PUTRAJAYA: The Welfare Department is targetting 1,500 needy people for the second phase of its 2 Years Exit Programme (2YEP) to eradicate poverty.
Announcing the success of its pilot project at a press conference for the National Welfare Month today, the Women, Family and Community Development minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the first phase of the 2YEP, which was introduced last year, has helped 122 hardcore poor people from its list of Social Welfare Department beneficiaries, including persons with disabilities, to come out of poverty.
"We will be inviting 50 of them to share their success stories at the launch of the National Welfare Month in PLPP Bangi," Rohani said.
"One of them is now a sheep breeder who's earning RM60,000 per month. The other one has become a successful restaurant owner, earning RM70,000 per month."
The National Welfare Month will be officiated by Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Oct 1 in the Bangi Industrial and Rehabilitation Centre (PLPP Bangi).
It is expected to draw 50,000 people. Various welfare programmes have already been carried out in every state since Sept 10.
Rohani reiterated that her ministry is committed to helping the poor, but all Social Welfare Department beneficiaries must learn to be more financially independent in the long run.
"They should try not to stay in the welfare list forever," she said. "That's why under Budget 2018, I've asked for a bigger grant for them, so that they can start doing their own business and increase their income."
Under the current 2YEP, participants are given RM2,700 grant to start a business or agriculture project with the help and support from other government agencies.
"I'm proposing that the grant be raised to RM5,000 under Budget 2018," she announced. "Right now, most of the grant has been given to our participants to start their own food business."
The 2YEP was first introduced last year under the 11th Malaysian Plan (RMK11), to be implemented from 2016 - 2020. A total of 500 participants were selected from Negeri Sembilan and Perlis for the pioneer programme.
The 122 participants that have graduated from the entrepreneurship programme have received a total of RM329,400 business grant from the Federal government.