The Ministry of Planning on June 8 launched an objections and suggestions system, aiming to more effectively identify vulnerable and impoverished families. This digital approach will be facilitated through a mobile application and dedicated website, and will accept written and voice messages.
This new system is designed to increase transparency and accountability in the identification process, as detailed in a June 6 press statement. The intention is to strengthen the ministry’s ability to correctly identify families in need.
The official launch of the Poor and Vulnerable Families Identification Programme was attended by Senior Minister Chhay Thorn, Minister of Planning, Australian Ambassador to Cambodia Justin Whyatt, and Jost Kadel, Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy.
The launch is designed to raise public awareness of the new ID Poor mobile application, and the accompanying website (www.idpoor.gov.kh).
“This system will resolve all objections and suggestions according to their type in a timely manner while maintaining confidentiality for citizens, civil society organisations, and local authorities,” said a ministry representative.
The new system addresses four key areas: applying for equity cards, handling objections and suggestions, disseminating information on poor family identification, and the verification of equity cards.
Yang Kim Eng, president of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace, praised the system, saying it would offer several benefits in terms of governance and public services, and would strengthen the democratic principles that the state must respond to in order to provide services to the people.
“It is good that people can offer feedback and receive a response from the government through this confidential system. It is crucial that the government pay heed to the opinion of the public. A thorough, impartial solution based system will solve many grassroots level obstacles with the service,” he said.
He suggested the state should enhance its control over services and political programmes at all levels to maximise efficacy, citing some issues, such as grassroots level corruption, incorrect identification, and cliques, that must be addressed.
