The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has clarified that they do not provide $1,000 as aid at any time. They also stated that if such an amount was given by the previous government, there are no records or system entries to confirm it. NSPA made this statement to clarify the facts to the public in response to circulating stories claiming that the previous government gave $1,000 in aid, while the current government is providing less.
NSPA stated that a tweet claiming they didn’t provide assistance to a cancer patient is false and defames their employees. According to their system, the person in question has applied for Aasandha and welfare assistance 9 times in total, and help was provided each time.
The first application was made in May 2023, and 3,855 rufiyaa was approved as financial assistance under the welfare case. Subsequently:
[The translation then lists the dates and details of assistance provided, as in the original text]
NSPA emphasized that they have provided assistance within the existing guidelines each time the person applied. Except for the reimbursement of a self-purchased ticket, the financial aid given each time was equivalent to $200-250 in Maldivian rufiyaa. They stressed that there are no records or system entries showing a $1,000 payment at any time.
Meeting with the person who tweeted
NSPA reported that they met today with the person who made the tweet, along with senior officials and the relevant committee. The assistance details were reviewed in the person’s presence using NSPA’s systems, and the individual agreed on the accuracy of the information and “confessed” to its authenticity.
However, as the tweet and the person in the meeting repeatedly claimed receiving $1,000 during the previous government, when questioned about this, the person stated, “To expedite the case, I called the senior official who was managing Aasandha at the time. Afterwards, a young person called and asked me to come. When I went, they made me sign an A4-sized paper and handed over that amount.”
NSPA stated that there are no records or entries in any of the agency’s systems showing the $1,000 payment the person claims to have received then. The person also agreed that they don’t have any documentation related to this.
Therefore, NSPA concluded that if any money was disbursed without proper documentation, it would be an act contrary to the aid approval procedures, standards, and outside the aid distribution system.”
