Title: Parliament Announces Expansion of Subsidy Program – Key Changes Revealed
Subsidy Expansion for Essential Goods
In a significant move to support citizens, the head of the Parliament’s Social Commission announced an expansion of the Commodity Voucher Program, which currently covers 10 to 12 essential goods, to now include 15 items. This decision aims to alleviate economic pressures on lower-income households.
Criticism of Current Income Bracketing
Ali Babaei Karnami, a prominent parliamentary figure, criticized flaws in the current income classification system, stating: “At least 7 income deciles should qualify for the voucher program.” He highlighted that many workers and employees, despite being placed in higher deciles, still struggle with living costs.
Ensuring Continuity of Subsidies
Rejecting claims of liquidity shortages as a barrier, Babaei Karnami proposed a hybrid payment model—combining cash and credit-based subsidies—to sustain the program. “Even if immediate cash funding is unavailable, the government should guarantee credit-based payments and settle them in subsequent months,” he emphasized.
Economic Benefits of the Voucher Program
The expanded program is expected to boost financial circulation, strengthen production chains, and increase tax revenues, ultimately improving living conditions in urban and rural areas. Babaei Karnami also suggested including bread and school uniforms in the subsidy basket to further assist families.
Calls for Immediate Reforms
Several lawmakers pointed out errors in income classification, where low-income and even tenant households were wrongly placed in higher brackets, denying them subsidies. They urged the deployment of specialized teams in local labor offices to swiftly address these grievances.
Next Steps
Parliament has pushed for increased funding and the expansion of the voucher program to 15 essential goods, with the proposal set to be reviewed by the government soon.
Source: Intitar
