Title: Iran’s Yasna Program: A Closer Look at the Government’s Support for Mothers and Infants
In a significant move to bolster family health, the Iranian government is implementing the Yasna program, a targeted subsidy initiative designed to support pregnant and nursing mothers. This scheme, a cornerstone of the state’s social welfare agenda, aims to enhance the nutritional security of mothers and their children under the age of two.
How the Program Works
The Yasna subsidy is not distributed as cash. Instead, a designated credit is deposited directly onto the household head’s “Goods and Services Card” (کالابرگ). This credit is exclusively for the purchase of 16 essential food and hygienic items, which have been carefully selected by expert panels to ensure they contribute to a healthy dietary pattern for the family.
Eligibility and Automatic Enrollment
A key feature of the program is its automated and targeted approach. The identification of eligible pregnant mothers is managed directly by the Ministry of Health. Mothers are required to register at local rural or urban health centers. Following the registration of their information into the system and an assessment of the household’s income decile, qualifying individuals are automatically covered. This process eliminates the need for separate registration or additional in-person applications.
Eligibility is specifically targeted to provide support where it is needed most. Only mothers falling within income deciles one through seven are included in the program, ensuring resources are directed to low and middle-income families. Furthermore, priority within this group is given to mothers with breastfeeding infants to provide them with enhanced nutritional support during this critical period.
Official Commentary and Future Goals
Zahra Qayoumi, Director General of the Support and Empowerment Office at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, emphasized the program’s structured rollout. “The identification of pregnant mothers is conducted through the Ministry of Health, and after income decile classification, only mothers in deciles one to seven receive support,” she stated.
She also highlighted the expectation for relevant bodies, particularly the National Population Headquarters, to ensure the continuous and timely provision of credits for the scheme’s sustainability. The program’s initial phase saw the allocation of 1.5 million Tomans to each qualifying mother for charging their food and hygienic basket, which included provisions for items such as diapers.
Checking Eligibility
Families can easily check their status and credit balance through several official channels:
- Government portals such as
my.gov.irandhemayat.mcls.gov.ir. - The “Shama” (شما) application.
- By dialing the USSD code
*500*1463#and entering the national code of the household head.
While operating within defined budgetary frameworks, the Yasna program is viewed by experts as a vital initiative capable of significantly improving the health outcomes of pregnant mothers and young children, contingent on the stable and consistent allocation of its funds.