Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA) has announced the launch of seven significant initiatives valued at RM59.76 million aimed at bolstering human capital, economic empowerment, and socio-spiritual development within the Indian community, with a particular focus on the B40 and M40 groups. Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan revealed that these initiatives are projected to benefit over 20,000 recipients and approximately 600 institutions across the nation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, an additional RM25 million has been allocated to the Uyarvu MADANI 2.0 Programme, raising its total allocation to RM50 million. This fund is intended to support 1,400 entrepreneurs from the B40 and M40 categories across various business sectors. In the educational domain, RM900,680 is designated for the Tamil Language Empowerment Programme for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. This initiative, which includes guidance and special tuition classes, is expected to benefit 8,690 students.

At the tertiary education level, MITRA has earmarked RM13.25 million under the MADANI Device Programme to provide high-performance digital devices to 5,000 first-year university students from the B40 and M40 groups. Ramanan announced this during the Uyarvu MADANI Grant Series 2 for 2026 handover ceremony. Furthermore, the RM10 million MADANI Student Special Aid Programme will offer a one-off preparatory financial aid of RM2,000 each to 5,000 B40 university students to alleviate their families' financial burdens.

For primary and secondary education, the 2026 SJKT ICT Equipment Initiative (Smart Board), valued at RM5.36 million, will continue with the supply of 400 smart boards to 358 Tamil national-type schools (SJKT) nationwide, enhancing the use of modern technology in education. Additionally, MITRA is allocating RM5 million under the MADANI Harmony Programme to provide RM20,000 each to gurdwaras and Indian churches, with up to 250 places of worship expected to be transformed into learning hubs and venues for social and spiritual activities.

Applications for tertiary education initiatives will be open from September 14 to October 31, while applications for the entrepreneurship and spiritual programmes will be open from September 14 to October 13. Furthermore, the RM250,000 Crime Prevention Programme will be executed in collaboration with the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) to instill discipline and resilience among 700 SJKT pupils in Melaka, scheduled for November.

Ramanan also mentioned that the second series of the Uyarvu MADANI Programme (MADANI Entrepreneur Grant) would benefit 159 recipients from 24 business sectors across 10 states. This brings the total number of entrepreneurs benefiting from the RM7.49 million grant allocation to 285, following assistance provided to 126 applicants under the first series. He emphasized that this progress reflects the government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that economic assistance reaches the targeted groups in need of support and with the potential to expand their businesses.