Over 99% IDPs already resettled - Northern Province Governor

By P. Krishnaswamy

With over 99 percent of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of the North having already been resettled in their own villages and only 3,908 families are still remaining to be resettled, the Government's major plans and programs for their rehabilitation are being successfully implemented, Northern Province Governor Maj.Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri told the Sunday Observer.

Huge amounts are being spent on these programs and they encompass infrastructure development, livelihood facilities, agriculture, fishing, housing, education and rehabilitation of ex-combatants, the Governor said. They are being implemented under the guidance and overall supervision of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who is in-charge of the Presidential Task Force for Northern Development, he said.

The process of resettling the remaining families will resume on Tuesday, September 14, with the resettlement of 220 families comprising 650 persons in Pudukudiyiruppu in Kilinochchi and 450 families comprising 1,350 persons in Viswamadu, Mullaitivu district, the Governor said.

The Government has a massive program for the rehabilitation of families that are getting resettled. Rs. 5,000 is being disbursed immediately on arrival and Rs. 45,000 is given to them for starting their livelihood activities. This money is deposited in their bank accounts after opening the accounts. Funds for this from the UNHCR and the AUSAID are being streamlined through the Government, he said.

Houses are being constructed under the North East Houses Reconstruction Project (NEHRP) and the construction of 12,000 - 15,000 houses under this project has already been started, he said adding that poor families, single mother families and landless families will be given priority in the distribution of these houses.

A major housing project under the sponsorship of the Government of India is to be started soon. Ten thousand damaged houses will be renovated under this program and 40,000 houses will be built by the Indian Government. India allocated Indian Rs.100 crores for this, he said.

The Governor also said that all Government officials should extend their maximum cooperation towards the success of the programs that are being implemented by the Government for the welfare of the IDP families. They should devote themselves fully towards public welfare and ensure through their hard work that everything envisioned by the Government for the betterment of the Northern community turns up well, he said.

The families that are being resettled are provided with eight bags of cement, 12 roofing sheets and other materials for putting up make-shift shelters. Gradually they will be provided assistance for setting up houses. There are more than 70 INGOs and NGOs supporting and providing financial assistance for all such livelihood activities. They include UN NGOs, the Governor pointed out.

The provincial administration is providing micro-credit assistance to the tune of Rs. 75,000 and already this amount has been disbursed among 6,000 families, he said. Inland fishermen have been distributed with boats and other fishing gear. Marine fishermen are also being extended maximum assistance. The Government distributed boats, nets and other fishing gear to them recently, the Governor said.

Investment promotion is one more area on which the Government is focusing. Foreign trade delegations and businessmen have visited the Northern parts for identifying suitable areas for investment. A trade delegation from the US is scheduled to arrive on October 15 and he will take them around, the Governor said. Industrial zones in all five districts of the Northern province have already been identified and selected, he said. Investments have to come through the proper channels. Minister Basil Rajapaksa being the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for Northern Development is overseeing everything. BOI approval also is necessary, the Governor pointed out. The entrepreneurs can invest in any sectors they think fit including in the agricultural sector, food canning sector and the fisheries sector, the Governor said.

Explaining the salient features of the rehabilitation process, the colossal amounts are being spent on providing facilities such as infrastructure, housing and livelihood to the families as well on de-mining activities, the Governor said.

He said "The resettlement process would be completed in the next two months. We expect the de-mining process to be completed in the next three months except in Muhamalai and Palai areas in Jaffna district and Pudukudiyiruppu and Puthumathalan in the Mullaitivu district which are heavily indiscriminately mined areas. It will take a little more time in these areas. Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mannar (except certain small areas in Madhu) are completely mine-free. People are being resettled in the mine-free areas in all the Northern districts.

"The Government is providing support and assistance at local government levels for improving the livelihood and other facilities of the families that are resettling. Colossal amounts are being pumped into the Northern province for this purpose. A good example is that in eight districts more than Rs. 2,000 million has been given under the 'Uthuru Vasanthaya' program for development under Government Agents.

"There is also another major project in the pipeline. Rs. 200 million will be given to each Grama Niladhari division for undertaking development work and provision of infrastructure. Every small village road will be tarred, tanks will be renovated and irrigation facilities will be improved. This project is to start in October.

"All steps have been taken to restore to the former state both the fisheries and agricultural sectors and all assistance is being extended by the Government. The Government is planning to bring a minimum of 80,000 acres under paddy cultivation in the coming Maha Season as against the 22,000 acres cultivated last time. All the seed paddy is being provided by the FAO. The Government is also providing them free. Paddy cultivation is expected to be a major success this time in the Northern province.

"A seed paddy distribution ceremony will be held next Wednesday in Kilinochchi under the auspices of the national committee.

"Vast areas of jungles are being cleared in the Mannar and Kilinochchi districts for expansion of agricultural activities.

These were areas that remained neglected for over 15 years. Incentives and assistance for cultivating other highland crops such as groundnuts, black gram, green peas will be given. Vegetable and fruit cultivation will also be encouraged and the Government's plan is to cultivate them in 15,000 - 20,000 acres.

"Northern farmers have already started sending their agricultural produce to the Southern areas.

"Irrigation facilities have been improved including the renovation of the Giant Tank in Mannar which provided irrigation to over 20,000 acres. The 10 outward sluice gates and two inward sluice gates have been renovated and we expect to have at 10 feet deep water during the next rainy season.", The Governor said.