In an attempt to support the Indian community and reduce student absenteeism, the Selangor government is carrying on a more than ten-year-old practice of offering bus fare subsidies to students attending Tamil vernacular schools within the state.
This comes after it was announced that 324 students attending Tamil national schools in the Hulu Selangor region would have their bus tickets subsidized with an allocation of RM97,200. Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari stated that since 2013, the state government has granted RM7.88 million to 26,258 students in Selangor for this specific purpose.
Amirudin also disclosed the grant of RM45,000 to nine Tamil vernacular schools in the district to upgrade infrastructure. However, he refuted any suggestion that the aid provided today is in anticipation of the impending Kuala Kubu Bharu by-election, which is planned for May 11. He highlighted that the state government provides similar aid every year.
He also stated that the state government has been implementing this initiative since 2008 to ensure fair treatment for all Selangor residents while encouraging collective development. Every year, more than RM4 million is allocated to Tamil schools across the state.
The school bus ticket subsidy scheme will be subsequently rolled out to Tamil schools in other districts, following a comprehensive verification to guarantee that the aid is directed to kids from low-income households.
In his speech yesterday at the Batang Kali multipurpose hall during the handover ceremony of the school bus fare subsidy aid for Tamil schools and Poverty Eradication Blueprint Assistance Program in Hulu, Selangor, he stated that the state government would always be one step ahead in ensuring new opportunities to enhance the people’s livelihoods.
This program for the Indian community is critical since it not only gives financial aid but also strengthens their education, guaranteeing that families have no reason for their children to be absent or drop out of school. According to Amiruddin, the aid distribution will be monitored by V. Papparaidu, the state executive councilor for poverty eradication.
Source : SELANGOR JOURNAL
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