06 Dec 2016

The government has been implementing improved initiatives aimed at cushioning the effects of poverty and assisting disadvantaged groups across the country.

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama said this while presenting the State-of-the-Nation Address in Parliament on Monday (December 5).

President Khama said that such initiatives are aimed at reducing the effects of poverty and cushioning vulnerable groups.

“With respect to poverty eradication, small and medium sided business projects have been introduced to provide income generating opportunities. New machinery and equipment for small-scale manufacturing is currently being distributed to programme beneficiaries, who are also being assisted to form clusters and cooperatives to improve business skills and market access,” President Khama said.

He further said that the Affirmative Action Framework for Remote Area Communities under the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) has also progressed.

“In terms of shelter provision, since the inception of the housing initative in 2009/10 financial year, financial provision has been made for a total of 1 395 housing units for remote area communities of which 823 houses are complete and 572 are under construction,” President Khama said.

Furthermore, the president said that on the education front, under the RADP, students were funded and enrolled in different tertiary institutions under the Department of Tertiary Education Financing, while others are enrolled at different brigades and colleges.

On assistance for the disabled, President Khama said that the Revised National Policy on Disabilities was tabled before parliament in 2016, and provides a blueprint mainstreaming people living with disabilities in all sectors of society.

“It has also been just over a year since the implementation of a monthly disability cash allowance. To date, the programme has registered 5 016 people, with 4 412 being currently supported,” President Khama said.  He added that government has introduced a disability entrepreneurship-training programme to improve uptake of existing economic empowerment schemes. ENDS