Title: Government Announces New Phase of Electronic Subsidy Program to Support Low-Income Households
In a recent open session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Head of the Planning and Budget Organization, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, detailed the government’s comprehensive plan to bolster the livelihoods of low-income citizens through a structured electronic voucher system. The announcement underscores a strategic governmental focus on mitigating economic pressures on vulnerable segments of society.
A Multi-Pronged Response to Economic Challenges
Addressing the assembly, Pourmohammadi contextualized the new measures within a framework of recent global and regional economic challenges. He highlighted the significant impact of a sharp decline in global oil prices, which fell from approximately $71 to $51 per barrel, creating constraints on national financial resources. Despite these external pressures, he emphasized that the government ensured the uninterrupted continuation of its current and developmental payments.
Uninterrupted Support and Timely Disbursements
A key point of the address was the government’s commitment to timely financial support. Pourmohammadi stated that all subsidy payments were disbursed “without even an hour of delay.” He further listed other fulfilled financial obligations, including the adjustment of pensioner benefits, the settlement of teachers’ claims, and clearing debts owed to wheat farmers.
The Electronic Voucher System: Targeted Relief in Action
The cornerstone of the new welfare initiative is the Electronic Voucher (کالابرگ الکترونیکی) program. Pourmohammadi provided specific details, announcing that four phases of electronic vouchers have already been distributed to the lowest-income deciles since the last Eid. Under this scheme:
- Individuals in the first to third income deciles have received 500,000 Tomans per person.
- For a typical four-person household in these deciles, this amounts to 2 million Tomans per distribution period.
- Individuals in the third to seventh deciles have received 350,000 Tomans each.
Stabilizing Measures and Future Reforms
To prevent further economic strain on the public, the government has halted the implementation of certain regulatory clauses, including those related to preferential exchange rate increases and value-added tax on imported goods. Pourmohammadi also revealed that beyond the approved budget, the government borrows an additional $2 to $2.5 billion annually to secure essential goods and medicine.
Looking forward, he stressed the necessity of reforming economic structures to improve foreign currency and monetary supply. Two major programs have been defined to this end: the electronic voucher system and a multidimensional poverty alleviation plan, both designed to guarantee a minimum standard of living and insulate citizens from economic fluctuations.
Pilot Launch and National Outlook
The practical implementation of the electronic voucher program is set to begin with a pilot phase in the month of Aban. Pourmohammadi expressed confidence that, following necessary adjustments, the scheme would be rolled out sustainably and nationwide. He concluded with a hopeful outlook, stating that through national cohesion, the guidance of the Supreme Leader, and the successful execution of such programs, the people’s livelihood can be durably secured and existing bureaucracy overcome.
