Devananda concerned over welfare of N-E people

MEETING: Minister of Social Service and Welfare Douglas Devananda emphasised the need to rehabilitate people of North and East and look into their welfare when he met representatives of Oxfam organisation recently at his meeting.

OXFAM representatives expressed willingness to assist social service projects launched by the Social Service and Social Welfare at a meeting with Minister Douglas Devananda.

Director Barbara Stocking, Country Representative - Joan Summers, International Director Penny Lawrence and Deputy Director Project Department Theo Bouma were present.

The meeting aimed to discuss the activities, jointly carried out by both parties at present. The Director stated Oxfam had already identified 12 project areas in the cleared and uncleared areas for which US$ 25 million could be invested this year.

The Minister expressed his concern on their contribution to rehabilitate people in the North and East.

He inquired about their possibility to accommodate some of the activities envisaged to be implemented this year. The Director requested to forward project proposals for their consideration.

"The Ministry expects to produce about 40,000 social service activists. The minister sought their assistance to expand social service activities as the dearth of social service activists is an acute problem since the demand is so high due to the tsunami and the war.

The Minister explained Ministry's present activities to rehabilitate street people, Social Care Centres, welfare Centres for Elderly and Disabeld persons in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi areas as the Chairman of the District Development Council.

The Minister made the representatives aware of the marketing arrangements that he has made to sell the agri-products in the North-East areas with the help of security authorities.

Since those arrangements have now been disrupted he urged the representatives to make some arrangements to help poor peasants and farmers enabling them to sell their products.

They informed that Oxfam has spent about Rs. 220,000 to upgrade Unnichchiya tank with the involvement of Batticaloa Action Committee and water pumps also have been distributed among farmers while making micro finance facilities for farmers.

About the Pension scheme, the Minister explained the present schemes and he expressed his willingness to introduce same for toddy tappers and other informal income earners in the North East areas too.

Oxfam team proposed their interest to form a co-ordinating body along with the DDC to look after activities to avoid any duplication.