The Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra) today announced three initiatives worth a total of RM39.44 million to help the low-income earning group (B40) in the community.
According to its special committee chairperson R Ramanan, the programmes would focus on education, economy, job training, welfare, and social well-being.
Ramanan (above) said that the first initiative is subsidies for Bachelor's Degree studies for B40 Indian students at public universities.
"Undergraduates in the second, third, and final year of studies will receive a one-off aid payment of RM2,000.
"Around 10,000 Indian students from the B40 group, who are studying at public universities, will benefit from this initiative," Ramanan told a press conference in Putrajaya today, adding that the RM20 million initiative is in collaboration with Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN). Application for this initiative will open on May 8 until Sept 15.
Breakfast meals
The second initiative pertains to early education subsidy for Tamil-language kindergartens registered with the Education Ministry, to cut down cases of dropouts in early education, as well as to improve the literacy and numeration levels among B40 Indian children.
This programme will see a monthly subsidy of RM200 given to such kindergartens, encompassing study fees and breakfast meals for 12 months.
"A total of RM10.8 million will be spent on this programme, involving some 4,500 Indian students from the B40 group. The subsidy will be channelled straight to proprietors of the education centres."
According to the Sungai Buloh MP, applications for this programme, which opened on April 17, will run until May 28, on a "first-come, first-serve" basis.
Kidney patients' aid
The third initiative sees kidney disease patients from the B40 Indian community receiving aid of RM200 per session of dialysis treatment.
"Some 900 chronic kidney disease patients will receive this aid four times a month, for a year.
"A total of RM8.64 million has been allocated for the programme, which would be carried out in collaboration with existing dialysis centres," Ramanan said, adding that registration for the initiative would open on May 8 and close on Aug 30.
On another matter, he said that Mitra has received more than 1,200 applications for financial grants worth RM30 million.
"Mitra has extended the application window for the grants until May 28.
"Until May 4, we have received a total of 1,227 applications online, involving funds worth more than RM443 million," he said.
"We will scrutinise every application and allocate funds for those who can benefit the Indian community, especially the B40 group."
During the presentation of Budget 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced an allocation of RM100 million for Mitra. - Mkini
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