Over 200 households received staple food subsidy last month, National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) said Tuesday.
According to the revised policy the subsidy on staple food would now be made available to the needy through the national social protection agency with effect from October 1.
NSPA said a total 240 households received the subsidy last month.
NSPA CEO Mujthaba Ali Jaleel told 'Avas' that money was transferred to those who applied for the subsidies after the end of the month. He said that 70 families living in 240 households had received the subsidy.
The change has lead to a significant hike in prices for rice, flour and sugar in the archipelago sparking a chain reaction of increased prices in most commodities.
The price of 1kg of rice has risen from MVR 3.98 to MVR 9.96 with 1kg flour having risen to MVR 5.96 while sugar had hiked to MVR 8 per kilo.
NSPA's updated guidelines state that monetary aid will only be provided to buy staple food including sugar, rice and flour. Each person eligible can receive a maximum MVR 40, and each household will receive MVR 240, leading to MVR 480 per head and MVR2.880 per household annually.
Each person must submit a completed form to receive the subsidy and if any person becomes ineligible for the aid, they must then inform NSPA within 15 days.
While a month has passed since the staple subsidies have been cut, Mujthaba revealed that people were still applying for subsidies. He explained that all the forms are processed monthly, and that money is transferred after the end of the month.
