Thinley Namgay 

The first phase of Relief Kidu is over. The second is in.

Who can apply?

The employees of tourism and tourism-dependent sectors who have been laid off or placed on unpaid leave or receive reduced salary, and businesses required to remain closed by the government directives and activities affected severely by physical distancing measures with no other source of sustaining their livelihoods.

This is according to the eligibility criteria set up by the Relief Kidu team.

As per the criteria, individuals who are engaged in self-operated businesses in tourism and tourism-dependent sectors with no other means of sustaining their livelihoods are also eligible for kidu.

Moreover, individuals working abroad and have returned home permanently because of the pandemic and have no other means of sustaining their livelihoods are also entitle for kidu.

Press release from the Relief Kidu team states that the kidu recipients of different categories are required to actively seek jobs in the various employment programmes launched by the government and private sectors.

Applicants are required to submit an application. Those individuals who applied or received kidu in the first phase (April-June) can re-apply. Desk and field verifications will be conducted by the team to assess eligibility but may also be required to present themselves physically during the verification process.

Unlike in the first phase, some sectors are now phased out of the kidu considering the recent relaxations and extension in business timing.

Phased out sectors are private technical and vocational institutes, including driving and tailoring institutes, all businesses that operate until 9pm, informal businesses and street vendors, sports centres (stadiums, gyms, yoga, dance studios, rubber tracks and facilities for traditional games), taxis, and other public transport drivers and employees.

Phase two of the Relief Kidu was started on July 7 and it will end in September. The kidu amount has been revised to Nu 10,000 for the full amount and Nu 7,000 for the partial amount.

As of July 20, 15,784 applicants from the Phase I had re-applied, while 2,296 new applications have been received, taking the total number of applications to 18,080. Relief Kidu team has begun assessments for applications.

Of the 33,829 applications received in the first phase, over 72 percent has received the Kidu.