The objectives of the Social Integration and Empowerment Bill are within the philosophy of this government for the enhancement of social justice and national unity. In fact, by introducing such a legislation, this government is taking care of the most vulnerable people by setting up such empowerment programmes or schemes to (1) combat absolute poverty; (2) provide support and other services to persons living in absolute poverty; and (3) support persons living in absolute poverty to integrate the mainstream society.

We all know people who are badly in need of help and support to get out of absolute poverty. I totally agree that whichever government in power should put in place the necessary mechanism to help these people. But on the other side, I am also of the opinion that one should not take everything for granted and expect government to do or give everything without people making any effort. I keep on repeating it every time I have the opportunity to do so. It is better to give someone a fishing rod and teach him how to fish rather than giving him a fish. (…) I firmly believe that everything should be obtained by working hard and sacrificing.

Unfortunately, over the years, people have been accustomed to the culture of receiving everything on a silver plate. This reminds me of the video – like me, many people must have seen it – recorded by John Rosemond, a famous author and family psychologist under the caption “Is your child getting enough Vitamin ‘N’?” The ‘N’ standing for ‘NO’. This short video shows how parents sometimes give everything to their children just to make them happy. They don’t know how to say ‘No’, but at the end of the day, the children, their family and people around them pay the price. And regrettably, people who get too much of what they want for nothing rarely realize the hard work, sacrifice, dedication needed to obtain such things.

Here in Mauritius, our welfare state has been beneficial to our population since decades. Medical care in hospitals are free, education is free, people get incentives to send their children to school, people benefit from many facilities to get a roof over their head and in many cases, without forgetting the ‘death grant’. So, facilities are available to people from birth till death… And this undoubtedly represents a huge sum of public money.

Is it not time to make people more conscious and get them empowered instead of waiting for government’s help for everything? Sometimes, people come to meet us as Members of Parliament (MP’s) to seek government’s help. In many cases, these people who are in good health do not work. Very often, if you propose to help them to get a job, they find it so easy to reply that the job proposed does not suit them… You will concur that it is just a question of good will. And the paradox is that very often you see people who have a handicap but who still work and strive to succeed in life. Everyone has his own talent.