Ministry Works Closely With Vendors

For the rollout of top-up assistance for May and June for cyclone victims in designated areas

The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation recently met with the three vendors of the Food Voucher programme, namely Morris Hedstrom ( MH’s), Dhan Raj Chauhan Enterprises and Daud Supermarket.

The objective of the meeting held last week in Suva was to look at the rollout of the food voucher top-up for May and June for the beneficiaries of Social Pension Scheme (SPS), Poverty Benefit Scheme (PBS) and Care and Protection Programme (C&P) who live in the 12 priority areas which had been most affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston. These 12 priority areas are Vanuabalavu, Koro, Lomaiviti group (including Nairai, Batiki, Ovalau, Moturiki, Wakaya, Makogai), Taveuni, (Qamea, Yacata) Savusavu (Rabi), Bua to Nabouwalu, Tavua, Tailevu to Ra, Ba, Rakiraki, Lautoka, and Yasawa. The top-up on the food voucher programme initiative has been made possible through the assistance of F$4.6million provided by the United Nations World Food programme. This assistance will benefit 71,700 people, particularly the poorest of the poor living in the 12 affected areas. Through this assistance, the Social Pension Scheme beneficiaries will also receive food vouchers worth $50 for the months of May and June, 2016.

For the recipients of Poverty Benefit and Care and Protection programme, they will receive a top-up of $150 on their food vouchers for May and June, on top of their monthly $50 food voucher regularly provided by the ministry. Minister Rosy Akbar said the assistance would ensure that affected families were able to supplement their daily dietary needs.

“This assistance will enable the recipients to purchase food items including fruits and vegetables. With such a basic necessity addressed, it will enable them to focus on the other greater needs of recovery and rebuilding their homes and communities. We acknowledge the timely support and assistance from the World Food Programme to reach out to those families in affected, rural and maritime communities,” Minister Akbar said. Carpenters Fiji Limited retail and marketing director Kunaseelan Sabaratnam said MH’s was prepared to deliver this assistance to those affected families.

“This is a great initiative by the World Food programme and the Ministry of Women to assist the people who are in dire need of assistance. We are prepared and well- stocked and we shall do the very best to stretch each dollar,” Mr Sabaratnam said. Meanwhile, Dhan Raj, the owner of Dhan Raj Chauhan Enterprises said: “We serve close to 300 clients in Vunidawa, Naitasiri and particularly the remote communities in Monasavu. We are looking forward to serve the clients in the affected areas.” Source: Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation