The Abia Government has commenced the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Cash Transfer (RHCT) for 25,000 poor and vulnerable persons from the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.The Programme Manager in charge of the disbursement in Abia, Mrs Adanna Oke, told newsmen in Umuahia, that the disbursement of the fund started on Tuesday at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

She said that no fewer than 800 beneficiaries from Isiala Ngwa North LGA received their debit cards for cash withdrawal on the first day. She said that beneficiaries from Isialangwa Ngwa North, Umuahia North and Aba South LGAs had so far received theirs, adding that the disbursement was programmed to last for two weeks.She also said that the beneficiaries would cash the first two tranches at once after getting their cards and use the same card to withdraw the third tranche in their communities.Oke described the programme as a Federal Government’s initative, in collaboration with the World Bank and State Governments.She said, “This programme is called Renewed Hope Cash Transfer. It used to be House Hold Uplifting Programme.“It is a programme where we supervise the disbursement of stipends to the beneficiaries across the state.“It is going on simultaneously across the country, but we are responsible for beneficiaries in Abia.”According to her, the list of the beneficiaries was compiled from a social register from National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), Abuja.“We have the social register, where the names of beneficiaries were sent from NCTO, Abuja to the states.“The NCTO is responsible for generating the names.“It also has a State Operating and Coordinating Unit that is responsible for going into the communities to collect relevant data.“The information they gathered from people will determine the category the respondents will be placed.“The data helps the World Bank to decide if a person is actually poor and vulnerable or not,” Oke also said.She commended Gov. Alex Otti for supporting the programme and assisting Abia indigenes to get their fair share of the RHCT.“We are grateful for the gift of good governance and we can only pray to God to strengthen the governor.“We also thank him for all the support we are getting at the state Cash Transfer Unit.“We also thank the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Blessing Felix, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Policy and Intervention, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, who is also the Focal Person for National Social Investment Programme in the state, for their support”.Also speaking in an interview, the commissioner urged the beneficiaries to invest their stipends in businesses that would improve their livelihoods.“I came to actually meet with the beneficiaries, where they are receiving their money to improve their livelihoods.“All of them have a debit card assigned to them by the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Initative.“I’m very happy to see the large turn out of people today to receive their cards.“It is hoped that the money will provide a lot of support to the beneficiaries, who need financial assistance.“It is a three tranche programme. This is the first two tranches.“There will be another one before another set of beneficiaries will be selected,” Felix said.Some of the beneficiaries, including Blessing Alozie and Monica Mba, who confirmed the receipt of their debit cards, appreciated the Federal Government’s kind gesture and promised to invest the fund in their petty businesses. (NAN)