MELAKA: The Uyarvu Madani business grant programme, administered by the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA), has recorded over 8,000 applications, surpassing its initial target of 700 recipients.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan attributed the high volume of applications to strong demand among Indian entrepreneurs, particularly those within the B40 and M40 income groups, as well as an extension of the application window.
"The number of applications increased after we extended the application period, as the original window was short," Ramanan told reporters during a walkabout in Little India, Banda Hilir, on Saturday (Oct 24).
Backed by a total allocation of RM25mil, the initiative offers individual grants ranging from RM20,000 to RM50,000 aimed at helping local entrepreneurs expand.
Ramanan said that alongside enterprise development, MITRA continues to administer various community support programmes, including financial aid for education, dialysis treatment, healthcare assistance, and welfare support for senior citizens.
He added that direct outreach efforts and community engagements will remain ongoing to gather ground-level feedback, evaluate the impact of existing initiatives, and refine future aid programmes to better serve target groups.
