By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, Aug 20 — More than 400 Indian entrepreneurs are expected to receive equipment aid via Selangor Indian Empowerment and Entrepreneurs Development (i-SEED) programme this year.
State executive councillor for socio-economic development V Ganabatirau said so far over 200 entrepreneurs have benefited from the programme that involved an expenditure of RM1 million.
“This year’s allocation has been fully distributed. So we are applying for new funds of between RM500,000 and RM1 million to enable us to help more entrepreneurs.
“Last year we helped 260 entrepreneurs through this programme. Yet there are still many entrepreneurs who have applied and we hope that we can help those who are in need,” he said.
He said this after handing over aid totalling RM670,000 to representatives from 71 temples, here yesterday.
i-SEED, which was launched on April 7 last year, is aimed at increasing the economic level of the Indian community via grants for equipment aid, which is a necessity for their businesses.
Among the conditions are that applicants must be native Selangor residents or have resided in the state for over 10 years, with an individual or household income of RM3,000 a month, and must operate their business in Selangor.
The applying business must also be active and consistent, with the applicant or couple (husband/wife) never having received equipment aid under the Selangor Poverty Eradication Blueprint aid programme or the Selangor Micro Entrepreneur Fund.
