By BAVANI M | Jan 18, 2010

Ministry to look into needs of urban poor

THE Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry is on a mission to eradicate poverty in the city. Its deputy minister, Datuk M. Saravanan, has guaranteed that the needs of the urban poor in Kuala Lumpur would be looked into.

In giving out school aid to 161 poor Indian students from 25 schools in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Saravanan said this year, aid was given to Indian students from all schools and not only those from Tamil vernacular ones.

The students received school uniforms, shoes, bags and cash from the Federal Territory Foundation (YWP), which is part of the FT Ministry. The contribution is an annual affair to help ease the burden of poor families.

“Every child has the right to an education, regardless of race, colour, creed and social background, and we are here to ensure that every one gets one,” Saravanan said.

Saravanan added that YWP had so far distributed aid to about 2,000 students in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan amounting to RM550,000.