A total of RM70 million has been allocated to upgrade 30 national-type Tamil schools throughout the country under the

10Malaysia Plan (10MP), said Minister of Human Resources Dr S Subramaniam.

NONE "The upgrading work on the schools concerned is expected to be completed in the middle of 2012," said the MIC vice president ( right ) after attending an Indian cultural event at Dewan Warisan in Kangar, Perlis, last night.

According to Bernama , Subramaniam said the allocation was part of the country's economic stimulus packages.

In another development, almost 2,000 people packed a one-day "1Malaysia, People First" programme in Kulim, Kedah, jointly-organised by the government-backed Special Implementation Task Force (SITF) and MIC to help Indians faced with a variety of problems.

The issues tackled by the programme ranged from problems with birth certificates to welfare aid.

The one-day programme saw the participation of several government departments and agencies, stretched into late evening yesterday, and registered some 1,760 complaints.

The programme was part of the government’s move to resolve the problems faced by the Indian community by creating direct access to the government machinery under one roof, including departments and agencies such as National Registration, Social Welfare, Skills Development, Social Security Organisation, and Tekun Nasional.

According to Subramaniam, who is also SITF chairperson, the programme acted as a one-stop centre for the Indian community to deal directly with the departments and agencies concerned.

“It provided them with direct contact with the relevant departments where they were able to communicate and get instant replies to their many questions, although a solution may not be in sight immediately,” Subramaniam told reporters at the end of the programme.

Indians came in busloads from within and outside Kulim from as early as 8am as government vehicles representing the participating departments and agencies began unloading makeshift tents.

For Subramaniam, the figures were not his primary concern, but how many cases would be resolved speedily and amicably.

“Our priority now is to resolve the problems brought to our attention on a case-by-case basis. We will try to resolve the problems as soon as we can," he said.

The minister said SITF would follow-up on the cases with the relevant departments and agencies within a fixed time-frame.

He said the third programme would be organised in Sepang, Selangor, next month where he also expect a large turnout. The first programme, in Ijok, Selangor, on Aug 15, drew some 1,000 Indians.

The SITF was initiated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak early

this year to implement the decisions of the Cabinet Committee on the Development of the Indian Community, which he chairs.