K13m cash transfer drive launched

Child-headed households and the elderly in Machinga have been earmarked to benefit from the Social Cash Transfer Programme, which government launched in the district on Monday.

The K13 million programme was launched at Nsanama Primary School ground, Traditional Authority (T/A) Nsanama.

Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare Anita Kalinde, who was the guest of honour, hailed government for initiating the programme, saying it will help reduce poverty in most vulnerable households in the district in particular, and the country in general.

Said Kalinde: “We want to improve the well-being of ultra-poor and labour constraint households by providing them with cash transfers.”

In his remarks, Machinga social welfare assistant officer, Samuel Kamalonda, said the level of cash transfer will vary from one household to the other.