Democracy and civil administration restored:

Development programs in North will continue - GA Kilinochchi

By P. Krishnaswamy

While the Government's objective towards fully restoring democracy and civil administration in the Northern province has been achieved after the establishment of a democratically-elected council last month, its development programs to transform the province as a hive of thriving economic and livelihood activities would continue , highly-placed government sources said.

Job opportunities for women under the Public-Private Partnership 'Job-arrangement program'

Training being imparted to the youth under the ‘Skills Development program’

The renovated Base Hospital at Mulankavil

The fully-developed Vaddakachchi Farm on which Rs.20 million has been spent

A repaired house of a resettled family in Kilinochchi

Renovation of the Aththaikulam Tank under the ‘Minor Tanks Renovation Program”

Government Agent (GA) for Kilinochchi Rubawathy Ketheeswaran explaining the Government's on-going development programs since 2009 said that much progress has been achieved in providing infrastructure to the district, mainly road network , rail transport, social infrastructure, reservoirs and canals. These have substantially contributed to enhancing the economic and livelihood standards of the local population, she said. Major work on the renovation and rehabilitation of the Iranamadu tank that will provide irrigation facilities to a large number of agricultural families while also providing drinking water to Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts has been completed, she said. Large amounts of funds were allocated, by the Ministry of Economic Development, the provincial administration, other line ministries and the local government bodies for the development projects, she said. The extension of train service up to Kilinochchi after 23 years was inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 14, 2013. The work on the extension of the railway line has now been completed up to Palai, she said.

The following updates with regard to development activities in the district were provided by her office :

A major part of the demining process has already been completed , with only a small area yet to be cleared. About 43,279 families consisting of 130,000 persons have been resettled in the demined areas of the four divisional secretary divisions of the districts. Over 22,452 families consisting of 70,167 persons have been resettled in the Karachchi DS division, 7,519 families consisting of 24,314 persons have been resettled in the Kandawalai DS division, 3,451 families consisting of 11,567 persons have been resettled in the Pachchilaipalli DS division and 6,857 families consisting of 24,182 persons have been resettled in the Poonagari DS division. Of them the resettlement cash grant of Rs.5,000/= has been paid to 35,846 families and the Rs.20,000/= grant has been paid to 33,974 families and both payments were by the UNHCR. About 24,593 families have been provided roofing sheets, 14,399 families have been provided with cement bags, 31,393 families have been provided with agricultural implements and 29,976 families have been provided with Non-Food Relief Items (NFRI).

On resettlement , 9,485 transitional shelters were provided to 9,485 families by different INGOs. A total of 62,848 anti-personnel mines, 252 anti-tank mines and 214, 571 unexploded objects have already been cleared from the mine-infested areas. A five sq. km area is presently under demining and only a 12 sq. km area is yet to be demined. Over 1,260 houses have been completed at an expenditure of Rs.8,100 Mn for the displaced people, Under the Indian Government's Housing scheme (Stage III) 6,810 houses have already been completed and more houses are being constructed under the different housing programs.

Under the Government's ‘Livelihood Assistance Program” ,over 7,369 families received agricultural assistance to the value of Rs.120.8 Mn, 1,515 families received fisheries assistance to the tune of Rs.40.30 Mn, 4,022 families received livestock to the value of Rs.10.98 Mn and ‘ Other Income Generation Supplies’ were provided to 2,944 families to the value of Rs.10.75 Mn. Rs.20 Mn has been spent for the development of the Vaddakachchi farm. An amount of Rs.176.83 has been spent on construction of buildings for the cooperative societies. The total number of families that received the assistance is 15,844 and the total value of the assistance extended is Rs.200.11 Mn.

A total of 1,000 appointments in the state sector were made which include 120 appointments of graduates, 176 Samurdhi Development Officers, 51 appointments in the Irrigation Department, 437 in the education sector and 216 in the health sector. Under the program of rural electricity development, an amount Rs.3,200 Mn has been spent.

