Republic of Mauritius- NGOs press for additional funding and assistance to fight social scourges

Issues discussed
during the meeting also pertained to women empowerment; eradication of poverty;
promotion of Bio-farming; and support to vulnerable groups. NGOs present today, comprised: National Social Inclusion Foundation(NSIF);
Mauritius Council of Social Service (MACOSS), Association de Parents d’enfants Inadaptée
de Maurice(APEIM); CARITAS; Centre de Solidarité pour une nouvelle Vie; Centre d’Education et de Développement
pour les Enfants Mauricien (CEDEM);Prevention et Lutte contre le Sida (PILS); Muslim Educational
Society; Adolescent Non-Formal Education Network (ANFEN); Arya Sabha Mauritius;
Council of Religions; and Mauritius Wildlife Foundation.

In a statement after
the meeting, the
Conservation Director of Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Mr VikashTatayah,
accentuated on the need to include measures so as to further improve climate
change as well as tackle the damages caused by the Covid-19. He appealed for the
budget allocated to the conservation of wildlife and for the protection of
environment be maintained.

The President of MACOSS, Mr Suraj Ray, and the President of
CARITAS, Mrs Patricia Felicité, indicated that for the well-functioning of the
society and the proper allocation of financial aid, NGOs and profit making
organisations must be treated differently. They further stated that NGOs need
to be given facilities such as free electricity and water in order to become
financially sustainable.

A request for an
increase in Government grant was made by the President of the Arya Sabha Mauritius,
Mr Harrydev Ramdhony. He also solicited Government’s assistance of the training of
staffs who manage old aged homes, handicapped Schools and women shelters.

For his part, the Secretary of the Council of Religions, Mr
Bashir Nuckchady, called for the extension of the present financial aid for
at least two years as the Corporate Social Responsibility funding they rely on
is insufficient for the Council to function correctly.

The President of the Aaleemee Society, Mr Saheed Thupsee, recommended that the legal framework of NGOs be reviewed
in order to filter the level of aid that each NGO requires and highlighted the
need for the empowerment of women as well as the need to developself
sufficiency in terms of social entrepreneurship in order to survive post
Covid-19 crisis.

On the other hand, the President of CEDEM,
Mrs Sehenaz Hossain Saeb, highlighted the need to innovate in terms of medical
treatment for children. She also requested for a review of the budget allocation
for special needs schools as well as specific training for professionals who
work with the children of the CEDEM.

#Res

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Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius.
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