Proper methodology should be followed while selecting beneficiaries for social security schemes – Committee on Ways and Means

The Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka, .emphasized that a proper methodology should be followed in selecting beneficiaries for social security schemes.

Officials informed the committee regarding the “Aswesuma” welfare scheme to be implemented by the government from the first of July and pointed out that welfare benefit payments will be made under 04 social categories of transitional, vulnerable, poor and extremely poor, and related allowances will also be given to the disabled, elderly and kidney patients as usual under this scheme.

It was revealed that more than 3.7 million applications have been received to receive this allowance and the people who are in real need will be given this allowance from the first day of July. The Chair of the Committee emphasized that the World Bank has indicated that 30 percent of the recipients of the Samurdhi allowance are not eligible for it and the beneficiaries for this scheme should be selected keeping that in mind.

The Committee also pointed out the need for periodic evaluation of the beneficiaries benefiting from the insurance scheme.