The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection is providing over $2.3 million annually in social welfare assistance to more than 1,978 individuals in Lomaiviti.
During a speech made to residents of the eight villages in the district of Mudu on Tuesday, Lomaiviti Social Welfare Officer Viliame Toroca explained that the funding varies based on the number of new recipients and those whose assistance has ended.
He noted that there are over 8,000 people receiving social welfare benefits across the nation and that the government aims to spend more than $90 million annually on these programs.
Toroca highlighted that Lomaiviti alone receives over $2.3 million each year to support its residents. On Koro Island specifically, there are 396 social welfare recipients, with the department disbursing more than $48,000 in assistance each month, depending on the fluctuating number of recipients, including new applicants and those who have had their aid terminated. Over the course of a year, this amounts to over half a million dollars in social welfare payments for the island.
Moreover, he urged locals to pursue business opportunities to achieve financial independence rather than relying completely on government assistance. He emphasized that while many have benefitted from social welfare, the overall poverty rate has increased, particularly among the iTaukei people.
Toroca encouraged the islanders to utilize government grants to create businesses, cooperatives, and farms to improve their financial situations.