Japan Press Weekly

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2013 February 13 - 19 [ECONOMY]

JCP moves Nagano’s municipalities to help residents buy kerosene

Thanks for efforts made by the Japanese Communist Party, low-income, elderly, and handicapped households in 10 municipalities in Nagano Prefecture have become able to receive financial support for their purchase of heating oil.

Pointing out that people have difficulties in living in the unusually cold winter because the rise in crude oil prices has pushed up kerosene prices, Nagano’s JCP local assembly members have urged their respective local governments to provide a subsidy to help residents buy kerosene.

Eight municipalities, Okaya, Suwa, Chino, and Saku cities, Fujimi and Iizuna towns, and Hara and Achi villages, have decided to provide heating oil subsidies for low income families. The amount of the subsidy varies by municipalities, ranging from 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen.

Kiso Town in September last year launched a system to give welfare vouchers worth 10,000 yen, available for purchase of heating fuel, to livelihood protection recipients, elderly aged 75 and over, and single-parent families.

The Shimosuwa Town government in January began a voucher system to financially assist townspeople to buy fuel for heating.


Related past article:
> Co-op representatives call for adjustment of kerosene price [February 7&9, 2013]