The ration card.. endless challenges and experts offer alternative solutions

[size=52]The ration card.. endless challenges and experts offer alternative solutions[/size]

[size=45]The ration card faces many challenges despite its importance, as it is a strategic project that needs support through the enactment of its own law, according to economic experts.[/size]
[size=45]Perhaps the most prominent of these challenges is the irregularity of the Ministry of Commerce in distributing foodstuffs that citizens need on time, in addition to the fact that most of these materials are imported and require huge sums, which prompted the government to create the food basket initiative and distribute it among the deserving groups.[/size]
[size=45]The economic expert, Ahmed Al-Hilal, said: “The government proposed, after the year 2010, to replace the ration card materials with cash subsidies directly in the hands of the citizens, and this, in my opinion, is the best solution.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "There are two directions for investing the money allocated to the ration card, the first of which is that Iraq has had an experience since the nineties of the last century, and after 2003 the entire vocabulary of the ration card did not reach the citizen, and the second, that the vocabulary of the ration card always arrives at varying times, Especially in times of crisis, nothing has reached the citizens.”[/size]
[size=45]He continued, "The most beneficiaries of the ration card are the low-income vulnerable groups, and that the distribution of funds allocated to the ration card for citizens will contribute to moving the Iraqi markets from within, and the citizen will spend what he needs."[/size]
[size=45]In turn, the economic expert, Basem Jamil Antoine, explained that “the ration card was placed in a critical period, so it is not the main goal for the people to live on permanent aid and possess such wealth and capabilities, whether in the vast area of ​​arable land or water and oil wealth.”[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "there are high indicators of the poverty line in Iraq, so the best and best solution is to create job opportunities and eliminate chronic unemployment, then the need for the ration card will be over."[/size]
[size=45]He noted that "by activating the productive sectors such as the agricultural, industrial and transportation sectors and activating the role of the private sector, we will eliminate unemployment and poverty indicators in Iraq, as the state does not have the ability to absorb thousands of graduates from various colleges and institutes."[/size]
[size=45]For his part, economist Mustafa Akram Hantoush said, “The ration card or food support is a system in place in most countries in which there is mismanagement of the wealth in the state or the lack of justice in the distribution of wealth. Thus, governments resort to establishing a fixed diet. This system is based on It would equalize between the lower classes of society, especially those with middle and lower incomes, who may not be able to keep up with prices and the high cost of living. Therefore, the presence of food support for these classes enables them to live in dignity without the need to be the downtrodden classes in society.[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that “this system exists in most countries in the region, including Egypt and Turkey, which have capital, but in the Iraqi case, the presence of a food basket for all needy families is necessary in the absence of production, and if the food basket or the ration card is cut with the control of the product and it is outside the borders, then The state will be in front of ten million poor, according to the latest statistics of the Ministry of Planning, which indicated that the poverty rate in Iraq has reached more than 25%,” calling for “to maintain and strengthen the ration card and food basket, especially for the poor classes.”[/size]
[size=45]Hantoush indicated that "the ration card suffers from a weak point, which is that it is not designed by law, but by decisions of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Commerce, so there is a random distribution of its vocabulary."[/size]
[size=45]In addition, the spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, Muhammad Hanoun, stressed that “the ministry attaches great importance to the ration card file,” noting that “this project has been transferred to another file, which is the food basket, which includes more than 39 million citizens by providing them with seven types of foodstuffs.” To secure the nutritional situation and also help poor families achieve food security.”[/size]
[size=45]He added that "the food basket project is an existing project so far, and two meals have been distributed from this project, and the ministry is ready to distribute the third meal," stressing that "this project has achieved its desired results."[/size]
[size=45]Hanoun added that: “This file is the result of great efforts made by the Ministry of Commerce, which prepared this file, as well as the government’s contribution in an effective manner. The inclusion of new materials or other meals added to the citizens,” noting that “this project transcended all violations and errors that occurred in the ration card system through contracts and through the participation of the Iraqi private sector, which contributed strongly through one of the companies that contracted with the General Company for Trade Food".[/size]
[size=45]Hanoun stressed, “The adoption of the electronic ration card will contribute to detecting corruption attempts and involving fake names, because this system depends on the fingerprint through the eye print and the scrutiny of all those who receive the ration card and through the audit and not repeating their names, in addition to providing the citizen with the opportunity to obtain knowledge of the quality of materials from During entering the electronic program, it also contributes to communication between the ministry and the citizen, as well as between the citizen and the agent of foodstuffs within the region,” stressing that “this electronic card system will contribute to closing the corruption file, as well as providing the citizen with the opportunity to contact the supply center and contact the Planning and Communication Department of the Ministry of Commerce Through the mobile, which allows him to know all the details, as well as that all transactions take place within the electronic system, which allows obtaining information and answers of the concerned department, as well as the possibility of adding materials through the electronic card system by calling the mobile.”[/size]
[size=45]He stressed that "this system, which is being implemented with one of the United Nations organizations, will provide the Ministry of Commerce with an opportunity to identify participants in the ration card and an opportunity to know public opinion through citizen complaints and observations on everything related to the ration card and achieve the process of interaction and cooperation with citizens by delivering their complaints and problems, and also provides the leadership of the Ministry Trade is an opportunity to know the materials that have been prepared for citizens, their types and quantities, and the violations that are registered with food agents by not providing them with other materials not processed by the Ministry of Commerce, and that the process of apprehending violators will be quick and specific in the electronic program that allows the citizen to file a complaint for the purpose of taking legal measures.[/size]
[size=45][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]