Farmers welcome $200 back-toschool assistance
Ba sugarcane farmers have welcomed Government’s $200 back-to-school per child assistance.
This follows the announcement made by Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka on Tuesday.
Parents who qualify for the assistance need to have a combined income of $50,000 or less.
Farmer Asis Ram who has two daughters attending Arya Kanya Pathshala School in Ba said the assistance was a timely one.
Mr Ram has been a sugarcane farmer in Vutuni, Ba for close to 20 years now.
“I am happy that I will be receiving the assistance from Government for my two daughters so that we can purchase their school stuff,” he said.
Another sugarcane farmer, Shalend Kumar said he was content to know that sugarcane farmers around the country would be assisted greatly.
Although Mr Kumar does not qualify for the assistance as his children have left school, he still commends Government and was happy for his other sugarcane farmer friends. “Some children miss school because they are struggling and this assistance will be a great help to them,” Mr Kumar said.
Sugar Cane Growers Council chief executive officer, Vimal Dutt said the assistance brought in much needed relief in the cane farming communities. Mr Dutt said the children were the future of the country and special attention to children was always an essence of leaders. “The announcement is well received by the cane growing community, especially when prices of stationery and other school items is beyond control due to global calamities,” he said.
“Indeed, a timely assistance we were being approached by growers for a special cane payment in support of school reopening, other option would have been seeking loans. “The council on behalf of the growers and their alliances acknowledges the cash support back to school initiative reaching directly to the families in need and all school children will be able to attend school effectively.”