Azerbaijan, Baku, May 15/Trend M. Moezzi
Wealthy Iranians will soon lose the cash subsidies they were paid by the government as part of its subsidy reform program.
A little over a week ago, the parliament's Budget Integration Committee approved $54 billion in funds for the second phase of Iran's subsidy reform plan. Now the Committee has approved the elimination of 10 million "affluent" Iranians from the program.
The Targeted Subsidies Organization had previously sent citizens mobile text messages asking them to voluntarily drop out of the program
The new move won't be voluntary, however, said Seyed Kazem Delkhosh a member of the Majlis.
Today, every Iranian receives 455,000 rials, about $37 (USD), each month as compensation for the government's program to end subsidies for some commodities and energy carriers. The subsidy reform plan was launched in late 2010 and is supposed to be carried out over five
years.
The second phase of the reform plan, just approved by the Majlis, will usher in higher prices for natural gas, water and electricity.
Citizens will get an additional monthly payment to make up for the higher prices. The Iranian government has transferred 280,000 rials, about $23, to Iranians' accounts for the second phase of the program although the money can't be withdrawn yet.
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