RAEOA, 23 September 2025 – The Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), through its Territorial Delegation in RAEOA, conducted monitoring of the government’s subsidy payment program for elderly people and persons with disabilities in Beneufe Village, Nitibe Administrative Post, Oé-Cusse. A total of 256 beneficiaries received payments under the responsibility of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS). The monitoring was part of PDHJ’s constitutional mandate to ensure that government programs are implemented in line with principles of human rights and good governance. PDHJ observed that while the payment process was well organized, many elderly people still faced difficulties due to long walking distances and limited road access to reach the payment site.
PDHJ welcomed the efforts of the INSS regional office, which coordinated with other state institutions and the National Commercial Bank of Timor-Leste to deliver services through an integrated team. In addition to subsidy payments, the team provided essential services such as civil registry, electoral administration, education, and health consultations. These services helped beneficiaries, especially those from remote areas, to obtain information, update documents, and access basic healthcare. PDHJ emphasized that this integrated approach is an important step in promoting inclusivity and ensuring that communities in remote areas are not left behind.
Through its engagement with local authorities and service providers, PDHJ also encouraged stronger coordination to address documentation gaps and improve access for vulnerable groups. Communities expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that they not only received their subsidies but also benefited from health checkups, medicine distribution, and vital information about their rights and duties as citizens. PDHJ reaffirmed its commitment to continue monitoring such programs to safeguard the rights of beneficiaries and to ensure government services are delivered fairly, transparently, and in accordance with good governance principles.
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