• The affluent with permanent income also receive this allowance. Some of their vehicles are registered under other names to avoid survey official checks 
• Most in the country take social security programmes that provide aid for granted, it is also an issue that has become widely spoken about yet remains to be addressed 

While it is somewhat more than probable that a considerable portion of society would be kicked into abject poverty in no time if social security programmes like Aswesuma are not launched to support them in our country, a simple yes or no to the question of whether these programmes are practical or not is not necessarily enough.

On the other hand, it is not only a stereotype to say that most in the country take social security programmes that provide aid for granted, it is also an issue that has become widely spoken about yet remains to be addressed.

Following the introduction of the relief package for the economically challenged, in which an Aswesuma beneficiary was declared to receive Rs  20,000 last month (April), rage-driven comments, sarcastic memes, and descriptive posts immediately and aggressively invaded social media platforms, articulating the fact that someone who works in the country receives an average of Rs  50,000 a month, and questioning how fair it is to provide that amount to beneficiaries. This of course posed a simple ethical issue: to question or criticise a portion of society being provided with these benefits, as it is the responsibility of the country to protect its citizens at any cost. Yet, those who criticise, being the taxpayers from whose contribution these aids would be given, added multiple layers of complexity to this situation as well.

Hence, The Daily Morning sought to contact an Aswesuma beneficiary himself to ask about the need for these beneficiary programmes and his thoughts towards them.

Not to mention, throughout the conversation, he uneasily ventured to poise between the standpoint that this is much needed for the survival of his family and the state of guilt of being propped up by the Government’s Treasury that is meant for the nation’s development rather than their individual survival - the balance being decidedly in favour of the latter. In a context where social security programmes are there to ‘feed’ people, he urged the authorities to help them climb the social ladder by providing them knowledge and tools.

Lalith Wasantha from Maho, 42, an Aswesuma beneficiary, whom we met at his recently opened boutique by a tank - even though time to time he was being interrupted by a customer coming to him for a cup of kola kenda (porridge/gruel), and also asking what leaves are being used to make it - offered to share his thoughts with us.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

What is the process of receiving the Aswesuma benefit for a family?

We submitted the applications for the Aswesuma programme when we were asked to under the Government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Then, the Economic Development officer of the area got the information from us through the Survey officer. They came to our house and observed and marked down everything: how many are there in the family, which ages, the income sources, who works and who doesn’t, and even what the roof is made of - whether it is tiles, sheets, or thatches. The disabilities, the diseases, and everything.

It is after considering every of these aspects that they decide which category we belong to. There are four categories (extremely poor, poor, vulnerable, transient/transitional), and according to the category that we belong to, the amount that you receive is different. I have a hearing problem. We have seven members in our family: me, my wife, my wife’s mother, our three sons, and the youngest daughter, and we have no stable income. Considering them all, we receive Rs  10,000. Earlier, it was Rs  8,500, and now, it is being increased to Rs  10,000. For all seven of us, actually the Rs  10,000 is not enough. There are some families with three members that receive Rs  17,500 also. But, that is also considering the other difficulties that they have.

Any other schemes that go together with Aswesuma? Or are there any other programmes for the economically challenged?

No. The monthly allowance is the only benefit that is affiliated with this. Actually, there are other programmes that we can apply for. The thing is, even though we apply for them, we don’t receive any positive response regarding that. For instance, 12 years ago I applied for a programme for economically challenged families, to help us buy the machines to start a job as a carpenter. The programme was to pay half the price of a machine, which is Rs  100,000, and to let us pay the other half to buy the machine. We can pay the other amount later once we start earning with the machine. I completed all the documentation and got the environmental approval too, by paying Rs  4,000. Yet, when I went to the Divisional Secretariat office for the final documentation, they told me that the circular has changed now and that we can’t buy the machine. They said that only those who are already working as carpenters will receive the machines. What is the use of a machine for a person who already has it? It is us who are willing to start who really need it. If I had started carpentry 12 years ago, I might not have become an Aswesuma beneficiary today. This wouldn’t be our living condition either. Also, a few years ago, they took our information to give us milking cows. Even recently, they came for some information regarding that. We still haven’t received them though. If we get them now, yes, we can work and earn, but, what is the use of having them five or six years later? We might be old by then and cannot handle that hard work. These supports should be given at the moment that they are needed. What they do is just give us empty hope.

Do you think that the programme is politicised for any reason? For instance, does the monthly allowance get changed during elections?

No, such increases don’t happen that often. When this Government came, they increased the allowance, and also for Avurudu (Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season), they gave us a bonus. Other than that, the amount hasn’t been changed. We received a message via Short Message Service that we are given a bonus for the New Year. We haven’t collected it yet. It was mentioned that it is Rs  5,000. Recently the officers came and did a survey. That is because they are reassessing the condition of the Aswesuma beneficiaries. They again looked into every piece of information and asked the same questions: "What is your monthly income?" How can we answer that question? We don’t have any permanent income other than the Aswesuma. I go to work for hire when I can, usually for carpentry work. If I have nothing else to do, I also do masonry work. I also raise cows to sell their milk. I raise chickens for eggs. I try to get as much work as possible 24 hours a day. But now, my body is getting weaker. The doctor said that it's a problem with my nerves. That's why it's difficult to do heavy work. Now I have opened this short-eats shop. If we can improve this, it would be great. We don't want to beg the Government. 