In the educational sector, a total amount of Rs.1,749 Mn was spent in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 on developing educational facilities which include construction/provision of class rooms, science labs, libraries, water sanitation, teacher center and zonal education office. Midday meal is provided to 22,719 students of 98 schools, milk to 2,744 students of 18 schools and eggs to 3,591 students of 18 schools under the school children nutritional program. With regard to the educational performance, the Grade 5 scholarship passes rose from 4.49 percent in 2010 to six percent in 2012 and GCE(OL) passes progressively rose from 33.86 percent in 2010 to 60 percent in 2012. . Under the 5000 Feeding School National Program, 38 schools have been selected and under the 1,000 secondary schools development program 10 schools have been selected from the district. The total government investment on these two programs is Rs.139 Mn, The number of functioning schools in the district is 99, the number of students is 28,620 the number of teachers is 1,647 and the student-teacher ratio is 17:1. Under the “ Mahindothaya Technical Laboratory Program”, Rs. 12 Mn has been spent. The amount spent for reconstruction of buildings, provision of electricity and renovation of roads rapidly increased from Rs. 69 Mn in 2009 to Rs.18,244 Mn in 2012. For the year 2010 the amount allocated for these activities was Rs.3,269 Mn and for 2011 it was Rs.7,193 Mn. In an effort to address children-related issues, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) conducted public awareness programs, seminars and field visits.

The Agrarian Development Department completed 147 projects at an expenditure of Rs.273 Mn, the Agriculture Department completed one major project at an expenditure of Rs.126.80 Mn and the Agriculture Research and Development Institute completed one major project at an expenditure of Rs.104.52 Mn. While the total amount spent under these three projects for agricultural development is Rs.504.08 Mn, agricultural implements were also distributed among the farmers. These include three Combined Harvesters , 347 four-wheel and two-wheel tractors, 4,760 water pumps and 177 sprayers. Twenty paddy storage bins, and 157 minor irrigation systems were also provided to the farmers.

With regard to the health sector, the number of divisional hospitals functioning was nil in 2009 and currently all seven divisional hospitals are functional and the number of Medical Officers of Health (MOH) on duty at present is four as against only one in 2009. The number of the present primary medical care unit is two as against nil in 2009. One District General Hospital and one Base Hospital are also functioning in the district. Large amounts have been invested for the renovation and provision of facilities in District General Hospital and other state medical institutions. In the years 2009 - 2011, an amount of Rs.272 Mn has been spent for the District General Hospital while Rs.144 Mn has been allocated for ongoing projects to the hospital. For the other institutions Rs.186 Mn has been spent in the years 2009 to 2011 and Rs.329 Mn has been spent for ongoing projects in respect of these institutions. The recurrent amount from 2009 - 2012 is Rs.663 Mn and the total amount on these projects is Rs.1,594 Mn. New facilities established at the District General Hospital after 2009 include Pipe Medical Gas System, strengthening of the sterilisation unit, establishment of the central air-conditioner system and provision of theater medical equipment.

In the infrastructure development sector , an amount of Rs.15,294.50 Mn has been spent for road development and the extent of the roads developed is 371.91 km. The RDA's Paranthan-Puthukudiyiruppu highway has been renovated/reconstructed at an expenditure of Rs.10,560.50 Mn. 183 km of rural roads have been renovated at an expenditure of Rs. 3,650 Mn and RDD roads extending a distance of 56.51 km were renovated at an expenditure of Rs.1,084 Mn. A total amount of Rs.1084 Mn has been allocated collectively by the Ministry of Economic Development ( Conflict Affected Regional Emergency Project) , the Ministry of Local Government and the Provincial Council (PSDG) for 16 rural roads projects.

Forty-nine rural electricity projects have already been completed at an expenditure of Rs.623 Mn. Work on 10 electricity schemes are in progress for which an amount of Rs.271 Mn has been allocated while 42 schemes at an expenditure of Rs.584 Mn are also to be undertaken during the period 2013-2016. Grid Substation and transmission line have been established at an expenditure of Rs.3200 Mn to ensure uninterrupted power supply, enhanced living standard, and the introduction of a more number of industries.

