Iranian Parliament Approves Key Details for National Electronic Benefit Scheme
In a significant parliamentary session focused on economic support measures, the Iranian government and parliament have aligned on a major initiative to bolster the nation’s social safety net.
Parliamentary Session Sets Timeline
Chaired by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the open session reviewed reports from the heads of the Plan and Budget Organization and the Ministers of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, and Agriculture. The central topic was the management of livelihood affairs for low-income households and the related income decile system.
A pivotal decision emerged from the discussions: the government and parliament have jointly resolved to operationalize the Electronic Benefit Scheme for the distribution of essential goods starting in the Iranian month of Aban (late October/November). Speaker Ghalibaf emphasized that the integrity of the scheme’s core objective is paramount and should not be undermined.
Strengthening the Welfare System
Highlighting the long-standing existence of the Iranian Welfare System, Ghalibaf stressed the need for complete transparency. He stated that the system must be configured so any individual removed from the list of the seven eligible deciles can see the reason for their removal, and the rationale for new additions is equally clear.
Echoing this commitment, the Minister of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, Ahmad Meydari, affirmed the government’s dedication to supporting lower-income strata through the electronic voucher system, despite existing limitations. He reported that the scheme is being pursued with “seriousness” by both the parliament and the government, with direct follow-up from both the Speaker and the President. Meydari noted that the electronic vouchers have already been distributed three times since the start of the current Iranian year (March 2024), with their real value being more than one and a half times greater than in the past three years.
Addressing Agricultural and Livestock Inputs
The session also delved into the critical issue of supplying agricultural inputs. The Minister of Agriculture, Gholamreza Nouri, underscored the absolute necessity of securing foreign currency for the import of livestock inputs, warning that a halt in this process would create significant disruptions. He asserted that food and livestock inputs must be the country’s top priority for foreign currency allocation and payment.
Following the minister’s report, Speaker Ghalibaf addressed market pricing concerns, questioning why the price of chicken remains high in the market despite the large-scale import of feed inputs at a preferential exchange rate. After factoring in costs such as electricity and wages, he calculated the maximum production cost for chicken to be significantly lower than the current market price, calling for an examination of this discrepancy.
In further parliamentary business, representatives approved a request to investigate the performance of executive bodies responsible for implementing a 550-hectare agricultural project in the provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam from 2010 to the end of 2023.
