TIRANA, Sept 21 /ATA/ – Albanian government has implemented special support programs and water subsidies, reaching specific vulnerable groups, including households with inadequate income, orphans, families in need.
When properly designed, subsidies can become powerful tools to help social groups and people in need, but they also create incentives for utilities to provide service to wealthier neighborhoods with better infrastructure and higher collection rates.
The Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, also Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, said Saturday that Albanian government is modernizing the water supply and sanitation sector by introducing a new water subsidy scheme through the assistance of the World Bank and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Balluku noted that under the new scheme, Albanian government will cover service cost for up to 5 m3 water a month for people in need.
“The eligible households and individuals include families in need with inadequate income, orphans, families in need with more than two children, and victims of human trafficking or domestic violence. The new scheme will make water consumption affordable for everyone and will also provide incentives to the utilities to improve their performance. With this approach, the government sets the example of a transforming potential of a well-designed subsidy scheme,” she said.
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