The 2024/2025 National Budget has been met with approval from the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection, with a particular focus on changes that positively impact social welfare.
A key victory for the ministry is the conversion of bus fare top-ups into cash. This move broadens the scope of social welfare benefits, particularly benefiting senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.
Minister Lynda Tabuya has conveyed her appreciation for the budget which she deemed as ‘good’, further highlighting the ministry’s successful push for this policy change.
Tabuya expressed, “As ministers, we always hope for more, and I am pleased that our significant requests have been addressed in the budget.”
The minister explained that by converting bus fare top-ups into cash, challenges often encountered by vulnerable groups could be mitigated, especially for seniors over the age of 70 and those with disabilities. She mentioned that these groups may have difficulty accessing buses during non-operational hours or in regions with limited bus services, such as maritime and rural areas.
Converting bus fare top-ups to cash allows a broader reach of the benefits, particularly in regions where bus services are scarce, noted Tabuya.
She added, “This conversion to cash means that more people now have access to travel options that suit their needs. It represents a significant step towards ensuring fairer access to transportation-related welfare benefits across Fiji.”
The changes are more than just a logistical modification, but a substantial move towards a more equitable distribution of social welfare benefits, particularly in transportation, concluded the minister.