Establishing strengthened network with the non-government organisations in promoting economic opportunities and alleviating poverty a key objective of the Fijian Government.
In line with this vision, Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni yesterday met with Labasa’s TISI (Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam) to establish network with it for the first time in history.
During the meeting, Dr Luveni informed the TISI on Government’s women and social welfare programmes and discussed issues concerning women’s development.
“The focus of this Ministry is to empower people through social services and we have carried out a reform in social welfare, where we will now be able to increase coverage of the assistance to more families,” Dr Luveni said.
Dr Luveni highlighted that the Family Assistance Program that used to target individuals will be replaced by the Poverty Benefit Scheme which will target families.
“It will increase coverage from 21thousand recipients to about 50,000 people. The two other major welfare programs are Care and Protection that assists the children with their education and the Social Pension Scheme for senior citizens who are 70 years and above who don’t receive any form of superannuation funds,” Dr Luveni said.
As requested by TISI, the Minister handed over eight sewing machines that will be an ideal income generating source of for the Labasa Mather Sangam women.
Dr Luveni also took the opportunity to inform TISI on Government’s initiatives in eliminating violence against women and children.
“Currently there are 45 communities that have joined hands with the Ministry for the Zero Tolerance Violence Free Community Campaign and we would like to see more communities showing their support for building violence free communities in Fiji,” Dr Luveni added.
Vuniwa Labasa women’s group president Sant Kumari Murti applauded the visit by Dr Luveni and thanked Government for the opportunity of face to face discussions with the TISI Sangam.
Ms Murti said TISI and government ties will create more economic opportunities for women in the Northern Division.
“We are truly motivated by the Minister’s visit. This is the first time for TISI to have a discussion with a minister because in the past we didn’t have any minister come down to the grassroots people and TISI can confidently say that Dr Luveni is one of the Ministers who can win the elections by the grace of the people, because she is the Minister that has really reached out to the people and makes every effort to motivate and help people especially whose voices were not heard in the past,” Ms Murti said.
“These women are mostly from rural areas and they do not have permanent employment. They do not have enough income to buy their sewing machines, they depend on sewing however their prayers have been answered as this donation is a blessing for them.”
Labasa TISI Sangam vice president Keshwan Pasayachi said the Minister’s presence is an indication of the current Government’s commitment to improving the socioeconomic status of women in the northern division.
“The TISI is promoting the welfare of the members in our communities through administering 21 primary schools and five secondary schools,” Mr Pasayachi said.
He added that the visit by Dr Luveni was a timely one as it strengthened their ties with Government in taking a collaborative approach in addressing the most pertinent issues such as poverty alleviation and economic empowerment for the people.
“This is a timely visit by Dr Luveni that has created partnerships between TISI and government and will boost the socioeconomic development in the northern division,” Mr Pasayachi added.
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