Cheques for hinterland residents without bank accounts; support for elderly, incapacitated to receive cash grant

The government will provide direct cash assistance to residents in hinterland communities this week, starting in Region Nine, with 10,417 cheques printed for people without access to banking services.

The initiative follows instructions from President Mohamed Irfaan Ali to ensure that individuals in remote areas benefit from the cash grant programme. Following a successful rollout in Region Nine, similar exercises are expected to be expanded to other hinterland regions.

Direct transfers have already been made to 140,546 people, including 48,858 central government employees and 91,688 individuals who successfully self-registered on the portal and were verified.

Efforts are also being introduced to improve accessibility, including home-based support for elderly and incapacitated persons, as well as the establishment of help desks nationwide to assist those facing difficulties with the registration process, said Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.

The National Cash Grant Initiative, first announced by President Ali and funded under the 2026 national budget, is being implemented using systems designed to deliver support directly to citizens efficiently and in a timely manner.