Flood-affected Region Five residents welcome cash grant

MAY-JUNE TORRENTIAL SHOWERS THIS YEAR FLOODED MANY MAHAICA RIVER
COMMUNITIES wiping out their livelihoods. So when government representatives visited some still
water-logged communities to hand out financial grants under the ‘Because We Care’ programme, Anita
Ramtahal was happy.
“This will help me a lot to buy data for her to do online work and it will help if school opens, to
buy school uniform for her,” Ramtahal said with relief.
Her husband is a fisherman and the catch is at a minimum these days.
“Right now, the water raise, and [we’re] not getting fish like we used to before,” the mother of
10 explained, detailing painfully the quantum of household items lost to flood waters this year.
Ramtahal was awaiting uplifting her $19,000 ‘Because We Care’ government grant at the
Karamat Primary School at Mora Point, Mahaicony River.
The financial assistance is part of a multi-billion-dollar package for public school learners
unveiled by the Irfaan Ally administration.

A parent who received her grant at the Karamat Primary School located along the
Mahaicony River[/caption]

Ramtahal has one child still a part of the public school system.
She is among numerous Mahaica River families devastated by this year’s flooding.
Vidya Maraj is a teacher and her husband is a rice farmer. The deluge completely destroyed his
crop and there are no monies right now to invest in the second crop for this year.
“I am elated to be a parent to receive this cash grant. As the Minister (of Education, Priya
Manickchand) said, we may have a house, we may have land, but that doesn’t mean you can
provide for your children. It doesn’t mean that you can afford textbooks. We’re all humans, it
will be a helping hand,” Maraj admitted.
During an interview at the Mortice Primary School, the educator said several other parents are
reeling under the crushing burden left in the wake of the heavy flooding of their communities.
“…being hard hit by the flood, I also know a lot of parents will be really helped by this,” she
said.
A number of other affected rice farmers praised the government’s initiative. They too said many
of them are unable to replant for the second crop.

“I think it is a wonderful initiative. When we are coming to schools on Fridays and so to mark
the worksheets, you will hear the parents talking about [the cash grant] and they were all excited
for it. I am also excited because I also have a child who is eligible for that and as Minister said,
you use the money to do what is best for your child,” another teacher said.
A mother awaiting her turn at Mortice Primary School stated, “I think it is really beneficial to us
because at this time I know there are a lot of parents who are going through a rough time,
everything has been costly on us.”
“I’m really proud about what the [Government] is doing for us because they have kept their
promise,” made in the runup to the 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand reiterated that the cash grant is not
restricted to school uniforms and other items of learning. She reminded parents that the monies
can be used to purchase anything beneficial to their school-aged children.
The distribution of ‘Because we Care’ cash grant continues. Parents throughout the country are
advised to check the Ministry’s Facebook page for details.