More than 1.5 billion tax dollars was allocated towards programmes targeting the alleviation of poverty between the years 2000 to 2008 however the result has not been positive.

According to the Poverty Monitoring Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office, although millions of dollars were poured into these programmes, figures have shown that instead of eradicating poverty, the levels have grown since 2000.

The unit also said that statistics released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics revealed after a recent Poverty Alleviation Impact Assessment in 2009 that 45 percent of the total population live in poverty.

This means that more than 300,000 people of the country either live below the poverty line or are right on the brink of poverty.

The figures released in 2010 also mean that there was a rise in numbers from the 32 percent recorded in 2007.

As the government gets ready to deliver the National Budget next Thursday, some of the current targeted measures are expected to be extended.

The current initiatives include programmes such as the bus fare subsidy, the food voucher scheme, the rural and outer islands programmes and other income generating projects.      

More than 29,000 people are currently under the bus and taxi fare concession provided by Social Welfare Ministry.

According to Welfare statistics, 29,550 senior citizens and disabled persons are under this scheme.
 
On the other hand, a total of 21,000 people are under the Family Assistance and Food Voucher Programme being provided by ministry.

The ministry said any eligible person is entitled to receive a minimum of $60 a month or a maximum of $110 per month.

In addition to these assistance programmes, the ministry provides expanded food vouchers to 2,383 people above 70 years of age.

They are given $30 worth of food vouchers monthly.

Story by: Vijay Narayan and Khusboo Singh