The Menteri Besar during the Kasih Ibu Darul Ridzuan Programme launch.

IPOH, 28 JULY 2021: In line with the National Recovery Plan, the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) in collaboration with the Perak State Government will implement the Kasih Ibu Darul Ridzuan (KIDR) Programme on 1 August to help vulnerable groups affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

A total of 5,097 women and 20,000 dependents from the poor and the hardcore poor groups will receive the aid to reduce the impact of the rising cost of living. The number included 1,104 women recipients from the Orang Asli community.

NCIA Chief Executive Datuk Seri Jebasingam Isaace John said the KIDR Aid Programme is provided via a cashless card that can be used to purchase basic health care necessities at private clinics.

“Recipients will get a cashless card worth RM250 a month for five months for the purchase of sixteen types of basic necessities.

"For health care aid, the recipients will receive RM250 for the use of the entire family for this year," he said.

He said this after the virtual Kasih Ibu Darul Ridzuan Programme Launch Ceremony by Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Saarani Mohamad at the Menteri Besar's Office, Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here.

Also present were State Secretary Dato' Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim and several State Executive Councillors.

Datuk Seri Jebasingam Isaace John explained that the KIDR programme participants, who are below the Poverty Line Income (PLI) 2019, were selected and screened via the eKasih system developed by the Implementation Coordination Unit, Prime Minister's Department (ICU, JPM) and the iDamak system of the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA).

“We have handed over KIDR cards to recipients from 19 July in all 12 districts of Perak with the cooperation of the District and Land Offices, and as for Orang Asli recipients, the Orang Asli Development Department will implement it.

"A total of RM7.4 million has been allocated for the first phase of this programme and every KIDR cashless card recipient can use it to buy necessities from more than 150 designated sundry shops and get health care from 100 clinics registered under this programme," he added.

It is hoped that the spending by the KIDR programme recipients at the appointed panel shops and clinics would have an economic spillover effect by boosting the development of retail businesses in the area.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.