Papparaidu (third from right) speaking to some Poverty Eradication Assistance Programme Blueprint beneficiaries while checking out a motorcycle with sidecar that was given to Lim (left). — LOW BOON TAT/The Star
Selangor’s Poverty Eradication Assistance Blueprint Programme has disbursed tools and equipment to 334 people this year.
Selangor human resources and poverty eradication committee chairman V. Papparaidu said that 90 of the recipients were from Kuala Langat.
The programme, which started in 2016, is targeted to help small entrepreneurs buy equipment valued up to RM10,000.
“The equipment for the Kuala Langat recipients alone cost RM687,200,” he said at an aid handover ceremony at Dewan Sri Jugra in Banting, Selangor.
Papparaidu (right) and Kuala Langat deputy district officer Suzaini Ahmad (left) having a chat with Saravanan, who received a grass chopper machine under the i-Seed programme. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star
Since the start of the programme until June this year, the state has spent RM13.6mil to buy equipment for 3,256 traders.
“A total of 175 people also received help under the Indian Selangor Empowerment and Entrepreneurs Development (i-Seed) programme this year,” said Papparaidu.
“The state spent RM142,480 to buy the equipment they needed.
“Since 2021, the state has allocated RM3.3mil to more than 600 small entrepreneurs under the i-Seed programme.”
Papparaidu said the state was meticulous in vetting applications to ensure that only truly deserving candidates were selected.
“Selangor residents aged 21 and above and falling under the B40 category are eligible for the aid.
“Candidates must already be running a business and should propose the equipment that they wish to have, to help in their venture.
“We do not consider applications from students or those still planning to open a business.
“The equipment will be wasted if their business plan falls through,” he added.
One trader who received aid under the poverty eradication programme was 69-year-old Lim Kei Chin from Tanjung Sepat who sells vegetables by the road. He received a motorcycle with a sidecar.
Lim expressed his gratitude to the state government and said he was looking forward to generating better sales.
“I have been selling vegetables from a makeshift roadside stall since 2020 in Jalan 2.
“Now that I have a motorcycle, I can load the vegetables into the sidecar and ride around the surrounding area to reach more customers,” he said.
Meanwhile, goat farmer Saravanan Arumugam, 43, from Banting, received a grass chopper machine under the i-Seed programme.
Presently, he chops the grass manually to feed his goats.
“Some of the manually cut grass might be too big for the goats to eat.
“To prevent wastage, I will collect the uneaten grass and feed it to the cows instead.
“With the chopper, I can now cut the grass efficiently to the desired size and there will be no wastage,” said Saravanan.
