MELAKA – The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) has adopted a food poverty line income (PGK) limit of RM1,169 for the distribution of aid involving the hardcore poor.
Its minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said KPWKM previously used PGK on the average household income of RM980 for that purpose before increasing it to RM1,169 based on a 2019 Statistics Department study.
She told reporters this after handing over a letter of offer to welfare assistance recipients under the Social Welfare Department (JKM) in Cheng here today.
Rina said this to clarify any confusion – especially among aid applicants – regarding the use of PGK to qualify them to obtain assistance under KPWKM.
Also present at the handing-over ceremony were JKM deputy director-general for operations Fatimah Zuraidah Salleh and Melaka JKM director Burhanuddin Bachik.
Meanwhile, Rina said Melaka JKM distributed nearly RM94 million in aid to 24,838 recipients in the state from January to September this year, compared with RM90.27 million involving 24,913 recipients last year.
She said the aid includes financial assistance for children, senior citizens, disabled workers, launch grants, and state general assistance.
“Apart from financial and psychosocial assistance, we look at other needs such as helping the recipient’s children get jobs through cooperation between the ministry and other agencies,” she said.
She also advised the disabled to register under JKM so that they can receive 32 benefits provided by the government to ease their burden. – Bernama, October 19, 2021
