Ministry of Family denies any omission or exclusion in family security grants
Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- The Ministry of Family in Senegal has denied allegations of omission or exclusion in the distribution of family security grants.
- The ministry clarified that the current situation is a result of a rigorous reassessment and expansion of the national registry.
- New, stricter eligibility criteria have been established following a recertification process.
The Ministry of Family in Senegal has firmly refuted claims that vulnerable populations, particularly people with disabilities, have been deliberately excluded from the national family security grant program. Youssouf Djitรฉ, the Director of Cabinet, addressed the controversy surrounding the resumption of payments, emphasizing that the process is one of rigorous reassessment and expansion of the national unified registry (Rnu).
There is neither omission nor exclusion with family security grants.
Djitรฉ explained that the Rnu, which previously covered approximately 500,000 households, has been expanded to include one million households. This expansion necessitated a "recertification" program to verify the eligibility of current beneficiaries against the 2013 decree, which stipulates a limited duration for program participation. He stressed that while there have been "technical adjustments" as payments resumed in March, no group has been intentionally sidelined.
The Rnu, which counted about 500,000 households, has been extended, under the impetus of the authorities, to one million households.
From Senegal's perspective, as reported by Le Soleil, this issue highlights the complexities of social welfare program management. The government's emphasis is on ensuring the program's integrity and sustainability through updated, objective criteria. The narrative presented by the Ministry frames the changes not as exclusions, but as necessary steps to refine the program and ensure it effectively serves its intended purpose. The local coverage focuses on the government's efforts to manage public perception and provide clarity on the program's operational adjustments, underscoring the importance of social safety nets within the national development agenda.
This expansion was accompanied by a "recertification" program aimed at verifying the eligibility of current beneficiaries with regard to the 2013 decree, which provides for a limited period of stay in the program.
Originally published by Le Soleil in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.