Ministry hotline flooded with complaints:

Farsighted measures for children's women's, welfare

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Women represent 50.2 percent of the 20.4 million of Sri Lanka's population. The child population of 5,374,000 represents 26.3 percent of the total population. Child Development and Women Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyadde has taken a series of farsighted measures for women's and children's welfare. Excerpts of the interview with the Minister:

Q: Incidents of women harassment, child abuses are reported daily. What steps have been taken to arrest this situation?

A: People who have no sense of regard or respect to human life, cultural values or decent human behaviour are largely responsible to these social vices.

Parents and the elders should always keep vigilant on their children leaving no room for undesirable elements to creeping.

Last week it was reported that an 8-year-old child was molested by a garbage collector at Madawachchiya. The victim was at home at the time of the incident with her brother who was chased away by the intruder.

The majority of our society belongs to low-income groups. Elders leave their siblings at home when they go out for work. Mostly teenagers and young, married women have been subjected to sexual abuse. Incidents of such immoral acts can now be communicated free to my Ministry (Telephone No. 1929 which is kept open to the public throughout the day. The public response is tremendous. We have received nearly 2,000 complaints during the last few weeks, after the telephone facility was installed.

Q: The majority of women in Sri Lanka belongs to low income groups. Village women are more interested in self employment. The Sri Lanka women's Bureau (SLWB) which has been in operation for more than three decades had successfully implemented a large number of self employment projects. Could you narrate any special projects launched by the SLWB to ensure the well being of the rural women?

A: Three decades long LTTE terrorism brought misery to the North and Eastern provinces and neighbouring villages like Kebithigollawa Galenbindunuweva, Janakapura, Buttala, Padawiya and Horowupothana. A mobile counselling project was launched to change the mindset of women in the war-raveged villages where their family members were brutally massacred by the rampaging LTTE terrorists. A special project named "Uplift villages" was implemented in the Northern, Eastern and North Central villages. Cows were given free to women in Kebithigollawa and Galenbindunuweva. Another special project is being implemented to train girls in vocational skills.

Q: Children were most affected by LTTE terrorist acts. Thousands of them were conscripted as soldiers. Many of them lost their parents. What action has been taken to ensure their future well-being?

A: My Ministry and its agencies have identified 5,773 victimized children. There is a dire need to set up 223 preschool development centres for them in the Northern Province itself - Kilinochchi 74, Mullaitivu 72, Mannar 32 and Vavuniya 45. Such centres will be developed with the assistance from parents, elders, welfare organisations and foreign governments.

Already a scheme to supply free a glass of milk for children in 47 Divisional Secretariat divisions has been launched.

Bank accounts with an initial deposit of Rs. 25,000 were opened for displaced children with the assistance of Sri Lanka Telecom.

The South-North Children Exchange Programme and South to North was implemented in association with children's clubs in the North and the South. A special programme was also implemented to create awareness on children safety among the parents and custodians.