Welfare Benefits Act. As it is, they were liable to termination in the event any applicant furnishing wrong information.

Wijeratne pointed out that the officers who enter false data are also subject to punishment by section 21 and 22. Acceptance of initial applications to identify suitable individuals/families for receiving welfare benefit payments recently ended. The Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board said that a mobile application scheme had also been introduced to collect secondary data by visiting the houses of the applicants who had applied for welfare benefits.

It was discussed in the committee that nearly 40% of Samurdhi beneficiaries do not fall into the criteria set up, as revealed in a World Bank survey. It is evident that there are some corrupt officials who issue Samurdhi allowance to get a cut. It was emphasized in the committee that it is essential to prepare a register with the correct data in order to carry out these welfare benefit payments transparently.

The committee also recommended that the National Identity Card should be made mandatory in the payment of welfare benefits. The committee pointed out that every citizen must be given a national identity card which is important to stop fraudulent activities.

Thus, the committee emphasized a delay in preparing this register may lead to delay in obtaining the assistance of the IMF.Accordingly, the committee which gave approval for this gazette advised the higher officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Chairman of the Welfare Benefits Board to discuss the matter urgently and arrive at a solution. Also, the committee recommended taking decisions related to carrying out these data collection activities promptly by following an alternative method. (SI)