Single mums told to have inner strength and knowledge
BINTULU: Single mothers have been told to have inner strength and knowledge to stand on their own feet without depending too much on others.
Ministry of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing permanent secretary Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat said single mothers must work to empower themselves.
“As women, we must be ever-ready for any possibility to be emotionally, physically and financially independent,” she said when opening the Sarawak Single Mothers Empowerment Programme yesterday.
We encourage single mothers to continue to contribute and serve the country for their own wellbeing and we want to reduce their dependency on welfare assistance. Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat, Ministry of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing permanent secretary
“We encourage single mothers to continue to contribute and serve the country for their own wellbeing and we want to reduce their dependency on welfare assistance.”
She said the programme could hopefully give participants a new level of confidence to be independent and capable of facing challenges.
Saadiah also called on the community to play an active role in creating a support system for single mothers.
“For the record, as of March 2017, a total of 14,485 single mothers were registered with Sarawak Single Mothers’ Association and 700 people under the Carnation Association Kuching/Samarahan branch.
“This is not the actual number of single mothers in Sarawak because not all of them are registered with the association,” she said.
She pointed out that while there is no specific aid for single mothers, the government gives aid to their children.
“As at February 2017, a total of 12,375 recipients have received the assistance amounting to RM6,753,400,” she added.