Displaced return with more grit to work hard - Resettlement Minister

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHCI

In an interview with the Sunday Observer Resettlement Minister Gunarathna Weerakoon said that the Displaced Persons (DPs) have now been relocated in their original lands, so that they could resume their earlier livelihoods.

He said that only 3822 families comprising 12616 members are yet to be resettled. Others have been already resettled in their own lands.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Surely the DPs have to begin their lives afresh?

A: Exactly so. I wish to repeat what a DP told us when he returned home from the Peace Village. "...we are happy. We have resumed our livelihoods, thanks to the government. Now we have hope for life. We will work hard so that we can realise our aims." They have shown their gratitude to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the security forces for their commitment to restore peace and tranquility. In the prevailing peaceful atmosphere these people will doubtless work hard and develop the country. That willpower is with them.

Q: How many DPs are in the Kadirgamapuram and Ananda Kumaraswamy Peace Villages at present.

A: Only 12616 belonging to 3822 families have to be resettled - out of over 315,000 who were displaced. There were ex-LTTE cadres too. Under the guidance of the Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, programs were launched to uplift their living standards. It was a huge and complicated task. Most of the VIPs including UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visited the Kadirgamapuram and Ananda Kumaraswamy Peace Villages at the early stages and appreciated the facilities provided to the families.

Q: Could you elaborate on the program which you will implement to relocate the displaced people in their original lands.

A: They need permanent homes. The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) on a directive of Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa and other government organisations such as the People's Bank and INGOs have launched large housing projects. Each house has two bed rooms and other facilities including water and electricity. The People's Bank launched a project to build 50 houses at the Madhu Church junction. A single housing unit costs over Rs. 8 lakhs while providing technical and financial support to house builders, the NHDA encourages DPs to spend their own resources to construct their houses.

A project to construct 100 houses was launched recently at Kilinochchi. Under this project some DPs are trained in masonry and carpentry.

Q: These people were engaged in agriculture or fisheries or small industries earlier. Are there programs where they could revert to their earlier livelihoods.

A: Yes, specially designed programs have been launched by the Ministries of Economic Development, Agriculture Development, Fisheries and Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development for the resettled individuals. The Economic Development Ministry and Agriculture Development Ministry provide a package of assistance including plants, seeds, fertilizer and agriculture equipment for farmers.

Q: Most of the fishing boats were destroyed during the war. What steps have been taken to replace them?

A: An exclusive rehabilitation program was launched by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry. Fisheries Cooperative Societies will be revamped. Boats and other equipment and assistance have been provided.

Q: Children and youth fell victim to LTTE terror in large numbers. The LTTE destroyed schools and recruited school children for their Tiger Army. Is there any project to rehabilitate youth with education activities?

A: There is a school at the Peace Village where there are 14 graduate teachers, there are 600 students at the Vavuniya Maha Vidyalaya. Seven students were selected for university admission last year. Scholarships will be awarded to them to complete their university education, the education sector has returned to normalcy under the Uturu Wasanthaya program.