11 January, 2026, 12:54 pm Central - 25°C Rain

Consumer Council welcomes the back-to-school cash assistance that will increase consumers purchasing power

Consumer Council welcomes the back-to-school cash assistance that will increase consumers purchasing power

By Marika Rasekaseka
11/01/2023
CEO Seema Shandil

The Consumer Council of Fiji has welcomed the back-to-school cash assistance of $200 as this will increase consumers purchasing power and ease some burdens during these difficult times.

CEO Seema Shandil has made this announcement after Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced the back-to-school cash assistance of $200 per child for families with an income of $50,000 or less.

Shandil says while they increase the consumers purchasing power, parents are able to ensure their children are properly equipped for the new school year when there are more coffers in their pockets.

She says consumers are still feeling the brunt of global inflationary pressures which are forcing them to cut back spending, even on some essentials.

The Council is urging eligible parents to access this assistance and ensure they use it in a smart and productive manner after carefully planning their back-to-school shopping.

They say with an additional week of school holidays, parents will have more time to conduct comparative shopping and plan their purchases to ensure they get the best deals and their money's worth.

Meanwhile, the CEO is also urging traders to uphold good business practices as Fijians will be out in numbers for back-to-school shopping this month.

FEATURE NEWS
FENC Fiji urge parents to use $200 back-to-school assistance for children’s education
With the government's $200 Back-to-School assistance payment coming out this Friday, parents have been urged to use the assistance strictly for their ...
22 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
Man shot dead in western Sydney
A man has been found dead inside his western Sydney unit after he was shot in the chest in what police are calling a targeted attack.The 44-year-old ...
30 minutes ago

Savusavu vendors struggle as Kava shortage pushes prices up
Rising demand for kava drives up prices and causes supply shortages across local markets.Savusavu Market vendor Ram Kumar stresses that kava is used ...
32 minutes ago

Dr Rajesh Maharaj warns many diabetes cases in Fiji remain undiagnosed
Former President of the Fiji College of General Practitioners, Doctor Rajesh Maharaj, has raised serious concerns about the deadly impact of ...
35 minutes ago

Iran medics describe hospitals overwhelmed with dead and injured protesters
Staff at three hospitals in Iran have told the BBC their facilities are overwhelmed with dead or injured patients, as major anti-government protests ...
3 hours ago

Poetry and culture take centre stage during World Hindi Day celebrations
The Indian High Commission in Fiji hosted a vibrant poetry recital, essay awards, and cultural programs to mark World Hindi Day, celebrating the ...
3 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Electricity tariff increase for users consuming more than 100 units
There is an increase in the electricity tariff rate for consumers using more than 100 units from 1 January next year.Fijian Competition and Consumer ...
9 days ago

Fiji needs to act on human trafficking indicators associated with Grace Road Group
The United States remains deeply concerned about indicators of trans-national organised crime and human trafficking in Fiji associated with the Grace ...
20 days ago

Cheap seed oils are not good for our health - O'Neill
With over 80 percent of deaths in Fiji caused by cardiovascular disease based on the 2011 report, naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill is ...
20 days ago

TOP