Strengthening social protection of the vulnerable

One key policy is to provide financial support to the elderly  to build up a steady and predictable stream of income in retirement years, hence a substantial increase of the Old Age Pension of Rs 500 as from January 2020, bringing the monthly pension to Rs 6,710.  Moreover, Budget 2019-2020 makes provision for a major Governmental initiative, that is the issuance of two Silver Bonds offering an annual interest rate of 5.5 % to increase return on their savings and also to encourage savings towards retirement.

Other measures to enhance the life of the elderly comprise:

·         an increase in the monthly carer’s allowance from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 for some 23,000 bedridden pensioners;

·         extending domiciliary visits of doctors  to bedridden persons of 60 years and above;

·         improving leisure and recreation facilities for which a grant of   Rs 15 million for renovation works at the 3 Recreational Centres  ,  the completion of a  fourth Recreational Centre at Riambel,  as well as free

·         access to public swimming pools to promote greater participation in physical activities; and

·         an increase in the annual grant to the Senior Citizens Council by Rs 500,000.

Furthermore, the Budget lays emphasis on Government’s determination to empower families under the Social Register of Mauritius. Measures to this end include:   provision for the extension of the school premium  to tertiary students who  will benefit from a one-off grant of Rs 40,000 and the  transition of the 5,000 families who are presently benefitting from Social Aid, to the Marshall Plan Social Contract Scheme, so that they benefit from substantially higher support under the SRM.

Additionally, Budget 2019-2020 makes provision for  organisations which are involved in social work and help  in the shaping and preserving of the  social and moral fabric of the  society. In this line,  grants to religious bodies is increased by 10 % from Rs 85 million to Rs 93 million.  The monthly grant for the  maintenance of their buildings is being doubled in the same vein for Residential Care Homes eligible under the Social Aid Act. . As for  NGOs , the  grant-in-aid is increased by  10 %, and they will be classified as community based NGOs and NGO d’Utilité Publique to  maximise their role and effectiveness.

Moreover, the National CSR Foundation (NCSRF) will be transformed into a National Social Inclusion Foundation with a new Charter and will identify National Programmes for better impact on poverty alleviation.