[Blog] Some symbolic measures to bolster the image of the government

The Alliance for Change made a litany of promises before the elections. In view of the difficult economic situation as depicted in the State of the Economy, it is unable to deliver on many of the promises. However, a number of actions could be taken that would not necessarily weigh heavily on the exchequer.

One of them is the promise not to discontinue the old age pension of a person who stays abroad more than six months. This is a purely administrative measure that can be taken without any complication and will provide relief to so many elderly persons who go and visit their children and grandchildren in different parts of the world. A Mauritian who has sloughed through their life is entitled to their pension wherever they live.

It is a matter of right. As the situation prevails presently, a person who returns from abroad after 6 months faces a mountain of bureaucracy to have their pension reinstated, sometimes taking several months. Some people depend much on this allowance to make both ends meet. Imagine their predicament when they are deprived of it for months on end.

In the same context, there is the issue of payment of pension on the first of each month. The problem arises when the date falls on a public holiday or on weekends, which causes undue delay. Civil servants obtain their salary three clear days before the end of the month. The same formula can be applied for pensioners. Furthermore, the promise about rendering the old age pension non-taxable can be implemented without much hassle and with no great impact on the exchequer.

Wealthy people for whom the old age pension is a mere pittance can be invited to donate this sum to a solidarity fund set up by government.

Another measure that can be put into practice without much difficulty is the menstrual leave. Any female worker can be allowed to choose one day in a month to take a rest when they feel that they are physiologically in a difficult situation. There is no need to produce a medical certificate as all workers join the world of work at post-puberty age. As for those who reach menopause, the privilege can continue because this period of life is accompanied by complications of its own.

Furthermore, before the elections there was a cry of heart from carers to increase the carer's allowance and the Alliance for Change promised to increase it to Rs 10,000. While this may not be done immediately, it can be staggered. For example, it can be raised from Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000. On top of that they can be encouraged to register with the MRA to benefit from the top-up allowance of Rs 3,000. It should be noted that the population is ageing rapidly and more and more elderly people will be needing carers. This work has to be given its due importance and valorised.

Finally, the trip to Rodrigues for elderly persons at least once in their life can also be implemented. They can be invited to register for this programme on a first-come, first-served basis as they do in the case of camping at the recreational centres. The Ministry of Social Security can keep a database to avoid fraudulent practices. Two seats can be reserved in each flight of Air Mauritius and arrangements can be made with a guesthouse there for accommodation. As there are some 270,000 elderly persons in Mauritius, the project will help to boost tourism in Rodrigues, following which the island will depend less on grants from the mainland for its ever-increasing budget. So the government can recoup part of its expenses associated with the trip-to-Rodrigues project.

Azize Bankur