The Yayasan Strategik Sosial's analyses based on both micro and macro studies undertaken over eight years together with our direct community involvement indicates that a majority of Indian Malaysians (approximately 70 percent) are able to benefit from the socio-economic advancement which Malaysia has undergone.

This is largely through individual, family and community initiatives of the people. It might not be as a result of direct or specific government action. However, it is because of Barisan Nasional's macro socio-economic policies, political stability and good governance that Malaysia has advanced and a majority of Indian Malaysians have benefited from it.

We live in a market-driven globalised society where opportunities are ample. We have to strive hard and take advantage of what is available and climb up the socio-economic ladder. While only a section of the Indian community i.e. the bottom 30 percent is doing badly, the public perception is that a vast majority is disadvantaged.

This is inaccurate. I believe that a majority of Indians are achieving higher standards. The path might not be easy especially for the lower middle-class but amidst all odds, people have risen and will continue to do so.

The section that YSS is most concerned with is the bottom 30 percent. We estimate that there are 108,000 families that are made of approximately 540,000 individuals. There are historical and socio- economic factors which inhibit their socio-economic upliftment.

These need to be addressed through a structural and mindset change.

MIC President S Samy Vellu initiated YSS in 1998 in order to address community issues and articulate the concerns. What is most urgent today is how do we enable this 30 percent section of the community to benefit and move up the socio-economic ladder.

Towards this, the approach adopted by YSS through the MIC representation in government is two-fold:

1. Representing and advising the government to address the concerns through government agencies and programmes. We have had some major breakthroughs such as the opening up of the Giat Mara Centres to Indian youths where we can send up to 650 Indian candidates per intake.

We can also now secure nearly RM20 million for more than 2,000 Indian entrepreneurs through the BSN Micro Credit Scheme for small- and micro-businesses.

We have articulated all the major issues pertaining to the Indian Malaysians such as Tamil schools, housing for squatters and so on. These have been presented to government at both federal and state levels. Effective monitoring is essential in order to ensure delivery.

2. Instilling of self-help initiatives by getting the people to organise themselves and tap into the open market for opportunities. This requires community support especially from the community's middle and upper strata.

It is easy for someone to deny all these but we have to find solutions in a real world, not just sit in the comforts of academia. While it is idealism which drives us to undertake social change, it is however pragmatism that ensures realistic achievements.

Practical solutions are essential and this is the direction YSS has taken.

The writer is the executive director of the YSS.