National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has revealed that single parents received USD4 million in 2021.
NSPA showed the statistics of the Single Parent Allowance programme during a presentation at the third Viavathi Raajje Conference. NSPA revealed that 9,646 individuals have registered at the agency, which are 5,605 men and 4,041 women.
The statistics show that 3,067 individuals registered in 2021, of which 98% are single mothers and 2% are single fathers. Collectively, the single parents are supporting 5,290 children. The largest number of single parents in the southern region are in Addu City, which have 249 registered single parents who are supporting 446 children. Laamu Atoll consists of 191 single parents who are supporting 326 children. Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll consists of 180 single parents supporting 328 children and Fuvahmulah City consists of 148 single parents supporting 278 children.
Furthermore, NSPA provided support to 6,590 individuals in 2021, which included 548 residents in Addu City, 389 individuals in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, and 295 individuals in Gaafu Alifu Atoll. Most of the support was provided to 3,725 patients seeking medical treatment abroad and 1,589 patients being treated in the Maldives.
The ministerial cabinet raised the ceiling for the single parent allowance from USD194 to USD645 in 2019. In the past three years, the highest amount spent for single parent allowances was in 2019, while USD3.3 million was spent in 2018.