KUCHING: The Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Family and Childhood Development Ministry is calling upon all Sarawakian single mothers to apply for business grants.
Its minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the grants were part of a government initiative to boost economic growth by encouraging participation of single mothers in business.
“This measure provides women with seed capital for new businesses,” she said during a Gawai-Raya dinner organised by Sarawak Single Mothers Association (Pitsa) at Riverside Majestic Hotel recently.
She highlighted the fact that single mothers often face financial hurdles and so the grants would enable them to generate their own income.
Currently the Social Welfare Department distributes monthly financial aid under its children scheme of up to RM450 for single mothers to help ease their burden as the breadwinner of the family.
“Young and energetic single mothers who receive such monthly financial aid can apply for the grants up to RM5,000 and utilise it to pay for, among other things, business equipment and utilities,” she said.
“Another grant with a maximum of RM5,000 from the Sarawak Women and Family Department (JKWS) may also be utilised as seed capital for small and medium businesses.”
About a RM1-million allocation approved recently by Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg for her ministry, Fatimah said it was meant as support for the empowerment of Sarawakian women.
“The empowerment of women through educational and training programmes would bring greater economic returns upon venturing into various fields including tailoring and making of cakes,” she said.
Fatimah also stressed the importance of consistency, efficiency and effectiveness in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Pitsa to ensure their sustainability.
“NGOs need team management skills in order to stay on track for its own sake and the betterment of society they strive to serve,” she said.
She reveals that to empower the growth of NGOs, her ministry along with the Social Welfare Council would initiate a management training programme for NGOs this year.
“The process involves making charity and fundraising activities tax exempted,” she said.
Lastly, on the relocation of Qaseh Laila 1 Children Centre at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, she said the matter would be further discussed with the chief minister.
