Government Announces Implementation of Third Phase of Electronic Coupon; ILNA: No Impact on People's Livelihoods and Just Propaganda

While the Islamic Republic government announced the implementation of the third phase of the "Fajraneh Electronic Coupon Plan" starting from April 7, a news agency in Iran stated that the government's goal with this plan is propaganda and declared that the government's claim that it will compensate for the shortages of low-income households by providing "nutritious and protein-rich foods" is not true and will have no impact on the livelihoods of low-income families. The ILNA news agency, affiliated with the government organization "House of Workers," reported that the Minister of Labor claims that workers' income is not limited to wages and benefits, but also includes "subsidies and coupons." However, the subsidies and coupons that the Minister speaks of are not even ten percent realizable. According to a worker quoted by the news agency, to receive the "Fajraneh" for a three-person household, it was stated that more than 2 million and 200 thousand tomans must be spent to receive 660 thousand tomans in Fajraneh. The obligation to purchase specific items from designated centers up to a specified budget limit has made the coupon unattractive, and labor activist Maziar Gilani Nejad criticized this subsidy model, stating: "I am sure that many workers and the underprivileged will not use such a coupon." According to Gilani Nejad, "the coupon plan is completely ineffective and provides no benefit to the lower deciles; it only benefits increased sales in specific non-private stores." These criticisms come as the government announced that the third phase of the Fajraneh electronic coupon plan will begin on April 7, and in this plan, the "200 thousand tomans minimum purchase condition from the subsidy" has been removed, and the incentive credit for beneficiaries has increased from 120 to 220 thousand tomans per person. The "Fajraneh" plan was introduced into the Iranian economy as a promotional measure on the anniversary of February 11 last year, and economist Jahangir Laghai stated on February 15 that thirty percent of Iran's population, living in absolute poverty, receive a maximum of 800 calories per day. Laghai described the "promotional" plan to increase the "220 thousand tomans electronic coupon" announced by officials of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare on February 13 as useless, stating: "This plan does not solve any problems." This German-based economist compared the nutritional conditions of camps in Germany and Russia with those of absolutely poor individuals in Iran, saying: "Nazis provided 500 calories of food to prisoners daily, and Stalin's Russia provided up to 800 calories; meaning that exactly thirty percent of Iran's population lives in these death camps." In addition to the absolutely poor population, according to Laghai, official statistics indicate that "currently 65 percent of Iran's population lives below the poverty line and receives only 1800 calories of food per day." The "Fajraneh" coupon is presented as a complement to the electronic coupon. The coupon, referred to as the "electronic coupon," officially returned to the Iranian economy on Monday, June 19, 2023. In June of last year, Jamshid Asadi, an economist residing in Paris, stated in an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America regarding the return of coupons to the Iranian economy that the Islamic Republic cannot combat a difficult economic year with coupons because inflation is "extremely" high and there is also a recession in agricultural production. The narrative of the people regarding protein consumption; the absence of meat on the tables. The empty food basket of the people has lined them up; the media: people return empty-handed. A news agency pointed out that with a livelihood basket of 28 million tomans, the lower deciles have survived with eggs. The poor living conditions of the people; Shargh newspaper: we are not far from receiving "loans for buying bananas, flour, and milk." The sound of rising meat prices; livestock population has decreased by 18 percent. Exclusive; experts: the plan to increase the electronic coupon by 220 thousand tomans does not solve any problems. Protests over living conditions by retirees of telecommunications and social security; steel workers in Khuzestan and Gilan have gathered.