Minister of Social Development and Family Services (MSDFS) Donna Cox has given the assurance that her Ministry has been working steadfastly on all fronts to minimise and roll back poverty.
Speaking at the launch of her Ministry’s plans and programmes in observance of Poverty Week 2022 on Tuesday, Cox said several measures will be implemented while undertaking sustainable measures to transform the lives of the less fortunate citizens.
The Minister said some of these major measures include:
- The establishment of a Social Services and Empowerment Unit, which will assist in coordinating the holistic development of social welfare clients to enable them to live more independently;
- The establishment and implementation of a National Register of Vulnerable Persons, with the aim to significantly improve how the government identifies and targets the poor and vulnerable in society;
- The continued implementation of the National Social Mitigation Plan to ensure the expansion of food security and the growth of micro and small enterprises within households and communities.
Cox said, “The call to eradicate poverty is one that the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago attempts to respond to with a slew of different policies, grants, programmes and services, all designed to lift the poor and vulnerable, one by one, and place them on a path of dignified and sustainable development.”
With International Day for the Eradication of Poverty observed on October 17, under the year’s theme, ‘Dignity for all in practice: The commitments we make together for social justice, peace, and the planet,’ Cox said “The chosen theme underscores the value of respect in the fight against poverty and inequality, and challenges us to redouble our efforts to preserve peace.”
She also told the audience of staff and stakeholders of the Ministry that “The theme further admonishes us to adopt the moral and legal framework of human rights, placing human dignity at the heart of our practice”.
Among the activities planned to observe poverty week and to embrace the theme are seedling distributions, public education sessions on hydroponic farming solutions, SEED (Sowing Empowerment through Entrepreneurial Development) Fair and internal staff challenges.
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