Fifth Phase of Electronic Voucher Scheme Set for Rollout: New Agreement on Goods Allocation Reached
Tehran – The implementation date for the fifth phase of the government’s Electronic Voucher (Kalabreg) scheme has been finalized, marking a significant step in the administration’s social support policies. This phase, scheduled for the second week of the Iranian month of Azar, will initially cover the first to third income deciles, with subsequent deciles to be included as resources are secured.
The initiative, a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to support lower-income families, has undergone a pivotal operational change following extensive deliberations between the government and the parliament.
A Strategic Shift: From Credit to Goods
A key development preceding this phase was a resolution to the methodological debate between the legislature and the executive branch. After considerable discussion, a consensus was reached to allocate specific goods instead of providing a general credit line to beneficiaries.
This shift, heavily advocated by the parliament to align with the Seventh Development Plan, is designed to ensure the direct provision of essential items. Under this new model, the Ministry of Welfare has committed to adjusting the value of the vouchers to compensate for any price inflation, thereby guaranteeing that recipients’ purchasing power for a defined basket of goods remains stable throughout the year.
“The law for granting electronic vouchers with the new method has reached the implementation stage,” stated Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Parliament, during a recent parliamentary session. He emphasized that the new system would maintain constant prices for consumers.
Implementation Timeline and Beneficiary Coverage
The rollout of the fifth phase had been delayed due to the necessary alignment of digital systems with new legal requirements and the aforementioned policy discussions. With these hurdles now overcome, the process of charging the vouchers for the first three deciles is set to begin imminently.
Ahmad Naderi, a member of the parliament’s presiding board, clarified that the first three deciles would receive goods equivalent to 500,000 Tomans. The scope of the scheme will then gradually expand to cover the fourth to seventh deciles, albeit with a lower allocation value.
Expanding the Essential Goods Basket
The basket of goods covered under the voucher scheme has also been expanded. Previously consisting of 11 essential items—including dairy products, rice, oil, sugar, pasta, chicken, beef, and eggs—the list now incorporates new protein sources such as fish, shrimp, turkey, and quail meat.
This expansion and the new goods-based allocation method underscore a concerted effort to precisely target subsidies, ensure the efficient use of state resources, and provide tangible support to strengthen the livelihood of eligible households. The scheme is a integral component of the nation’s comprehensive social welfare framework.
