By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has made a direct cash payment to one hundred vulnerable old people under the social safety net program in Small Bo chiefdom, Kenema District.
The social safety net, according to officials, is an initiative of late President Ahmad Tejan Kabba, designed to support the aged at the end of the civil war.
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Alpha Osman Timbo, presided over the event on Monday, 12th October. He that he was working to ensure that the social safety net reached the intended beneficiaries.
“We want to see how the safety net is going to be implemented this time around for the aged people. Social safety net came purposely for old people, especially those who lost their children because of the war and have no one to care for them. It’s now a policy from the government that old people should be cared for by government. This policy is now put into action for the people targeted to start benefiting from it,” he said.
Minister Timbo noted that some people lost their hands, legs as a result of the war and that the government of President Julius Maada Bio decided to add to the scheme by increasing the amount that was previously paid, from Le100, 000 per person to Le150, 000 per person.
He added that plans were underway to improve on the current amount and other possible supports for the aged.
“It’s President Bio’s initiative to re-activate the care for the aged. Our government knows that there are old people in the rural areas that really need help and this government care for everybody, be it retired civil servant or not,” he said.
The Chairman of the Kenema District Council, Mohamed Amodu Sesay, described the development as laudable, noting that it pointed to the interest of the government in the welfare of aged people.
One of the beneficiaries of the transfer, Abie Moses, expressed delight for the money but called on the government to increase the amount.
“I want to say thanks to government for this help. For some of us, government is now our father and mother. This is the third time government is thinking about us and we are grateful to the president. Some of us have lost our loved ones and do not have strong people to take care of us. We want government to increase the amount for us,” she said.
Gbessay Turay, another beneficiary, who is blind, said he was happy for such a gesture from the government.
“I’m over happy to get this money as I am blind; even for what to eat, I must go out to beg. But with this small amount, it will help to sustain my life for some time. We need more,” he said.
Paramount Chief of Small Bo Chiefdom, Mohamed Dhaffie Benya, also thanked the government.
“I want to thank this government for considering my people three times in a roll for this cash transfer to old people. We are not surprised at it because of the leadership we have in this country,” he said.
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