Support for the Most Vulnerable - Electricity Price Increase: A Social Shield Considered Insufficient
After a 15% increase in electricity tariffs, social actors deem the government’s support measures too limited, highlighting many exclusions. In response to the price hike decided by the Cabinet, the government introduced a set of accompanying measures aimed at the most vulnerable. However, field workers argue that these provisions may miss those in greatest need.
The social package presented by the government includes various components: exemption from the electricity price increase for 128,800 subscribers out of 541,127, an expansion of the Price Stabilisation Fund, the creation of a Crisis Solidarity Fund, revision of the criteria for the Social Register of Mauritius, and a monthly allowance of Rs 121 for about 60,000 beneficiaries to cushion the rise in bread prices. These targeted measures are described as a shield for the most modest households, but the reality on the ground is more nuanced.
"These measures will benefit only a few people, while the vast majority of vulnerable individuals are left out," states Patricia Adèle-Félicité, General Secretary of Caritas Île Maurice. She believes the problem is structural, predating Friday's announcements and will persist unless addressed: "The issue is how to get registered, as many people in need are unable to register on this list. As long as eligibility criteria are not revised, many will continue to suffer."
She advocates for a broader adoption of the multidimensional poverty index proposed by Statistics Mauritius, which she believes is the only tool capable of significantly expanding the beneficiary base. She acknowledges, with a hint of weariness, that the message is recognized at high levels: "Minister Ashok Subron and Junior Minister Kugan Parapen are indeed aware, but we are waiting for decisions to be made."
The exemption granted to the least electricity-consuming households is often cited as the most concrete measure of the initiative. While Patricia Adèle-Félicité acknowledges its principle, she quickly points out its limitations: "Exempting the least consuming households is one thing, but everyone will be indirectly affected when they go shopping." The rise in electricity prices will inevitably impact production, transport, and distribution costs, thus affecting consumer prices, including those the measures are intended to protect.
Regarding bread, she compares the figures with the daily reality of the most precarious families: "Some families buy eight to ten loaves a day. You realize what the monthly budget for that is." The allocation of Rs 121 for this purpose is seen as symbolic by Jamil Dookhee from the No To Poverty association: "It won't make a big difference, but it will still be help for those who are eligible."
The Price Stabilisation Fund: A Dull Tool
The decision to expand the list of products covered by the Price Stabilisation Fund is met with marked skepticism. Jamil Dookhee points out a congenital flaw in the mechanism: "Importers and traders, who have insider information, already raise their prices even before these items are added to the list. So, for the consumer, it doesn’t really have an impact." As for the newly announced Crisis Solidarity Fund, he withholds judgment: "We have seen such funds in the past, but we need to see what it really entails."
In essence, his diagnosis is severe: "Many people at the bottom of the scale are complaining about rising prices. It is becoming a real problem. Overall, these measures are insufficient." The only concession: the announced revision of the Social Register criteria, which he considers "the only good thing" in the plan, provided it actually leads to broader inclusion of those in precarious situations.
On the ground, the affected populations are watching without yet feeling the effects. "People are in a wait-and-see mode," summarizes Patricia Adèle-Félicité. "They do not yet fully sense the impact of these measures that will trigger price increases."
