Govt targeting 7,600 beneficiaries on social cash transfer

——————- Community Development Mother and Child Health Minister, Emerine Kabashi says her ministry is targeting to 7,600 beneficiaries on the social transfer scheme.

Speaking when she paid a courtesy call on Kalomo District Commissioner, Lucia Mwiinde today, Ms. Kabanshi said this is in an effort to alleviate poverty among the poor in Kalomo district.

Ms. Kabanshi said no country can boast of development if it cannot assist its poor citizens especially those living in abject poverty.

She expressed happiness in the manner the recipients were ultilising the funds to uplift their living standards.

The social cash transfer which was piloted in Kalomo in 2003 has since scaled up to 50 districts in the country.

The scheme had only 600 beneficiaries but has of now risen to 3,128 beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, Ms. Kabanshi said government has no intentions yet of increasing the current amount of the social cash transfer but is in the process of increasing the number of beneficiaries so that the fund caters for a larger number of people.

And some beneficiaries talked to have commended government for coming up with the scheme saying the money has improved their livelihoods such that they can fend for themselves and even send their children to school.