Registration for cash compensations to open on September 15

Manama, Sept. 12 (BNA): Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa has issued directives to the Central Informatics Organisation (CIO) to open online registration for citizens wishing to benefit from the cash compensation as from September 15 following the decision to scrap meat subsidies. He also instructed the Finance Ministry to start crediting the sums to the beneficiaries' bank accounts as from October, 2015. The move is in implementation of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa's order, and within the agreement reached between the government and the parliamentary Committee on Subsidy Review and Revenues Development during the recent meeting to go ahead with the cash payment mechanism unless another alternative, including the ration card, is submitted before the end of September, the deputy premier said. The pre-emptive move aims to enable the Social Development Ministry to prepare the complete database of beneficiaries, and ensure the readiness of the Finance Ministry to credit the cash payments on a quarterly basis, for October and the following two months, he added. Shaikh Khalid affirmed that despite the fact that all ministries and government departments were ready to implement HRH Premier's order since its issuance according to the cash compensation mechanism, the government adhered to the existing successful executive-legislative partnership, in line with the Prime Minister's directives to discuss all economic and living standards issues with the Representatives and Shura councils. The government adopted the initiative only after it had been assured about the integrity of the measures taken by ministries and government departments to protect consumers and ensure free competition, once meat prices are deregulated, the deputy premier said, noting that the decision to lift meat subsidies aim to protect public money, ensure subsidies benefit the citizens only and increase the kingdom's revenues amid the current challenges and the drop in the oil prices. Official figures indicate that government subsidies to food stuff increased by 242% between 2007 and 2014, or from BD 16.8 million to BD 57.4 by the end of 2014. Regarding subsidies on meat, they went up from BD 9.9 million in 2007 to BD 46 million, or 363% during the same period. Social Development Minister Faeqa bint Said Al-Saleh described the mechanism to compensate citizens by depositing cash pay-outs in their bank accounts as the best means to reform the 30-year old subsidy on food products system and ensure it benefits the citizens only. She added that all Bahraini citizens residing permanently in the kingdom as individuals or along their families, including children of Bahraini women married to non-Bahrainis, would be eligible for the cash payment which would be credited to their accounts once every three months. The 116,000 Bahraini families who feature on the lists of the Social Development Ministry and who receive aid under the Government-funded assistance programmes will be exempted from registration as they will receive cash compensation automatically in their bank accounts, she said, adding that those who are still not included have to register online, and those who have problems in dealing with modern technology may visit the ministry's centres across the kingdom. CIO President Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Amer invited Bahraini family breadwinners wishing to receive cash compensation to register online round the clock, through the website (https://subsidies.gov.bh) or smartphone applications as from September 15, 2015. The website ensures easy procedures and safety, he said, explaining that while registering, the applicants will provide basic information and then receives sms in case the registration is successful.