the Proxy Mean Test used to determine eligibility to fall under the Social Register of Mauritius, he will, f…
(No. B/29) Mr F. François (Second Member for Rodrigues) asked the Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity whether, in regard to the Proxy Mean Test used to determine eligibility to fall under the Social Register of Mauritius, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain information as to whether any remedial action or review is being envisaged with regard to the eligibility criteria following the shortcomings identified in the system for the allocation of subsistence allowance and other services to potential beneficiaries.
Madam Speaker, I am informed that the Social Register of Mauritius (SRM) was introduced in 2008 as a centralised database to register individuals requesting financial support. Eligibility for assistance is based on two criteria – (i) income, and (ii) a Proxy Means Test (PMT), which is a formula used to determine the eligibility of an individual or a household to benefit from empowerment support. The Proxy Means Test (PMT) formula aims at addressing the living standard of each household and is based on demographic and socio-economic characteristics, such as age, gender, and number of children, as well as whether the applicant is the owner of his or her dwelling and the housing conditions thereof. The existing criteria in use for the PMT dates back to 2016. In view of the changing socio-economic conditions, the PMT criteria, which still makes use of data from the Household Budget Survey 2012, need to be reviewed to take on board new criteria to be worked out. In addition, after nine years, observations have been made of elements of subjectivity when applying some of the criteria of the PMT. The previous government has, in June 2023, initiated action to review the PMT. Maurice Stratégie (MS), which currently falls under the purview of the Ministry of Financial Services and Economic Planning, was solicited to assist with the review and is providing the services of a local and an international consultant for the review thereof with the financial support of Agence française de développement (AFD) and Expertise France. However, the
59 review of the PMT is also largely dependent on the findings of the latest Household Budget Survey 2023, which is expected to be finalised by February 2025 according to Statistics Mauritius. Furthermore, the Board of the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) is presently being reconstituted after an expression of interest for which 269 applications were received by 27 January 2025. Once the NEF Board is reconstituted, my Ministry will decide on the follow-up mission by the consulted plan in March 2025 to finalise the PMT review or any other alternative process necessary to review the outdated PMT. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Yes, Ms Collet, First Member for Rodrigues! EDUCATION SYSTEM – CURRICULUM, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION & EQUITY – PROPOSED REFORMS