Up to 3,500 women entrepreneurs earned an income of at least RM3,500 a month for three consecutive months under the “End the Poverty” 1AZAM Programme from the time it was launched in 2010 to Aug 31 this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie said this was proof that the programme had a positive impact in getting women to earn a higher income.
“The National Key Results Area (NKRA) has targeted 4,000 entrepreneurs earning RM3,500 a month by Dec 31 this year, but the government is hopeful the target can be exceeded,” she said.
Heng was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas (PKR-Telok Kemang) on the effectiveness of the 1AZAM programme for women.
She said the effectiveness was also evident when 21,724 participants earned additional income of more than RM200 a month up to April this year.
Of the 21,724 participants, 7,147 were in the income range of RM200 to RM1,000 a month while 14,577 others earned more than RM1,000, she added.
The 1AZAM programme aims to raise the economic standard of the low-income group, including by way of helping them venture into business. — Bernama