SUNGAI BULOH: The Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) under the Prime Minister's Department has spent RM62 million out of the RM100 million allocated to the unit for the Indian community's education purposes, this year.
Its Special Committee Chairman Datuk R. Ramanan said the allocation spent had benefitted recipients from the B40 Indian community, in the country.
He added that among initiatives implemented with the allocation include the distribution of 6,000 laptops to Tamil schools, nationwide.
"Meanwhile, among initiatives that we have carried out (with the allocation) were assistance for early education students, primary and secondary school students as well as higher learning institution students.
"We have also distributed the funds allocated to Mitra for healthcare purposes for the well-being of the B40 Indian community," he said when met by reporters at the Sungai Buloh parliamentary Deepavali celebration, today.
Ramanan, who is also Sungai Buloh member of parliament, said the remaining RM38 million would be disbursed in phases in the remaining months of 2023.
Meanwhile, he added that Mitra is also expected to implement another initiative that would benefit the hardcore poor from the Indian community, next year.
This, he said, would be announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in due time and is aimed to assist 8,000 individuals.
"We want to implement several initiatives that can empower and strengthen the Indian community in the country and we will discuss the ways on how we can implement that.
"(And) if we take a look at it, the prime minister has also made several initiatives to eradicate hardcore poverty in the country.
"Hence, this initiative, in collaboration with Mitra is expected to assist 8,000 individuals for the Indian community in the Federal Territory and would be announced by the prime minister himself."
Ramanan, at the same time, also reiterated Mitra's focus on making the education sector at the unit's forefront in the coming years.
"The allocations have been mainly used for the education sector this year and as long as I am the chairman of Mitra, priority will be given to education as it is our legacy and future.
"We need to invest in our students for their future and education is the most essential weapon for our community."