KUALA LUMPUR: More than 50,000 members of the Indian community, particularly from the B40 and M40 groups, are set to benefit from the implementation of six new initiatives under the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra) this year, involving an allocation of RM65.5mil.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan (pic) said the Phase 1 initiatives focus on education, entrepreneurship, community development, healthcare and social assistance to improve the socio-economic standing of the Indian community in the country.
He said the implementation of the programmes was made possible following an additional RM50mil allocation to Mitra announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on May 10.
“With this additional funding, we can further increase the amount of assistance and help more people in need,” he said at a press conference announcing the Mitra Phase 1 Programme here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Among the key initiatives introduced is the Celik Madani Programme, which provides early childhood education subsidies to B40 Indian children, involving 4,000 recipients, with assistance of up to RM2,530 per person and an allocation of RM10mil.
For secondary school students, the Kalvi Madani Programme offers free tuition classes to 5,000 candidates sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia examinations from the B40 group.
He said applications for the programme with an allocation of RM5mil would open from June 5, involving tuition centres registered under the Education Ministry.
In addition, he said B40 and M40 Indian entrepreneurs would also be empowered through the Uyarvu Madani Programme, which provides start-up grants of up to RM50,000 to 500 entrepreneurs across sectors such as e-commerce, automotive, digital technology, agriculture, printing and community services.
In terms of healthcare welfare, he said the Arogya Madani Programme would provide dialysis treatment subsidies of up to RM5,000 annually to 1,300 chronic kidney disease patients from the B40 and M40 income groups, with an allocation of RM6.5mil.
Ramanan said Mitra, in collaboration with the National Welfare Foundation (YKN), would also implement the Thunai Madani Programme to assist B40 Indian individuals and families through financial aid and welfare support to ease the cost of living.
The programme targets 10,000 recipients with assistance of up to RM5,000, subject to case assessments by Mitra and YKN.
He said the assistance provided included disaster and emergency aid, funeral assistance, basic utilities, medical treatment, healthcare equipment, early autism intervention, mobility assistance for persons with disabilities and maternity aid.
In addition, Mitra will implement the Madani Indian Community Programme with Government Members of Parliament Service Centres for the Indian community in rural and interior areas across 38 districts in Malaysia, with each service centre receiving RM150,000 to carry out education, entrepreneurship, social and healthcare initiatives.
He said the public can obtain further information on eligibility requirements and applications through Mitra’s website at www.mitra.gov.my.
“All programmes implemented will be followed up with comprehensive implementation reports as well as periodic monitoring and evaluation by Mitra to ensure they are carried out transparently, effectively and in line with the set objectives,” he said.
