The government through MITRA has channeled more than RM12 Million to support the Indian community through early childhood education and community programmes. Human Resource Minister Dato’Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan said RM8.87 million was approved under the Celik MADANI 2026 Early Education Subsidy Assistance Programme.
The programme involves 162 kindergartens nation and benefits 3,612 Indian children from B40 families. This helps more children to gain access to early education.
Support for 168 Hindu Temples
Meanwhile, another RM3.36 million was approved under the third series of the Dharma MADANI Programme, benefiting 168 Hindu houses of worship in Malaysia.
Dato’ Ramanan said that with the latest distribution, the total allocation approved under the Dharma MADANI Programme has reached RM12.54 million, which involves 627 Hindu houses of worship nationwide.
Under the programme, each temple will get RM20,000 to carry out activities and programmes for the Indian community. The funding is not limited to religious activities and it also be used for programmes that benefits the wider community.
The allocations shows the government’s commitment to strengthening the Indian community by supporting community institutions, improving access to early education and developing human capital.
Nearly RM3 million for Southern Zone
Dato’ Ramanan shared the details as he officiated the Celik MADANI 2026 and Dharma MADANI Southern Zone Programme at Wisma Ceylonese in Seremban.
The event had Transport Minister and Seremban MP Anthony Loke and MITRA Director-General Raveendran Nair. During the programme, 48 temples and 45 kindergartens from the Southern Zone, which covers Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Johor, received allocations totalling nearly RM3 million through the Celik MADANI and Dharma MADANI programme.
Dato’ Ramanan added that MITRA will continue to make sure it’s allocations are distributed transparently and used effectively so that more members of the Indian community can benefit.
The initiative is to improve access to education, strengthen community development and create more opportunities for the Indian community in line with the goals of Malaysia MADANI.
