KUALA LUMPUR: Various strategic initiatives to assist the Indian community including aid for university students as well as special grants for those in the B40 group will be continued this year, says Datuk Ramanan Ramakrishnan.
The Sungai Buloh MP, who was also the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra) special committee chairman, said as part of a more comprehensive effort to assist the B40 group within the Indian community, the body had introduced a financial grant application programme for eligible organisations with an allocation of RM30mil.
"The grant approval notification session will be held on Thursday (Oct 26)," he said while debating the Supply Bill 2024 on Tuesday (Oct 24).
He thanked the Prime Minister for approving an allocation of RM100mil to continue such programmes for the socio-economic development of the Indian community.
"The RM100mil allocation for the Indian community, will be used efficiently and transparently through various strategic initiatives that prioritises low and middle-income groups through entrepreneurship and career development, human capital, and social welfare," he added.
Ramanan said for small and medium businesses, a total of RM5.2mil had been allocated under a special programme to assist a total of 1,000 small traders while a total of RM1.48mil had been allocated to train some 150 participants under the technical drone operation and data services programme.
Another initiative was to allocate a total of RM2.87mil under the electrified automation advancement programme, which would benefit some 250 participants.
"These initiatives play a crucial role in helping the Indian community achieve better well-being," he said.
Another initiative included financial aid for Indian students to pursue tertiary education at higher learning institutions, added Ramanan.
"A total of 10,000 eligible students from public and private universities will receive a subsidy of RM2,000 one-off payment each.
"To date, some 5,500 students have received a total of RM12mil in payments.
"The status verification process for the remaining 4,500 students is still in progress, and payments will be completed once that process is finished," he said.
