Children of single mums receive RM10.7 mln in aid
KUCHING: While there is no financial aid specifically for single mothers in Sarawak, the Welfare Department does provide aid under Bantuan Kanak-Kanak (BKK) fund to the children of 12,252 single mums to the tune of RM10.7 million between January and April this year.
As of March 2017, Sarawak Single Mothers’ Association (Pitsa) recorded 14,485 single mums in its database, while the Carnation Club of Kuching/ Samarahan has 700 members.
“We must remember that not all single mothers are registered as members of a single mothers association,” said Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.
She was officiating at Pitsa’s ninth Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the 2017-2019 term yesterday, on behalf of the Chief Minister’s wife Datin Amar Jumaani Tuanku Bujang.
Fatimah said that the ministry aims to empower and develop the economic status of needy groups, including single mothers, so that they no longer need government aid.
“We start by encouraging these mothers to start a business, either alone or in a group, and generate an income while increasing their confidence,” she said, pointing out that various initiatives are available under the state welfare department and State Women and Family Department.
She also said that her ministry wants to start a Micro Enterprise Production Collection Centre that is tasked with collecting products from entrepreneurs who can mass produce but need help marketing them.
“This centre will also help with services such as packaging, labeling, branding and quality control before these items enter the local and international market via e-commerce.”
The centre will be based in Samajaya and managed by a group of professionals with a background in It and business.
“The ministry is confident that with this centre, we can increase the income of this group of people and get them out of poverty.”
Also present was new Pitsa president Salmah Ibrahim.
In her speech, Salmah said that they have five main focus groups, namely the entrepreneurs, a social club, two pre-schools, a preschool fire safety awareness club, and a zikir group.She also said that coupons are now available for their upcoming charity food fair, which is scheduled for August 13.
A total of 150 Pitsa members attended the AGM yesterday.