ID :
240671
Fri, 05/18/2012 - 15:21
Auther :

Rich Iranians lose subsidies

Azerbaijan, Baku, May 17 / Trend / Ellada Khankishiyeva, Trend Analytical Centre Head Iran is moving closer to countries that ended energy sector subsidies. According to the experience of these countries, the population, namely poor people suffer as a result of the transition. The protection of poor people from the consequences of this step is the number one task for the Iranian government. The Iranian parliament on Tuesday decided to increase the amount of state subsidies to the families in cash or naturally. Thus, the total amount of subsidies paid to the families in the form of the compensation increased from $ 32.6 billion in 2011 to $39.1 billion in 2012. This amount per capita increased from $37 to $60 a month. Iran has taken measures concerning the targeted social assistance to prevent aggravating the social situation as a result of the elimination of low energy tariffs. These measures have been widely recognized in the world to combat poverty. However, Iran has chosen the scheme as a criterion of needs - a line that separates the poor from the rest, rather than a certain amount, as usual, which consists of the following items. Iranians can not get the targeted social aid, if 5 to 10 percent of their average monthly salary exceeds the amount worth $ 37 (this year - $ 60). According to the Iranian Statistical Committee, the average monthly wage of an urban resident is about $ 680, rural - $490. Today, about 74 million Iranians, or nearly 94 percent of Iran's population (78.8 million people in 2012) are social aid recipients. According to the country's official statistics, in 2008 10 million Iranians live in absolute poverty and 30 million - relative poverty. The Budget Committee of the Iranian Parliament has recently approved removing 10 million "rich" Iranians from the list of social aid recipients. The Iranian targeted subsidies organization previously sent text messages to the citizens who can live without state support with the request to voluntarily withdraw from the program. Later, a voluntary form of denial will be replaced by forced one. Therefore, there was the main gap of the system in Iran as a country with a high level of financing, namely social injustice. Not very poor layers of the population get the benefits from subsidies. There is a situation where the poor pay for the rich. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az

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