As a result, these goods can easily be sold at reasonable profits in several countries, including Egypt, Sri Lanka, and some neighboring countries. There will always be people willing to sell what they obtain for next to nothing at a reasonable profit. Maintaining the status quo under the pretext that these subsidies serve needy citizens is inaccurate. We must consider a better way to provide assistance to these citizens while putting an end to the blatant waste of public funds. This waste has continued for nearly 55 years, and its cost has probably far exceeded $25 billion. And this is only in relation to food subsidies, let alone the subsidies spent on fuel, water, electricity, and other necessities.
The waste of food subsidies can be stopped and the system can be implemented in other ways. A monthly allowance can be deposited into the bank account of each family that can prove its need. These families can also be given the right to purchase their necessities from the local cooperative society up to a specified monthly limit. To minimize waste and ensure, as much as possible, that subsidized goods reach the families who need them most, those wishing to benefit from the program should submit an application to the relevant authority through the cooperative society to obtain the subsidized goods. They should also submit a written declaration confirming their need for the subsidized goods and pledge not to distribute or resell them, while accepting responsibility for any violations.
Applicants should sign a declaration stating that they have a limited income not exceeding, for example, one or two thousand dinars. Any family that provides misleading information or handles subsidized goods illegally should be deprived, for a specific period, of access to these subsidized goods. Tens of thousands have applied for subsidized food rations, not wanting to burden the state, especially under these difficult circumstances, and not wanting to compete with low-income earners for their share of state funds. The relevant authorities should remove sugar from the list of subsidized items, as every family in Kuwait has at least one diabetic member. I also suggest removing luxury items such as zubaidi fish, shrimp, and others.
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