‘No one-off handouts for the poor’

Selangor state government will embark on a continuous effort to eradicate poverty.

PETALING JAYA: Selangor state government’s task force on eradicating poverty will not provide handouts on a one-off basis but will continuously monitor affected families.

“We don’t want to give handouts and completely forget about the people. We want a continuity in the efforts in eradicating poverty,” said the Welfare, Women’s Affair, Innovation and Culture Executive Councilor Rodziah Ismail.

Rodziah said this in response to a number of FMT reports that highlighted the plight of the hardcore poor in Selangor.

She added that before 2008, only those with an income of RM400 and below were classified as poor.

“It is not realistic due to the increasing cost of living and prices of services,” Rodziah said in an interview with FMT.

She also revealed that upon raising the ceiling income amount to RM1,500 they found that 30 percent of the Selangor citizens are living in poverty.

According to Rodziah, the Selangor government is serious in its efforts to eradicate poverty and a few programmes have been tailor-made for lower income groups.

“Selangor is the first state to form a working committee to eradicate poverty. If we do not monitor our programmes, we will not know how effective our programmes are.”

Rodziah said those in the lower income group can now apply for loans of up to RM10,000 to set up small and medium businesses. These loans are interest free and Rodziah assured that this initiative will prevent people from resorting to loan sharks.

“As for single mothers, the government is willing to provide RM100 for child care at daycare centres should they opt to work,” said Rodziah.

Cash for housewives

She explained that this will provide single mothers with more time for work.

A Women’s Capability Centre (PWD) will be opened in every constituency in Selangor. These centres will organise skill development programmes such as cooking and sewing classes. The programmes are intended to inculcate self development skills in every woman.

“On healthcare, the Woman’s Health Programme (MAMOSEL) is set up specifically to screen women for cancer. About RM1 million is allocated for this programme and we want to ensure every women undergoes treatment.”

The state government also initiated efforts to enable women to work from home. The PET SOHO-S programme caters to single mothers who want to be involved in entrepreneurship.

About 200 entrepreneurs comprising single mothers is expected to be achieved at the end of the programme.

The programme is expected to garner about 200 single-mother entrepreneurs at the end of it.

“In addition, the state government will give RM30 monthly to each housewife regardless of their husbands’ income,” said Rodziah, adding that housewives who are divorced or widowed are more exposed to poverty due to the sudden change in their financial status.

Other microcredit facilities such as small industries fund, government housing projects and zakat programmes are also made available by the state government in a bid to reduce poverty in the state.