MORE than 100 programmes to help the hardcore poor have been held, says Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
Saarani said the latest event was a One-Stop Centre programme in Manjung on Nov 11.
“Various agencies gathered to solve problems faced by the impoverished.”
He was responding to Syed Lukman Hakim Syed Mohd Zin (PN-Chenderoh) during the question-and-answer session at the Perak State Assembly sitting yesterday.
“During the programme, counters were set up to provide aid and there was also an sharing session by eKasih participants who are no longer categorised as hardcore poor.”
Saarani said another initiative was the Hardcore Poor Eradication Action Plan Workshop to devise comprehensive solutions.
“The workshop involved 53 agencies, including district and land officers, which formulated various strategies.
“From the workshop, we locked in data on family household incomes in January and identified 9,402 people who needed help.
“Those who were identified were interviewed to find out the type of aid they required.
“As of Nov 18, the number of people needing help on this list has been halved to just 4,819.”
Saarani said the programmes for the hardcore poor also taught entrepreneurship skills.
He said the state hoped to eradicate poverty by 2025 through its Perak Sejahtera Plan 2030.
“The Perak State Development Office has been appointed as the agency to run the poverty eradication programme.
To a question by Syed Lukman Hakim on how the state could help those late in applying for aid, Saarani said the state would try its best to help them.