Elders' charity allowance to be upped

Nethali STRUYS

The Social Services Ministry plans to increase the charity allowance paid to elderly persons of low income families to Rs 500 and a minimum of Rs 250 from August 1 to mark World Elders' Day.

Social Services Minister Felix Perera told a press conference at the ministry that Rs 297,800,417 has been allocated for the next five months for this.

The charity allowance has already been increased in the Western, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

The minister said that a minimum of Rs 100 and a maximum of Rs 300 is paid to a recipient as charity allowance a month. He said that a Cabinet memorandum to amend the amount was submitted on June 23, 2011. According to a Cabinet decision, measures are being taken to include this in the budget proposals for 2012, Perera said.