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Discounts on services for elderly [Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)]
[March 19, 2014]

Discounts on services for elderly [Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)]


(Gulf Daily News (Bahrain) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A TOTAL of 37,473 elderly Bahrainis have been receiving 50 per cent discounts on government services in five ministries, said Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi.

She said the Cabinet has directed other government bodies to implement the 2009 Disabled Support Law as they were behind schedule.

"The discounts, which are automatic whenever the identity smart cards are scanned, are now available at the Interior, Health, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs and Labour ministries, along with the Central Informatics Organisation," she said.



Benefits "It involves renewing driving licences, vehicle registration and passports, private rooms at Salmaniya Medical Complex, building permits, property ownerships, municipal fees, housemaid permits, renewing work permits of expatriate labourers and issuing smart cards." She was responding to a question by parliament's legislative and legal affairs committee vice-chairman Ali Al Ateesh on reasons behind delays in implementing the law.

Meanwhile, Dr Al Balooshi said there were 8,811 disabled Bahrainis listed for support with the ministry.


"We are spending around BD10 million on monthly financial aid for disabled people registered with us," she added.

"We have formed committees to reassess disability conditions and found that some were cheating the system to get payments, and based on that the number of people registered with us has dropped to 8,811." (c) 2014 Al Hilal Publishing & Marketing Group Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company

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