A NEW approach has been taken by the iTaukei Affairs Board to help grassroots people gain access to all forms of government assistance.
This has resulted in assistant Roko Tui Lautoka-Yasawa Pio Loco leading a government team to the villages of Koroyaca and Korobebe in Lautoka yesterday.
He said the usual practice was for government officials to participate in district and provincial meetings.
"This time we want the government officials to deal with issues at grassroots level which are the reasons we are going to village meetings," said Mr Loco. "In the past, the views of these grassroots people were not heard because not all were allowed to participate in district and provincial meetings.
"This approach provides a good opportunity for the villagers to air their views straight to government officials regarding problems they face each day."
Mr Loco said issues such as land utilisation, social welfare, education and youth were discussed extensively at the meeting.
"We are planning to visit all villages in the province in our new approach to assist all Fijians," he said.
"Another team will be deployed to Saru and Norokorokoyawa villages on Monday."