Allowance for single mothers to be increased next year

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu states the allowance provided by the government to single mothers will be increased starting next year.

He made the announcement while responding to a question posed by a member of the public on the ‘Raees ge Javaabu’ series; a platform that enables the public to get direct responses to their queries from the President via social media.

Fathimath Afiya Ali, a resident of Fuvahmulah City, had questioned the president regarding his administration’s policies with respect to the allowance to single mothers and caring for orphans.

Responding to the query, President Muizzu underscored increasing the allowances provided to single mothers as one of his electoral pledges. However, he said the increase is not included in this year’s budget, adding it would be included in next year’s budget.

The president did not delve into specific numbers.

ރައީސްގެ ޖަވާބު
5 ފެބުރުވަރީ 2023

ފުވައްމުލައްސިޓީ، ހޯދަނޑު އަވަށު، މާވަށް، ފާޠިމަތު ޢާފިޔާ ޢަލީ، އެކަނިވެރި މައިންގެ ޢިނާޔަތާ އަދި ޔަތީމު ކުދީންނަށް އަޅައިލުމުގައި ސަރުކާރުގެ ސިޔާސަތު އޮތް ގޮތާއި މެދު ކުރެއްވި ސުވާލަށް، ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ދެއްވި ޖަވާބު. pic.twitter.com/zh32KBMxl8

— Government of Maldives (@governmentmv) February 5, 2024

Concerning caring for orphans, President Muizzu said efforts were underway to provide assistance for orphans and people in society who have been left uncared for. In this trajectory, he affirmed that special steps will be taken to care for such persons in the future.

At present, single parents receive an allowance of MVR 2,000 per month from the government. Former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration had brought changes to the policy to pave way for the allowance to be increased based on the number of children. As per previous regulations, single parents who are responsible for over three children will receive a maximum monthly allowance of MVR 3,000. The revised regulation sees parents eligible to receive MVR 1,000 per child, up to 10 children.

Speaking at a campaign rally, President Muizzu said the allowance provided to single parents by then-administration had been inadequate in terms of expenses.