How do you use the money that you receive from the beneficiary programme?

People take Aswesuma money and only use it for consumption. Just for the day-to-day goods. Some even use it to have some liquor also. There are many who are expecting the Aswesuma continuously rather than trying to come out of the category of being an Aswesuma beneficiary. I have not seen anyone who invests it or saves it. Actually, with the expenses nowadays, it is not easy to save either. Just imagine, for the last two years, approximately assuming that we received Rs  10,000 each month, that is Rs  240,000 itself. If instead of Aswesuma I had bought that machine two years ago, thereafter, the Government would have no need to pay me Aswesuma; I might even get the chance to provide jobs for others also. Now, what we use the Aswesuma for is mainly for the electricity and water bills, and the rest for children’s education.

Can you have Aswesuma from any bank?

The Samurdhi Bank cannot provide the Aswesuma; that is given via the State banks. The Bank of Ceylon or the National Savings Bank. We made a new account for Aswesuma itself. Both the head of the house and the spouse can have it.

How do the bank officers treat those who receive Aswesuma at the bank? What do you think about the service provided?

There is no such special attention. There is no counter opened for Aswesuma. Not that they treat us badly either. They help us when needed. The forms are mostly in Sinhala, and we can manage them. If needed, the officials are there to help always. It is like a normal bank transaction: we go to the bank and take Aswesuma and come. The money is received in the bank account. People can go and collect it whenever they want to. Hence, not everyone goes to the bank on the same day. Therefore, there is no way for them to know who is who either. In Samurdhi Banks, there are days when many people come on the same day. Those days, we have seen how people get mistreated, have voices raised at them, and are easily irritated.

With your experience, what do you think are the components that are making upward social mobility difficult or impossible for the economically challenged?

It is really hard in our country to start anything actually. That we understand. We are a small country and there is a limit to what the Government can do for us. What the Government can do is identify those who can be guided to have an income themselves. Aswesuma helps. For instance, the bonus that the Government gave us for the New Year, that was really helpful for many. In our country, there are many who are struggling with daily life, and receiving some money for the New Year means a lot. Yet, the Government can’t do this every day. We would also like to hear that our country is a ‘developed country’ one day. We don’t want to be the category that hinders that journey. I have heard that there are other countries that give the education and expertise needed to be a professional or an entrepreneur at the school level itself. We have an education system that is very expensive as well. I have three kids at school so I know. But, I doubt its productivity sometimes. Why can’t we also teach our children to be professionals?

How are the expenses for your kids’ education?

I have three kids in Grades One, Four and Seven. It approximately costs Rs  10,000-12,000 a month. These days, one can earn around Rs  3,000 per day by hired work. I can’t work now because of this weakening of nerves; otherwise, I would at least work for 10 days a month and earn around Rs  30,000. It is not easy to find hired work either. But, even if I earn this Rs  30,000, when there are these education expenses, food for seven, medical expenses, transport and all, there is nothing left for any investment. We still try by at least saving the smallest amount every month, yet, if an emergency comes in, we have to use those savings as well. But, with this new education system, the expenses are actually lessened. The books have room for exercises within the books themselves, so we don’t have to buy them ourselves. There are 11 subjects, and buying 13 exercise books and covers for them is very pricey. Back then, we returned our books to the Government, but not anymore. So, it is a really good method to have the exercise books in the textbook themselves. But, even though the Government said not to gather money from parents, they still do. For painting and cleaning the schools we have to pay, and we have to go. There are people for cleaning the schools - why should we go as well? We go and clean the toilets also.

There is this common belief rooted in society that Aswesuma is received by those who are already economically sustaining. What is your take on that?

We ourselves receive the aid. We are not to decide whether others receiving it is fair or not. But, we have noticed that some who are well-established with permanent incomes receive this allowance. Some people’s vehicles are being registered under other people’s names. So, even if the survey official comes, these incomes and assets are not calculated correctly. Sometimes, the survey official does not report information correctly as well. The problem is not the relevant Ministry; it is these officials not doing their job properly and people lacking integrity tending to receive what they really don’t want or need.

What do you think about the Aswesuma programme overall?

It is us ourselves who pay taxes via goods. We don’t need the Government to pay those taxes back to us in the form of aid rather than using them for the development of the country. Even though all are not educated, they have some expertise in some field or the other. It could be carpentry, constructing, mechanics, etc. If the Government gives entrepreneurship support to those people, we can move forward as a country and we don’t have to remain as people having aid from the Government. I have heard of something like a Social Empowerment Ministry, yet I personally don’t think that there is any efficient, productive, or meaningful service to the country. It is just something restricted to books and papers 

What I don’t get is what they actually expect from Aswesuma. If they want us to come out of poverty, what they should be doing is help us find a way of living, promoting entrepreneurship, or something alike. This monthly allowance is not bringing us anywhere. Only that we eat from it and nothing is left to save, and we can hardly try to manage to save something. It helps us to cover some day-to-day expenses, yet not to come out of this ditch.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the interviewee, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication