RM43m to help poor women traders

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) has set aside RM43 million for the first phase of its latest initiative to eradicate poverty under its Teman 1Azam KPWKM.

Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the programme was part of the ministry’s efforts to fulfil its national key result area to raise the living standards of low-income households.

“The programme’s concept focuses on social enterprise and productive welfare with emphasis on an individual’s potential based on her knowledge and skills so that she will not solely rely on the government’s support.

“It aims to aid those who already run a small business and wish to expand it,” she said when launching the programme here yesterday.

For the first phase of the programme, 8,568 participants from Selangor and Negri Sembilan had been awarded RM3,000 to RM5,000 in the form of start-up kits. These kits consist of equipment specific to the receiver’s chosen trade such as sewing or cooking.

Participants will also be eligible to apply for financial loans through the scheme provided by the ministry’s co-partner in the programme, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, a nonprofit organisation which gives out micro-credit loans to the poor.

The programme’s main target group is women, particularly those who are family breadwinner s.

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