Assistance for 1,544 hardcore poor in Johor

27 July 2010 , By The Star

A total of 1,544 hardcore poor in Johor will receive assistance through the 1Azam poverty eradication programme.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the 1Azam projects, comprising agriculture, small businesses, job-matching and services, would be implemented in the state with the aim of increasing families’ household income.

“The scheme is based on the social enterprise concept.

“It is a form of productive welfare, whereby the ministry will assist the poor families in any of the four schemes, so that their monthly household income will reach at least RM1,200,” she told the media after a meeting with Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman as well as other state leaders.

Shahrizat said the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) was among the earliest government agencies to implement the programme.

“More than 200 people have participated in the programme initiated by Irda,” she said.

Shahrizat said that the ministry, through the Welfare Department, was also assisting the disabled under a RM95mil fund.

“We have so far spent RM40mil in giving direct aid to the disabled.

“The effort is continuous as we aim to assist every disabled person in the country,” she said.

She added that more than 30,000 disabled people had received help this year.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported Shahrizat as saying that parental care was important in addressing social problems.

She said parents should show their love and care to their children.

“Today, we franchise our children either to teachers or other people. What the children need are love, care and guidance,” she added.

She said the family institution no longer functioned effectively.