The
Ministry for Social Welfare and Labor yesterday organized a discussion on
whether it was right to assist poor citizens. A ministry official said it was
necessary for people to have correct information on the contents of the draft amendments
to the social welfare law that the Government has submitted to Parliament.

A
survey conducted by the National Statistics Office shows that 73 percent of poor
families have at least one member with a job. Thus it is not unemployment as
such but rather failure to earn enough that keeps families poor. Poor families
also have many children with not enough earners to support them.

The
draft recommends giving a monthly allowance to poor families. This will consist
of MNT7,000 for each adult and MNT10,000 to every child. On an average a family
will get MNT40,000. Families will qualify to be registered as poor on the basis
of average income.

The
ministry estimates MNT60-80 billion will be needed per year to give the allowance
to 160,000 households. This is expected to reduce the poverty rate by between
3.7-8.2 percent. MNT160 billion was earlier spent from the state budget to pay
child money and young family money.