The Ministry for Social Solidarity is to launch a public consultation exercise about poverty and social exclusion next month, and will be holding street meetings to hear people's experiences.

We will approach the people for real-time input and listen to people's experiences and expectations, Social Policy Minister Marie Louise Coleiro said at a press conference this afternoon.

A national strategic plan for the reduction of poverty and social exclusion will be drafted by September.

Ms Coleiro Preca said the urgency of this plan stemmed from the fact that according to a survey, there had been an increase of nearly seven per cent of those at risk of poverty in ten years. Quoting national statistics data, she said that while the rate of those at risk of poverty stood at 15 per cent in 2000, this increased to 20.2 percent in 2005 and 21.7 per cent in 2011.

"We need to do something immediately because we are going downhill," she said, adding that according to a Eurobarometer survey in 2009, 86 per cent felt that poverty needed urgent addressing from the government.

Yana Mintoff Bland, who is a consultant on the government's strategy on combating poverty and social exclusion, noted that street meetings will be held in Marsa, Cospicua, Vittoriosa, Kalkara, Xghajra, Marsascala, Valletta, Gzira, Qawra and Marsalforn in Gozo on Thursdays and Fridays.

"To impoverish people is to violate their fundamental human rights. The fact that a quarter of our children do not have a decent living should make us unite against poverty...we have to come together as people to address this issue," Ms Mintoff Bland said.

The public can also call on 2590 3126, email antipoverty.mfss@gov.mt or logon Facebook page Ninghaqdu kontra l-Faqar.

Encouraging people to participate, Ms Coleiro Preca said the public had nothing to be ashamed of, but policy makers should be ashamed.