Vuniwaqa urges people to apply for Poverty Benefit Schemes after claims that women are being forced into prostitution

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa says people who have been badly affected by COVID-19 and disasters can apply for their Poverty Benefit Schemes if they are still struggling.

This is after revelations by Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali that some women and girls in Nadi are forced into prostitution for as low as $1.50 to $2 because of the impacts of COVID-19 and disasters that are coming up.

Ali says the counsellor advocates and staff who work at their centres have informed her about this.

She says these women and young girls are forced to do this to provide for their families as they are suffering to put food on the table.

Ali also calls on the government to start telling the truth to the people of the country if they do not have money to assist the affected people and they can work together to find a way through this.

When questioned by Legend FM News if the Centre is providing the details of these women and girls to the ministry so they can be assisted, Ali says they do not reveal the names and details of these people to the ministry unless they get permission to do so as there is a stigma attached to it.

She says they are helping these victims as much as they can by providing food and some money for electricity and also counselling them to help them get out of this situation.

Ali says they also tell them to apply for the Poverty Benefit Schemes and educate them on how to go about applying for it.

Around 67,000 people are currently being assisted through the government’s Social Welfare Programs.

Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had also highlighted in parliament last week that so far a total of $206.7 million has been paid out to affected FNPF members. Of this, the government has directly paid out $94.5 million.