By Nas Norziela Nasbah
KLANG, Jan 14 — Some 1,400 child members of the Tabung Warisan Anak Selangor (Tawas) initiative in the Meru state constituency who begin their Standard One education this year have received benefits under the School Entry Assistance Programme.
Meru community service centre’s Iltizam Selangor Penyayang officer S. Sunthar said the programme was utilised to reach out to local residents.
“We hope the parents can come, but we understand that some are working or facing other issues.
“So, those who did not have the opportunity can come to receive assistance at the service centre before the school session begins,” he said.
Sunthar was speaking at the handover ceremony in front of the centre yesterday, where he presented bags, stationery, lunch boxes, and savings containers to the children and their guardians.
One of the guardians is mother Khalijah Debab, 38, who said that although it is not the first time she has received such assistance, she is nonetheless grateful as five out of her eight children are Tawas members.
“Starting from my third child until now, my seventh child, we have been using Tawas school bags, stationery, lunch boxes, and containers.
“Alhamdulillah, my children have been using them throughout the school session for Standard One,” said the mother of seven-year-old Asy Syifa Naura Saleh.
For R. Vasanthi, 47, this is the first time she has received assistance for her daughter P. Suvanthini, also seven.
“My two older children are already grown, and I only had time to register my youngest as a Tawas member.
“It is fortunate to be a Selangor native, as the state government provides various forms of assistance, and I am very grateful that at least the preparations for the upcoming March school session are almost complete,” she said.
Meanwhile, Khudtrul Nada Abdullah, 31, said the assistance received for her second child would ease the family’s burden, as they are expecting another child later this month.
“Alhamdulillah, we received a complete set of school bags and stationery. My child is very happy and cannot wait to use them in the upcoming school session.
“We thank the Selangor government for its concern in easing the burden of citizens like us,” she said.
