Parliament Speaker D.Demberel told a Press conference on Monday that MNT324 billion from the Human Development Fund will be distributed to citizens in 2010. He was supported by Ts.Davaasuren and D.Arvin, head of the Standing Committees on the Budget, and on Social Policy, Education, Culture and Science respectively.

“So far MNT 130 billion used to be paid yearly as Child Money. This year citizens will get three times as much. We are considering giving MNT70,000 each first to elders, children and disabled citizens before Tsagaan Sar,” said Demberel.

The rest will get their turn only after a civil registration process is completed, likely by October. The registration will see issue of Smart ID cards for all at a cost of MNT6.7 billion. The tender for this has been announced. This registration is different from the population census. It aims to gather detailed information about citizens and will become the basis of the census, which has been postponed until November.

Parliament thinks the payment of MNT70,000 to each citizen will not trigger high inflation and price rise because it will be given in installments. Also, most recipients will use the money to pay school tuition fees or such other expenses, and not to buy things. 

The Government is working on the procedures for the payment. The Human Development Fund Law was approved on December 30, 2009 and the final picture will be clear only after two more laws relating to the Fund are passed.

 “Every citizen of Mongolia will be entitled to the allowance, but there is no denying that there are citizens with unclear identity and place of residence,” Demberel said.