Tutong District moves to overcome poverty

Rabiatul Kamit
TUTONG

THE Tutong District Office is compiling data of underprivileged residents across its villages and mukims in an effort to overcome poverty.

Acting Assistant Tutong District Officer Hj Haizul Rizal Hj Yahya said the database, which is nearing completion, will assist the relevant government agencies to better address poverty towards achieving His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s vision of zero poverty.

Set up under the Inquiry Unit of the Mukim and Village Institution Section, the database lists the profile of underprivileged residents, such as their income level and whether they own land.

Hj Haizul Rizal explained that grassroots leaders in the district have been tasked to identify the underprivileged residents in their respective mukims and villages. To date, over 100 people have been added to the database.

Once the database is complete, he said they will cross-check the information with agencies such as the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) and Community Development Department (JAPEM).

“We will then update our database accordingly to ensure no underprivileged resident in Tutong district is left out. With the database, we aim to make certain that every resident receives the help they need,” said the acting assistant Tutong district officer.

The database will serve as a focal point to enable the public and private sectors to direct their assistance to verified poverty-stricken residents in the district.

“It will help us identify the people who are in need of state welfare, but we will also expand the scope of the database to include those who require other forms of assistance, such as housing repairs,” said Hj Haizul Rizal.

He anticipated that the database will also uncover issues relating to poverty, such as unemployment and poor health.

“The Tutong District Office, led by Wardi Hj Mohd Ali, takes poverty seriously,” he said, explaining that they began compiling data of underprivileged residents two years ago and have since provided assistance on a case-by-case basis.

Hj Haizul Rizal also called on the community to help identify underprivileged residents by notifying their respective grassroots leaders.

“With the cooperation of the public and the relevant agencies concerned, we hope to be able to tackle poverty more effectively,” he said, adding that an internal committee was also set up under the Tutong District Office to address poverty.


Sumber - The Brunei Times