Proposed merger of child allowances into a single benefit package.
Freshening Up the Idea:
Deputy Aigan Skaikova recently proposed an intriguing idea in a plenary session at the Majilis: pooling all child allowances into one, bumping it up to the average wage. Sounds crazy? Let's dig into it.
Skaikova, a member of the "People's Party of Kazakhstan," suggests abolishing all existing allowances and payments, only to replace them with a single, generous universal child allowance for children under 18. This allowance would be a birthright and citizenship perk for Kazakhstani kids, covering their needs as per the child consumer basket suggested by the party.
Care to know more about the child consumer basket? It's a plan outlining a child's necessities, proposed by the party for development. If implemented, this could significantly improve child welfare in Kazakhstan.
Skaikova added that the duration of childcare should extend to a whopping three years. She also proposed a housing program catering to these citizens with adjusted requirements, along with a zero-interest rate, zero initial payment, and simplified confirmation process for participants with a three-year residency history. A certificate of temporary residence and proof of child attendance at a kindergarten or school were stated as potential forms of confirmation.
Another proposal? Restoring the program of transferring rental housing with the right of purchase to families raising children with disabilities. Lastly, allocating land plots in rural areas of 20 hectares to large and single-parent families.
Here's where things get interesting: Skaikova compared the monthly childcare allowance for unemployed women with the expenses on feeding a prisoner. Whereas the allowance ranges from 560 to 865 tenge per child, 1018 tenge is spent on feeding one prisoner. Ironically, the child allowance doesn't provide for the mother's needs. To put this in perspective, if only one parent in a household with three kids works, each child would receive 46,000 tenge – a paltry sum.
In a nutshell, Skaikova aims to revolutionize child welfare in Kazakhstan by overhauling the system and establishing a more robust foundation for children's rights and needs.
Enriching Insights:
- UNICEF's Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD): UNICEF is working with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Health to adapt the GMCD, with an eye towards supporting child development and improving overall child welfare[3].
- Digital Family Card: The UNDP has partnered with Kazakhstan to introduce the Digital Family Card. This initiative aims to reduce gender inequalities and support economically disadvantaged communities by assessing well-being based on criteria like economic conditions, healthcare, housing, education, and social conditions[5]. Although not a child allowance per se, it signifies broader efforts towards social support.
- Purpose of Child Allowances: Child allowances are usually implemented to ease the financial burden of families with kids, especially those who are low-income. The ultimate goal is to ensure these families have the resources to provide basic needs for their children and foster positive child development by offering direct financial assistance[1].
- The overhaul proposed by Deputy Aigan Skaikova, involving pooling all child allowances into one and raising it to the average wage, is a significant step in Kazakhstan's politics, signifying a shift towards more robust finance and business policies focused on child welfare.
- This general-news story highlights various initiatives, such as UNICEF's Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) and the UNDP's Digital Family Card, which are aimed at improving child welfare in Kazakhstan, demonstrating the interplay between business, finance, and politics in shaping social policies.
