Back to School schols from Samurdhi

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Ministry has formulated the special Sipdora scheme to provide scholarships to 14,000 schoolchildren of families at the lowest rung of poverty to lend a helping hand to thousands of non-school going children to make them return to school.

This is with the aim of providing immediate support to a large number of children who are not attending schools due to various economic hardships, Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told a media briefing yesterday.

The Ministry has made arrangements to implement this scholarship scheme throughout the country simultaneously with the International Literacy Day on September 8. The national ceremony of launching this scholarship scheme will be held at Ruwanpura College of Education, Kahawatta on September 8, the Minister said. Under this scholarship scheme, one poor student will be selected from each Grama Niladhari division. A scholarship worth Rs.3,500 will be offered on behalf of each student for a duration of one year selected under this scheme.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority (SLSA) parallel to this scholarship scheme will also implement a special programme to overcome the economic hardships encountered by their families by providing them assistance to uplift their socio-economic standards.

The Ministry will give priority to include the parents of these children in various income generating projects implemented by the SLSA, the Minister said.

Funds in the Samurdhi Social Development Foundations set up at each Divisional Secretariat level and the contributions made by well wishers will be used for this scholarship without placing any burden on the Government, she said. Following a recent survey conducted by the SLSA it is being revealed that nearly 250,000 children from the poorest of the poor in various parts of the country do not attend school due to dire economic straits.

"This new scholarship scheme would encourage the parents of low income families to send their children to schools," the Minister said.

She said:" As a Government which recognises the Universal Children's Charter of the UN, it is our prime responsibility to send these non-school going children to schools providing them necessary assistance and guidance."

Samurdhi Development Officers have a more responsible role to play to take this key programme to the public and make it a success by giving maximum benefits to the children both Samurdhi recipients and non beneficiaries, she said.