By Norrasyidah Arshad
KLANG, Oct 10 — The state government has allocated up to RM3 million yearly since 2017, for the development of the Indian community.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said this began during his tenure as state executive councillor of entrepreneurship development, with its effects clearly visible now with the increase in Indian entrepreneurs.
“Today many traders have been gathered. How have such individuals come about? This is due to the allocations prepared for them.
“There are no middlemen who will take their share of the profit, as no one enrichens themselves with the allocations provided. All the costs will go to the people and to the Indian community in particular,” he said.
Amirudin was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Selangor Indian Empowerment and Entrepreneurs Development (i-SEED) Carnival in Dataran Chetty, which ran from Friday (October 7) until yesterday (October 9).
He added the i-SEED scheme will be improved for next year via the Selangor Budget 2023, which will be tabled at the end of this month.
“Since its launch two years ago, over 400 people have benefitted from the programme, which will continue in the future,” Amirudin said.
Launched on April 7 last year, i-SEED aims to improve the economic status of the Indian community by providing equipment assistance based on the type of businesses they operate.
Qualifying terms and conditions include requiring applicants to be Selangor citizens or residents for over 10 years, individuals and households earning under RM3,000 a month, and the applying businesses must operate in the state.
Other conditions include the applying businesses must be active and consistent, and the applicant or his/her spouse must never have received equipment assistance from the Selangor State Poverty Eradication Blueprint Assistance program or the Selangor Micro Entrepreneur Fund program.
