MIC President and Works Minister Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu met with Neighbourhood Project Leaders on December 20, 2001 to discuss several important issues related to their role in social change.
Introduction
Organising and mobilising grassroots leaders for community service is at the heart of social change. Local community leaders are our key partners in addressing social ills, problems and issues at the grassroots level.
The MIC has been working at the local neighbourhood levels now selected for project implementation. It has over the years undertaken household surveys; organised ad-hoc social programmes; assisted poor families especially during times of fire, flood and other difficulties; and assisted in resolving housing problems, especially low-cost housing.
Government-Funded Programmes (June 2001 – May 2002)
The Government has allocated RM2.7 million for Yayasan Strategik Sosial to undertake systematic social intervention programmes in local neighbourhoods for the first year. Between June and November 2001, YSS organised 22 different programmes with 115 activities reaching 10,475 individuals.
Government-Funded Community Based Programmes (January – May 2002)
New programmes will be organised and run in local neighbourhoods.
Locations - We have identified 31 neighbourhoods –Selangor (9), WP-Kuala Lumpur (14), Kedah (1), Penang (1), Perak (1), Pahang (2), Negeri Sembilan (1) and Johore (2).
Type - The neighbourhoods comprise 13 squatter settlements, 5 Rumah Panjang, 6 Rumah Pangsa, 4 Rumah Murah & 3 Ladang.
Programme - These are community based social programmes organised in local neighbourhood for the benefit of residents. They include community-level programmes like neighbourhood gatherings, gotong royong and safety campaigns; Family & Women based programmes like Family Day and identifying poor and needy families; Youth based programmes like games and human development activities.
Other Government-Funded Social Programmes
In addition to neighbourhood programmes YSS will undertake social programmes in schools where there is a majority of Indian students in Selangor and WP-KL. It will organise:
1. School-based social intervention programmes
2. Camps for children & youths
3. Motivation programmes for Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBGs)
YSS will also work with temple leaders to organise family seminars and family days in Petaling and Kuala Langat districts.
It will partner with Indian Based Organisations (IBOs). There are 1,012 registered IBOs with the Registrar of Societies and 203 have replied to our questionnaire. A one-day programme is being planned in early 2002 and many of these IBOs will assist YSS in programme delivery at the grassroots level.
Conclusion
It is the aim of the MIC TO MOBILISE the Indian community (social, political, religious and business sections) at the grassroots to enable the social mobility and upliftment of the Malaysian Indian community. We want to FOSTER SMART PARTNERSHIPS between Government agencies and the Indian community in programme delivery to address social ills.
(Submitted on 17th January 2002)
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