The government's recent efforts to promote a social security network for Taiwan's indigenous peoples have produced considerable results, Premier Mao Chi-kuo said today at the Cabinet's weekly meeting.
After hearing the Council of Indigenous Peoples' (CIP) report on aboriginal health and welfare policies, the premier asked the CIP and other agencies to stay attuned to the needs of indigenous groups, serve those needs in a timely manner, and integrate local and private resources. The agencies should also push innovative initiatives supporting tribal businesses, spur economic growth in indigenous villages, and most importantly bring back young people to work or start businesses in their hometowns.
"Focusing on ecology, living and production will help ensure sustainable development of the communities," Mao said.
Regarding long-term care for elderly aboriginal people, the issue can be broken down into care for those living in the countryside and those in urban areas, the premier said. In the past, seniors with mental or physical disabilities, who account for about 16 percent of the elderly population, have been the main focus of the system. However, the remaining 80-plus percent who are healthy or relatively healthy require attention as well. As the Executive Yuan takes stock of the nation's long-term care system, therefore, it should begin with care facilities, day care or long-term care and strengthen those services as quickly as possible.
As for elderly aborigines living in rural communities, agencies should include this group into their service programs also and come up with suitable policies, the premier instructed.
Regarding indigenous children, the CIP rolled out a breakfast program this March for aboriginal students in seven Taitung County elementary schools. This subsidy program has been of significant help to disadvantaged families, Premier Mao said. In fact, several other cities and counties have already been setting aside funds or working with private organizations to provide breakfast for disadvantaged students—a trend that Mao described as "very positive."
At today's meeting, the CIP reported encouraging results from its indigenous social security development program (2009-2016), which focuses on the areas of employment, health and social rights. In employment, for instance, the program in 2014 trained or found jobs for 19,733 individuals—160 percent above the original target. Unemployment also fell from 9.83 percent in 2001 to 4.05 percent in 2014.
Moreover, from the start of Taiwan's national pension program through 2014, a total of NT$1.44 billion (US$47.4 million) had been paid out to 35,091 indigenous beneficiaries. And under CIP guidance, as much as 99.36 percent of indigenous citizens are now enrolled in the national health insurance program.