Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) is intended to help poor people cope with the rise in fuel priceswhich is bound to be followed by other increases. Efforts by some political parties to play a part in the distribution of this assistancealbeit indirectlyleave the impression they are merely taking advantage of people's suffering to boost their image.

Leaving aside the shortcomings of the BLT payments, the government seems to have no choice but to pay out