Pre-budget consultation: NGOs and Environment Associations present key proposals

A pre-budget consultative meeting, bringing together Environmental Associations and NGOs representing vulnerable groups, was held this afternoon in the Lunch Room of the National Assembly under the chairmanship of the Junior Minister of Finance, Mr Dhaneshwar Damry.

In a statement, the founder and General Director of Droits Humains Océan Indien (DIS-MOI), Mr Lindley Couronne, raised concerns over recent reforms to NGO funding and called for the reinstatement of the 75% allocation to the National Social Inclusion Foundation (NSIF) to help ensure continuity, accountability, and the professionalisation of social work in Mauritius.

The President of MACOSS, Mr Suraj Ray, highlighted the need to reassess the funding framework related to CSR and the NSIF, noting that Mauritius, as an upper-middle-income economy, has limited access to international funding sources. He stated that these mechanisms are essential for the sustainability of the NGO sector. He moreover proposed revisiting the current funding distribution model, particularly the 75/25 arrangement, and strengthening allocations to the NSIF to ensure more effective and sustainable delivery of social services.

The Director of Pedostop, Ms Virginie Bissessur, advocated for the establishment of a high-level inter-ministerial committee on child protection to improve coordination in cases of child sexual abuse. She thus stressed the need to harmonise procedures across key institutions, including relevant Ministries, the Police, probation services and NGOs.

The General Manager of FoodWise Ltd, Ms Lotilde Charpy, highlighted the stark contrast between more than 100,000 people experiencing food insecurity and an estimated 279 kilograms of food being wasted every minute. She proposed introducing a tax deduction mechanism for companies that donate food to registered NGOs, indicating that such a measure would incentivise food donations, help reduce waste, and provide greater support to vulnerable families.

The President of the Mauritian Scuba Diving Association, Mr Hughes Vitry, highlighted financial and operational challenges facing the diving industry, including higher costs from VAT introduction, rising fuel prices, and delays in boat licensing. According to him, while the sector generates about Rs 500 million in tourism revenue, many diving centres are under strain due to limited tax relief, lack of VAT recovery, and the absence of duty-free concessions on equipment. He also emphasised the importance of protecting marine biodiversity to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.

06 May 2026

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Topics: Environment, Finance