About 45 percent of the Fiji's population live below the poverty line.
That is the revelation from Director of FRIENDS or the Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development, Sashi Kiran speaking during the inaugural Annual Leadership summit held in Lami yesterday.
While sharing her experience with the participants, Kiran highlighted that during her visits to the communities, focus has been on Ba and Macuata since it has the highest percentage of the poor.
Kiran added that while people were able to eat, they were not able to send their children to school and or get health services.
Kiran also said that social empowerment is important and they are looking at how to take opportunities to these people so that they are able to make use of the resources.
She said that while people may have the resources and the skills to get into a business, it is no easy for them to actually do it.
Story by: Praneeta Deo
Feature
About 45% live below poverty line