A view of the Al Qasba canal in Sharjah.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Sharjah Social Services Department has signed an agreement with the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) to support low-income citizens with Dhs400 per month to pay the electricity bills in the emirate.

The newly signed pact aims to provide social support for citizens with limited income families who meet the conditions for eligibility for support.

The agreement was signed by Afaf Ibrahim Al Marri, Head of the Sharjah Social Services Department, and Abdullah Abdul Rahman Muhammad Obaid Al Shamsi, Acting Director General of the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority.

Based on the agreement, the department calculates the actual monthly consumption of the beneficiaries, and grants a monthly support of Dhs400 to the beneficiaries who meet the conditions for eligibility for social support.

One of the terms of the agreement is that the authority will not cut off electricity from homes that contain an elderly or disabled person who lives on electrical appliances, such as breathing or feeding apparatus, as part of the “Let’s Connect Them” initiative, and those who are nominated by the department, which supports families with limited income by making their homes energy and water efficient with conservation services and also to reduce the costs of electricity and water bills for those who are nominated by the Authority.

In December 2023, His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, emphasised the significance of the role played by the Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC) in supporting the government in decision-making, understanding the needs of society, and assisting in the development of legislative systems and procedures aimed at providing a decent life for citizens.

He highlighted his reliance on the observations, recommendations, and proposals presented by the council and their incorporation into governmental actions.

Sheikh Sultan addressed the key social issues and figures that he is actively working on with the specialised government entities in the Emirate.

He noted that the population of citizens in the emirate of Sharjah is 210,000, with 36 per cent being youth aged between 15 and 35, totalling 76,500 individuals. This demographic represents the group most in need of government services such as education, employment, and housing.

He highlighted the significant attention he personally gives to the education sector. Universities and academies in Sharjah offer hundreds of academic programmes at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, providing thousands of scholarships to ensure education accessibility for all Sharjah citizens.