Coalition of NGOs urges KPWKM to conduct study in helping single mothers
25 February 2015, PUTRAJAYA - A coalition of NGOs is seeking a dialogue
with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to find
solutions to improve the socio-economic situation of single mothers in
the country.
Veronica Anne Retnam, coordinator of the Single Mothers' Friends
network (JRIT) said single mothers face serious socio-economic
pressures. "Based on the Residential and Housing Census 2010, more than 830,000
families (approximately 15% of Malaysian households) are headed by
women," she said, stating that this was a probable indication of
entrenched poverty.
Veronica listed six primary difficulties faced by this group: low
income, unaffordable housing, lack of childcare assistance,
transportation, the health of single mothers and insufficient assistance
rendered by the Social Welfare Department. She was speaking to reporters at the lobby of the Women, Family and
Community Development Ministry here yesterday, where a memorandum was
submitted by JRIT to an official from the ministry.
Datin Paduka Che Asmah Ibrahim, who heads Ikram Foundation's women's wing, detailed one proposal by the group as an example. "A nationwide database would go a long way in helping single mothers.
Currently NGOs function as intermediaries between them and the
authorities."
Che Asmah cited several plausible factors, such as language barrier
and a general lack of knowledge of who to turn to as problems faced by
single mothers. "Identifying these households means they would be able to obtain
assistance in the forms of monetary vouchers, housing, vocational
training and insurance schemes among others."
The deputy treasurer of Parti Sosialis Malaysia Soh Sook Hwa expressed hopes for a positive outcome in the matter. "The sooner the ministry commissions a study, the more efficiently we
can work to alleviate the burden of single mothers nationwide," she
said.
Sumber: (Diakses pada 9 Mac 2015) http://www.thesundaily.my/node/297358
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