(From second right) Austin and Joni give away Gawai relief assistance to a senior citizen.
KUCHING: The Welfare Department will continue to help and alleviate the burden of the poor and the less fortunate people through various welfare schemes and assistance.
However, welfare schemes and assistance available now would not be ‘inherited’, said its acting director Joni Nurrudin.
He said if someone were a recipient of any welfare scheme or assistance today, their children would not inherit what their parent had been receiving from the department.
“Welfare schemes and assistances are given out on temporary basis to help those in need for only certain period of time.
“When the economic position of the recipients has improved, we have to stop giving them the assistance.
“That is why the number of recipients is changing from time-to-time,” he said during the presentation of Gawai and Hari Raya assistance and Endowment Fund Sarawak at Kampung Semban community hall in Bengoh Resettlement Scheme (BRS) here, yesterday.
Joni said welfare schemes and assistances were given as relief measures, and not for every need.
In Kuching alone, there are 9,588 recipients of various welfare schemes and assistance, which cost the Sarawak government about RM11.8 million thus far.
About 100 people from the four villages in BRS and the surrounding villages received RM100 each and a hamper during the event yesterday.
Joni said the Sarawak government was aware that during festivals like Gawai Dayak, every household might have to spend a little extra to treat or entertain visiting friends and relatives.
He said for those who could not attend the event, the RM100 assistance would be deposited into their bank accounts.
There are 30,750 people throughout Sarawak eligible for the Gawai relief assistance. In Kuching, the number is 2,840.
Bidayuh paramount chief for Kuching Division Temengong Austin Dimin was also present.