Bernama | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Asia Samachar | 3 June 2015
KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) — The unit for the Socio-Economic Development of the Indian Community (SEDIC) in the Prime Minister’s Department has proposed a special funding scheme for Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and skills training institutes for the upliftment of Indians in the low-income bracket.
SEDIC Director Prof Dr N.S. Rajendran said the unit would be seeking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s endorsement of the scheme at a meeting tomorrow.
“The Prime Minister will look at the whole funding scheme that SEDIC has prepared. It was supposed to have been done last year but because of scheduling problems, we couldn’t do it. So, tomorrow he will look into it and hopefully he will endorse the fund,” he told Bernama when contacted here, today.
Yesterday, the Asia Samachar, an independent news portal for Sikhs in Southeast Asia, reported that Malaysian Indian-based NGOs would receive a special funding, which was set to be finalised soon. [See story here].
Rajendaran said the funding would be extended to the various Indian communities, including Tamil, Malayalee, Sikh and Telugu, who were among 40 percent of the estimated 2.6 million Indians at the bottom rung of the income ladder.
An estimated 695,030 Malaysian Indians are at the bottom 40 percent or B40, with 139,010 families living in 38 districts in nine states who are earning less than RM2,537 a month.
“The special funding, when approved, will come from the Prime Minister’s Office through the Finance Ministry,” he said, adding that all funding matters related to the Indian community were handled by the Economic Planning Unit until mid last year. Since then, SEDIC had been given the full authority to handle funding for the development of Indians.
Rajendran hoped to see funds from the scheme being distributed to the recipients within two months after it was endorsed.
“We will invite proposals from all the NGOs and skills training institutes on the ground on how to help the community, especially those at the bottom 40 percent,” he said, adding that guidelines would be issued on how the NGOs and training institutes could go about applying for the funds.
He, however, declined to say how much money would be allocated to the special funding scheme. — BERNAMA
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE! Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
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Dana Khas Untuk NGO India Diputuskan Minggu Ini
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Jun (Bernama) — Unit Khas Pembangunan Sosioekonomi Masyarakat India (SEDIC), Jabatan Perdana Menteri telah mencadangkan satu skim pembiayaan khas untuk badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) berasaskan kaum India dan institusi latihan kemahiran diwujudkan bagi meningkatkan taraf hidup golongan India berpendapatan rendah.
Pengarah SEDIC Prof Dr N.S. Rajendran berkata unit tersebut akan mendapatkan kelulusan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mengenai skim berkenaan pada satu mesyuarat esok.
“Perdana Menteri akan mengkaji skim pembiayaan yang disediakan oleh SEDIC itu secara menyeluruh. Ia sepatutnya dilaksanakan tahun lalu tetapi tidak dapat dilakukan kerana masalah penjadualan. Jadi, beliau akan menelitinya esok dan diharap beliau akan meluluskan dana itu,” jelasnya ketika dihubungi Bernama hari ini.
Semalam, Asia Samachar, sebuah portal berita bebas kaum Sikh di Asia Tenggara, melaporkan bahawa NGO berasaskan masyarakat India akan menerima dana khas yang akan diputuskan dalam masa terdekat.
Rajendran berkata dana itu akan dipanjangkan kepada pelbagai komuniti India termasuk Tamil, Malayali, Sikh dan Telugu yang dianggarkan berjumlah 40 peratus daripada kira-kira 2.6 juta kaum India, berada dalam golongan berpendapatan rendah.
Dianggarkan 695,030 masyarakat keturunan India di Malaysia berada di tahap paras bawah 40 peratus atau B40, dengan sejumlah 139,010 keluarga hidup dalam 38 daerah di sembilan buah negeri, berpendapatan kurang daripada RM2,537 sebulan.
“Pembiayaan khas ini, apabila diluluskan, akan dibiayai oleh Pejabat Perdana Menteri melalui Kementerian Kewangan,” katanya, dan menambah kata bahawa kesemua perkara berkaitan komuniti India selama ini diuruskan oleh Unit Perancang Ekonomi sehingga pertengahun tahun lalu. Sejak itu, SEDIC diberi kuasa penuh untuk mengurus pembiayaan bagi pembangunan masyarakat India.
Rajendran berharap dana daripada skim itu akan diagih-agihkan kepada para penerima dalam tempoh dua bulan selepas diluluskan.
“Kami akan mendapatkan cadangan daripada kesemua NGO dan institusi latihan kemahiran bagi mencari kaedah membantu komuniti terbabit, terutamanya mereka yang berada di bawah paras 40 peratus,” katanya.
Satu garis panduan untuk NGO dan institusi latihan memohon dana berkenaan akan diterbitkan kelak.
Rajendran, bagaimanapun, enggan mendedahkan jumlah sebenar yang diperuntukkan untuk skim pembiayaan khas itu. — BERNAMA
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