Let’s stop talking about the risk of poverty and focus on people who are actually living in poverty and material deprivation today, the President of Malta, George Abela, said this morning as he continued to address an issue that has been central to his Presidency.

“We have to focus on people who are living in poverty. We need empirical tools to establish in a scientific manner the number of people who are living in poverty and where they are living. We urgently require indicators of the people who are not living a decent life,” President Abela said.

Talking during the launch of the fourth edition of Tisjir mill-Qalb, the President said that it was his specific intention to use the launch of a recipe book to highlight the lack of food that many individuals and families are experiencing on a daily basis.

Emphasising that he did not wish to enter into the controversy whether the minimum wage should increase or not, Dr Abela said that he cannot but help note the findings of a 2012 Caritas study that established the price of a basket of essential products that a family requires to live a normal life. The study was carried out on three household types namely a household of two adults and two children, a lone parent and two children, and an elderly couple over 65 years and a minimum essential budget vis-à-vis people at risk of poverty was drawn up.

“This price which should be updated to reflect today’s realities, should be the point of departure for any national policy against poverty,” Dr Abela said.

“Poverty and material deprivation are issues very close to my heart and have had an important role during my Presidency as I wanted the human being to be at the centre of my work. For this reason the launch of Tisjir mill-Qalb has been used to highlight the lack of food that a significant number of people experience on a daily basis. I refer to these people as ‘invisible’ since more needs to be done to address their problem even though poverty is often mentioned in the media,” the President said.

“Today’s initiative is not an isolated attempt but stems from the various direct experiences that I had during the past few years. I have personally met individuals and families who are living in poverty due to various reasons. Some are in more precarious conditions than others. The Malta Community Chest Fund received around 2,000 requests for assistance last year out of which 510 were referred to a social worker. These figures reveal the intensity of this social phenomenon.”

“We often hear that 15 per cent of the population, or 60,000 people, live in the risk of poverty with an income that is 60% of the national median equivalised disposable income (after social transfers). We also hear that children are the most at risk of poverty. According to statistics published by Eurostat, 22 per cent of the population was in the risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2011, equivalent to 88,000 people. This was expected to increase to 92,000 people in 2012.”

“I welcome the strategy against poverty and social exclusion that is being launched by the government. The strategy shows a serious commitment towards children that are in the risk of poverty and whose destiny has already pre-determined as a consequence. It is also positive to note that the strategy is looking at poverty in a wider and holistic context that includes social housing, health and social services. The State is ultimately responsible to guarantee that everyone lives in dignity,” Dr Abela added.

“There are areas where poverty is more prevalent than other areas, especially in the south. There is a concentration of clusters where material deprivation is rampant and government should focus on these areas and ensure they form part of our social policy. My recommendation is also to invest in the regeneration of these areas and emphasise on education with the ultimate aim that these communities live a better quality of life.”

The President said that as a nation we have to change the way we look at poverty. “Archaic preconceptions that poor people should be pitied have to be eradicated. Until this is done we will continue to refer to these people as us and them, those who receive and those who give.”

“I understand that the resources available to the State are limited and here is where voluntary organisations, the Church and the Malta Community Chest Fund come in since their very nature is to help the poor. I am sure that we can build a strong social protection that will help us overcome future problems and challenges,” the President concluded.

Representatives of organisations that work to address poverty and material deprivation were present for the launch of Tisjir mill-Qalb which contains a number of recipes prepared by 10 professional Maltese cooks.

All proceeds from the sale of the publication will go in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.

Since the first edition was launched, 35,000 copies have been sold.

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