Eligibility rules, approval procedures and financial criteria for Bahrain’s Towns and Villages Development Scheme are set for a comprehensive review aimed at making the programme more efficient, transparent and responsive to citizens’ needs.
The proposed amendments have been completed by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry and are now being co-ordinated with relevant authorities before being presented to the Capital Trustees Board and the three municipal councils for their views.
Under the scheme, support of up to BD10,000 is provided for eligible families, with the maximum increased to BD13,000 for dire situations following exceptional approval by Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak.
The current maximum family income threshold is BD600 for general support and BD800 for rainwater waterproofing – subject to review.
Municipalities Affairs Under-Secretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said the revised guidance manual would strengthen the mechanism for assessing applications while ensuring decisions are based on clearer and more consistent standards.
“Work is underway to complete all the necessary procedures for approving the proposed amendments to the guidance manual in co-ordination with the relevant authorities,” he said.
“The technical and regulatory observations are being reviewed before the proposals are submitted to the municipal councils. The objective is to enhance efficiency and transparency in eligibility standards while enabling municipalities to better meet citizens’ needs and aspirations.”
Launched in 2006, the Towns and Villages Development Scheme supports low-income Bahraini families by repairing and remodelling homes, restoring properties damaged by fire and providing assistance such as rain insulation. Applicants must currently meet a number of conditions, including Bahraini nationality, ownership of the property, residency in the home for more than 10 years and household income limits, with applications assessed against technical and social criteria.
Ongoing construction work on a home under the scheme
Shaikh Mohammed pointed out that the review forms part of wider efforts to continuously improve municipal services and ensure development programmes remain aligned with Bahrain’s social and urban development priorities.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah welcomed the review, describing it as a positive step towards simplifying procedures.
“The new rules will make the process faster and easier for applicants,” he said.
“There are suggested changes to the maximum income eligible for support, the scope of support and how applications are handled and approved, among others.
“We work as one municipal team to get it pushed because the programme has helped many Bahraini families over the years and should continue evolving to reflect changing needs.”
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif also backed the proposed changes, saying modernising the guidance manual would improve service delivery and ensure assistance reaches eligible families more efficiently.
“Periodic reviews are essential because communities and their needs change over time,” he said.
“Clearer procedures and updated eligibility criteria will help councils process applications more effectively while maintaining fairness and transparency. We look forward to discussing the proposals and contributing our observations before the new rules are finalised.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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