Many of the 96,000 plus social welfare recipients should not be receiving assistance from the State, says Assistant Minister for Woman, Children and Poverty Alleviation Sashi Kiran.
She made the comment while speaking at the National Federation Party’s Rakiraki branch annual general meeting on Sunday.
“The relatives that I have in Fiji and whose families are overseas, they are not on social welfare – they are being looked after by their relatives who are overseas,” she said.
“Because what was taught to us was that even if we had small means of surviving, any assistance should be given to someone who is much more deserving or didn’t have anything.
“During (Tropical Cyclone) Winston I saw that many said I have the means to survive, please give this assistance to someone else.
“Our forefathers have taught us, if something isn’t for me, don’t take it.
“So now when I take a look at the welfare statistics, there are so many people in the 96,000 list who don’t deserve to be receiving the money, but they are taking it.
“That’s when I ask myself, where have the values gone – what we can take and not take.”
