Usham: Allowances needs to be increased through law, otherwise might lose order

Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Usham, underscoring the allowance awarded to persons with disabilities needs to be increased by amending the relevant law, has stated otherwise, the elected government after the presidential has the opportunity to decrease the allowance.

The government announced its decision to increase the disability allowance from MVR 2,000 to MVR 3,000 on Thursday, in addition to introducing additional allowances up to MVR 6,000 based on different categories.

Usham, in a tweet criticizing the move, pointed out his party, Maldives National Party (MNP)’s leader’s amendment proposed to the law previously.

The amendment submitted by Nazim four years ago proposed to award an allowance between MVR 5,000 to MVR 7,000 to individuals listed on the registry of persons with disabilities. He further proposed an allowance of at least MVR 9,000 for patients bedridden for long periods of time.

Usham stressed that allowance can only be increased through amending the law. She said if the government, good-heartedly wished to increase the disability allowance, they would have passed the amendment four years ago. Instead, he pointed out that the present result is the government having the opportunity to reduce the allowance at any time they desire.