The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection has committed over $2.3 million annually to social welfare assistance for more than 1,978 individuals in Lomaiviti.
During a meeting with representatives from eight villages in the Mudu district on Tuesday, Viliame Toroca, the Social Welfare officer for Lomaiviti, explained that the funding allocation is contingent upon the number of new applicants as well as those who have had their assistance terminated.
“Currently, there are more than 8,000 individuals benefiting from social welfare programs across the country,” he noted. “In an entire year, the government aims to allocate over $90 million towards these assistance initiatives.”
Toroca further detailed that $2.3 million is specifically designated for Lomaiviti in just one year, directly aiding nearly 2,000 residents. On Koro Island alone, there are 396 social welfare recipients.
“In a given month, the department disburses over $48,000 in assistance to Koro, varying with the changes in the number of recipients,” Toroca added. “Over the course of a year, this amounts to more than half a million dollars in social welfare assistance for the island.”
Toroca encouraged the residents to pursue business ventures that could provide financial stability instead of solely depending on government support.
“While many have benefited from this assistance, the poverty rate, particularly among the iTaukei population, has risen,” he stated. “This is why we encourage you all to utilize government grants to start businesses, cooperatives, and farms.”