The total expenditure incurred on Water Supply and Sanitation Development projects is Rs.22,985 Mn of which the amount spent for the major Jaffna-Kilinochchi Water Supply project is Rs.21,717 Mn, the amount spent for the Rehabilitation of Kilinochchi Water Supply Scheme is Rs.982 Mn, the amount spent for the Improvement of Community-based Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in Post-conflict Areas is Rs.268 Mn and the amount spent on the Construction of the Kallaru Water Supply Scheme is Rs.18 Mn.

Under the program of promoting ‘ Active Community Sports Economy’ a total amount of Rs.325 Mn has been allocated for the construction of a sports complex of international standard. An amount of Rs.351.66 Mn was allocated for providing buildings to improve district administration. Rs.110.57 Mn has been spent for the activities of the Rehabilitation of Persons, Properties and Industries Authority. The break-up is Rs.15.25 Mn for self-employment, Rs.65.25 Mn for Housing Loans. Rs.04.23 Mn on House Grant for Government Officials, Rs.16.74 Mn for Payment for Death and Injured Persons caused by War, Rs.13.54 Mn for Injured Persons caused by war and Rs.09.60 Mn for repairs of the Iyyanar Hindu Temple, Housing Grant, Tank Renovation and the construction of Community Hall at Pallikadah village. Under the Disaster Management Program 02 projects were implemented at an expenditure of Rs.10.24 Mn. 100 projects were implemented under the ‘Preparedness Planning'. Fifty projects were implemented under training and public awareness program. Rs.79.9 Mn has been spent on relief assistance ( drought and flood) and 14 projects have been implemented on Dengue eradication. A total of 79 projects at an expenditure of Rs.53.86 Mn have been implemented on establishing Women's Development Centers,providing Livelihood Loans and Construction of Buildings.

When it comes to restoration of communication network, the entire Kilinochchi and Pallai town areas have been brought under land line with ADSL. In an effort to promote user-friendly modernised postal sector a total of Rs.70.08 Mn was spent for postal development works. The break-is Rs.39.61 Mn for the Kilinochchi post office, Rs.9.68 Mn for the Paranthan post office, Rs.9.99 Mn for the Poonakary post office and Rs.10.80 Mn for the Pallai post office.

The work on construction of the building for housing the Engineering and Agricultural Faculties of the Jaffna Campus has been partly completed. The work on construction of the building for the Sri Lanka – German Technical College (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development) also has been partly completed. At the Pachchilaipalli village 100 toilets were constructed at an expenditure of Rs.10 Mn and a Social Care Center was constructed at an expenditure of Rs.1.2 Mn. 126 disabled persons received Rs.3000/- every month and another 246 disabled persons received equipments. The question of allocating funds for establishing a Central Bus Stand and CTO is also under consideration. Rs.200 Mn has been allocated for the construction of a building for the public library..

Under the program for strengthening and up-grading local democratic institutions, the Karachchi Pradeshiya Sabha is to be upgraded as Urban Council and a new Pradeshiyas Sabha for Kandawalai is to be established. The relevant papers have already been forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils. Investments have been made for imparting training to unemployed youths in an effort to help them to engage in small scale industries and self-employment ventures . Rs.1.90 Mn has been spent for providing training to 87 youths under the star garments training program. Rs.12.70 Mn has been spent for imparting bus driver training to 96 youth and Rs.0.02 Mn has been invested for palmyrah-leaf-based training to 20 youths.

Steps have already been initiated to develop the cooperative sector. There are 111 fully-functional cooperative societies in the district, which include MPCSs, Palm Resources Cooperatives, fresh water fisheries cooperatives, thrift and credit cooperatives, livestock breeding cooperatives, enterprise development cooperatives, school cooperatives and others. In the years 2009 - 2012 Rs.176.83 Mn was spent on construction of buildings for the cooperative societies.