Despite leaving school at class eight, Ashneel Prasad, held on to his dream of being an entrepreneur.

Mr Prasad was among the 548 grant recipients that received the Micro and Small Business Grants Initiative in Sigatoka yesterday.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum handed out the grant to recipients.

Mr Prasad, left school and took up farming in an area where 21 hectares of land was proposed for the usage of sugar cane farming.

“With this grant I could put out the fence for the goats, I have 12 goats and am planning to go big,” he said.

“I would like to thank the government for assisting young men like me in achieving something and being independent.”

Mr Prasad is 22 years old and is the youngest of four siblings and lives with his family at Namata.

Meanwhile a bubbly Asenaca Lewaninamada, 60, of Malevu village, in Sigatoka said she was equally happy to have received a timely boost for her dual businesses.

“I run a handicraft shop and a small canteen so yes I am very happy that through Government’s assistance I can move forward with my business,” she said.

The mother of four said she usually earns $100 per week from her canteen while she manages to pull in $90-$80 from her handicraft shop every Tuesday.

“I’m thankful that this Government does not discriminate or differentiate anyone,” she said.

“I would like to thank the Prime Minister for leading us forward.

“It’s just amazing what they have done for us to be given something we never dreamt of getting such as water, electricity, bus fare for our children and now blessing us with this grant allocation.”

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