Fifth Phase of Electronic Voucher Scheme: Payout Set for This Week
Immediate Payout Confirmed
Tehran – A senior official has announced that the fifth phase of the electronic voucher (Kalabreg) scheme will be rolled out and paid to recipients by the end of this week. Ehsan Roustami, Head of the Iranian Welfare Studies and Information Center at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, confirmed that the distribution will follow the established procedure, ensuring continuity for citizens.
Exploring Enhanced Distribution Models
In parallel to the immediate payout, authorities are actively pursuing a more integrated model. Roustami detailed ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture. This potential new system would provide citizens with approved essential goods at subsidized, fixed rates. “If this plan is finalized, the details will be announced next week,” Roustami stated. For now, the government is ensuring the existing system delivers the fifth phase without delay.
A Long-Term Vision for Social Welfare
The official provided context, tracing the policy back to the Comprehensive Social Welfare and Social Security Law of 2004. This legislation laid the groundwork for targeted subsidies, aiming to optimize social support by increasing the share for lower-income deciles. The establishment of the Targeted Subsidies Organization was a key step in centralizing resources to achieve this goal and reduce poverty.
Streamlining for Greater Efficiency
Roustami explained that while the Ministry of Welfare is legally tasked with identifying and covering target groups—such as female-headed households, orphans, and persons with disabilities—the management of subsidy resources currently resides with the Plan and Budget Organization. This separation, he noted, can create operational challenges. The government is focused on overcoming these administrative hurdles to ensure a more streamlined and effective distribution system that directly benefits the populace.
Government’s Commitment to Livelihoods
The official underscored that addressing the cost of living and shielding household budgets from economic pressures is a primary concern for both the government and the parliament. Recent reports on household consumption patterns were presented to the High Welfare Council, leading to direct follow-up and the allocation of resources for the electronic voucher scheme. The government’s persistent objective is to mitigate economic challenges faced by citizens.
Focus on Public Satisfaction and Future Improvements
Roustami highlighted that the current method of providing credit for people to purchase goods from designated stores has received a high satisfaction rate in surveys. Acknowledging feedback, he noted that some concerns relate to the credit amount and the diversity of goods available. The government is committed to addressing these points to maximize public satisfaction. The alternative model with the Ministry of Agriculture is a key part of this effort, which would allow citizens to purchase a basket of approved goods at a significant discount. Final coordination for this potential new system is underway.