The
Democratic Party group of Parliament on Monday decided to press for
reinstatement of the child allowance as it discussed the revised budget for 2010.
It set up a working group to suggest ways of how this could be done.  

Among
the suggestions at the meeting, which discussed altogether seven issues, was
using parts of the budget allocation for other projects to pay the child allowance.
Some MPs proposed cuts in the construction sector, while some others targeted
the Smokeless Ulaanbaatar program. Some also suggested that Kh.Battulga, Minister
of Road, Transportation, Construction and Urban Development, be approached to
spare some money from the MNT150 billion that has been budgeted for
transportation. 

Ch.Saikhanbileg
asked the working group to join hands with a similar MPRP group to produce a
document on the matter. The MP, however, urged others not to support the
proposal before the Standing Committee on Social policy to pay the child
allowance selectively. He said the proposal to pay the allowance only to the
poor would lead citizens to demand listing as poor. Children of public servants
should not be left out from the allowance. Every child has equal claim to receiving
the allowance. He also wanted to raise the allowance to MNT 20,000, if the
financial situation permitted.