THE government is reviewing the amount of cash grants given to the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) project beneficiaries in collaboration with stakeholders, including philanthropists.
Deputy Minister in the President’s Office-Public Service Management and Good Governance Ridhiwani Kikwete told the National Assembly yesterday that they are also discussing the interests and overall system of TASAF projects.
Mr Kikwete said this when responding to a supplementary question by Special Seats Member of Parliament Amina Hassan (CCM), who wanted to know government’s plan to increase the amount of cash grants given to beneficiaries.
Responding, Mr Kikwete further said that the government was also reviewing the allowance given to facilitators, particularly those who walked long distances to reach the beneficiaries.
In her basic question, Ms Hassan wanted to know the plan for monitoring completed TASAF projects to ensure their sustainability.
Mr Kikwete responded by saying that in order to ensure the sustainability of TASAF projects, the community forms a maintenance and rehabilitation committee, whose role is to establish rules and procedures for managing maintenance and developing those projects.
“When the project is completed, it remains under the supervision of experts and TASAF in collaboration with the relevant Council for six months, before being handed over to the District Executive Director of the relevant Council, who continues with the responsibility of management, operation, and maintenance in collaboration with the relevant Department or Institution implementing such projects,” he explained.
On development projects under TASAF, he said many projects are brought up by the beneficiaries and the ministry’s responsibility is to take them and include them in the budget plan, so when the money is available, the projects are implemented.
Mr Kikwete said that in response to a follow-up query from Manyoni East MP Pius Chaya, who wanted to know when the government would implement the TASAF project to construct a dispensary at Udimaa Village in Manyoni District in Singida Region.
