By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 13 April 2007
THE Social Development Ministry was accused yesterday of not offering enough money to needy families.
Al Wefaq’s MP Shaikh Maki Al Wedaie claims that the poverty line recognised by the ministry was old and that it has reached at least BD480.
He was speaking at parliament’s session yesterday on the ministry’s response related to his question on calculating the poverty line.
Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi said that Bahrain’s poverty line was calculated at BD370 according to a study carried out by the Bahrain Centre for Studies and Research in 2004.
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
Published: 13 April 2007
THE Social Development Ministry was accused yesterday of not offering enough money to needy families.
Al Wefaq’s MP Shaikh Maki Al Wedaie claims that the poverty line recognised by the ministry was old and that it has reached at least BD480.
He was speaking at parliament’s session yesterday on the ministry’s response related to his question on calculating the poverty line.
Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi said that Bahrain’s poverty line was calculated at BD370 according to a study carried out by the Bahrain Centre for Studies and Research in 2004.
She said that it would now be updated according to statistics being compiled by the Central Informatics Organisation.
“The ministry gives people BD70, BD120 or BD150 monthly aid according to their size, which is a joke, but it is nothing compared with the poverty line, which we are very worried with,” said Mr Al Wedaie.
“The ministry is also not telling us about the number of poor people in the country.
“It is very shocking that our children are going to schools with 200 fils coupons just to eat, which are being distributed by local charity funds.
“The range of social aid given doesn’t seem to be from this planet and most likely it seems to be alien.”
Dr Al Balooshi said that she was a citizen of Bahrain like everyone else and not from a different planet.
“Economic statistics will be out at the end of June or early July, when we can really determine the poverty line,” she said.
“There is no proper figures on the number of needy people in any country in the world and I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.”
© Gulf Daily News
