K12 million social cash transfer funds released in Northern Province

GOVERNMENT has released K12 million for Social Cash Transfer (SCT) beneficiaries in Northern Province. Northern Province Minister, Chungu Bwalya, confirmed to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Kasama today that the money is already in the province awaiting disbursement to eligible beneficiaries. Mr Bwalya said he expects the department of social welfare to speed up the disbursement of the funds so that the vulnerable beneficiaries can access their money next week. “Government has released K12 million for Social Cash Transfer to Northern Province and the money is ready for payment to the beneficiaries next week,” he said. Mr Bwalya explained that government had temporarily suspended disbursing the funds because of some administrative issues that needed to be corrected, adding that the covid-19 pandemic compounded the delay. “There were certain procedural mishaps that needed to be cleaned up before recommencing the SCT. The unexpected corona virus pandemic was another problem that affected the program,” he said. And Mr Bwalya has directed that beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer fund should not seek other government empowerment incentives. He observed that there are some individuals and clubs that are beneficiaries of almost every empowerment program that the government is offering to needy citizens. Mr Bwalya says some persons are beneficiaries of Women Empowerment Fund, Social Cash Transfer, Farmer Input Support Program and other social incentives thereby depriving other needy citizens of government’s support. “Some people are selfish because they do not want others to access government’s help. Today they receive women empowerment fund, tomorrow they are getting social cash transfer and on the following day they queue for FISP. You are not the only ones who need help,” he said. Government is running several programs aimed at helping targeted needy citizens to ease their burden of poverty and engaging in Income Generating Activities (IGA). Such programs are the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) for the old, crippled, orphaned and other similar challenges. The Women Empowerment Fund is targeting women clubs or groups that involve in income-generating projects while the Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) targets young people who own different economic projects. The Farmer Input Program (FISP) aims at helping vulnerable but viable farmers that access farming inputs to help them increase crop production and become self-reliant in agriculture after some years. The Sun