LIRA– Government has cleared the accumulated payment arrears worth Shs billion for the elderly in the Lango sub-region.
The elderly in the districts of Apac, Kwania and Kole received three months’ payment under Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment [SAGE] programme being implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development [MGLSD].
According to the officials from MGLSD, Shs 570mln was paid out to the elderly in Apac, Shs 590mln in Kwania and Shs 923mln in Kole districts.
The deputy head of Expanding Social Protection at MGLSD, Paul Onapa, said the money was released for two quarters [October to December and January to match].
Delivering payments for 6,232, the elderly in Kole, Onapa said the government has revisited the system of payment to reduce operational costs and other expenses incurred by the service providers.
Other districts cleared early include Otuke, Alebtong, Dokolo. Amolatar, Lira and Oyam.
The government piloted SAGE programme in 15 districts in 2010 where elderly persons aged 65 and above receive a monthly pay of Shs 25,000.
However, when the programme registered success, it was rolled out to 40 districts in 2015 but a few years later, it raised the age of the beneficiaries to 80, causing confusion.
The programme is being financed by UK’s Department for International Development [DFID].
“They [Beneficiaries] are being paid quarterly to minimise the high administrative costs and other expenses by the service providers,” said Maxwell Odongo, regional technical unit coordinator for Gulu and Lango sub-regions.
He said paying beneficiaries after three months has helped the senior citizens to improve their lives and put up investments.
“Some of them have shifted from grass-thatched houses to low iron sheet houses,” he added.
Simon Opio, 78, a resident of Apii village, Ayer Subcounty, said he saved the money and bought two cows to help him in farming since he is becoming weak due to old age.
https://thecooperator.news/older-persons-demand-inclusion-in-the-parish-development-model/
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