17,177 poor household heads under 1Azam Programme

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SOME 17,177 household heads have joined the 1Azam Programme to help the hardcore poor and productive poor since it was introduced last year.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Heng Seai Kie told parliament of the number, 82 household heads were from the Orang Asli community.

“We can only see its impact and effectiveness by year end as 1Azam Programme is still at its infancy stage of implementation,” she said in reply to a question by Datuk Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong).

Noraini had asked the ministry to state statistics of hardcore poor according to race and Orang Asli community involved in 1Azam programme to improve their economies.

Heng said the participants are given guidance and aid in the form of financing (grants) and equipments.

They are monitored by agencies under Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry (Azam Tani) and Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (Azam Niaga and Azam Khidmat).

“The Human Resources Ministry (Azam Kerja) will ensure that projects undertaken generate continuous income, thus improving their standard of living and economic level.”

“Participants are monitored by experts charged with ensuring that income exceed RM3,500 monthly for three consecutive months.”

Heng said 44,535 household heads were removed from the hardcore poor list under the eKasih system as at December 2008.

Some 17,162 were Malays, 525 Indians, 398 Chinese, 6,338 Iban, 413 Kadazan, 64 Orang Asli and 19,743 Bumiputeras and other ethnics in Sabah and Sarawak.

1Azam Programme is aimed at increasing income of the poor and hardcore poor via four channels — Azam Tani, Azam Niaga and Azam Khidmat and Azam Kerja. — Bernama