Continuing its commitment to meet the people where they are and provide much-needed disaster relief and minor home repair assistance, the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services, through the National Social Development Programme (NSDP), on Saturday, March 14, 2026, delivered grants to twelve (12) households in the Mayaro/Rio Claro area. These grants will directly benefit forty-seven (47) household members, with a combined value of one hundred and seventy-three thousand, one hundred and twenty-three dollars ($173,123.00).
Three (3) Disaster Relief Grants were provided to support seventeen (17) household beneficiaries who were adversely affected by disasters, while nine (9) Home Repair Grants were distributed to assist thirty (30) household beneficiaries, enabling families to undertake necessary repairs to their homes.
The Honourable Vandana Mohit, Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, reasserted that the Ministry continues to prioritise programmes that assist families in restoring safe and secure living conditions. She stated that the government “remains firmly committed to strengthening programmes that uplift families, protect vulnerable citizens and improve the quality of life for communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago. As we approach one year since assuming office, the work of this Ministry continues to be guided by a clear and unwavering mission, to strengthen social protection, expand opportunity, and ensure that assistance reaches the citizens who need it most.”
Over the past several months, the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services has taken decisive steps to strengthen the delivery of social support across Trinidad and Tobago. One such initiative is the revision of the Standard Means Test (SMT), a key tool used to assess eligibility for social assistance. This revision aims to ensure that the assessment process is fair, modernised, and reflective of the realities faced by families today. It also forms part of the Ministry’s broader commitment to ensuring that social programmes remain responsive, transparent, and accessible to those most in need.
Minister Mohit stated that these efforts are not isolated interventions. They represent the steady and deliberate progress of a Ministry committed to strengthening the social safety net and improving the lives of citizens across every community.
Through the National Social Development Programme (NSDP), thousands of families across Trinidad and Tobago have received critical support to repair and improve their homes. These grants provide meaningful, practical relief to vulnerable households, helping families restore safe, secure, and dignified living conditions.