Minister Rajapaksa launches 324 Divi Neguma training programs

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has launched a five-day program (15-20 January) to brief community leaders and Government officers from top level to rural level on the Government’s national policy to eradicate poverty in the country.  The program will cover 324 Divisional Secretariats, islandwide.

The Bill, which was debated in Parliament previously and contested in the Supreme Court, was passed on Tuesday by the House following amendments done on the recommendations of the Supreme Court and political parties. The Bill following its second reading won 117 majority votes, with 160 votes in support.

The department will carry out development activities required to alleviate poverty and ensure social equity. It will ensure food security for each individual and family and empower people to speed up national development. Microfinance facilities will be provided for the purpose.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa called those who opposed the Divi Neguma Bill opponents of moves to eradicate poverty.  They were the type of persons who had in the past opposed progressive measures such as free education, the Paddy Lands Act and the Employees Provident Fund. The masses would brand them traitors, he said.

The Minister emphasised this at a discussion with senior Government officers and secretaries of ministries connected with Divi Neguma on the poverty-eradication program for 2013. The establishment of the Divi Neguma Department would benefit 1.8 million people islandwide and secure the pension rights of 27,000 employees of three institutions including the Samurdhi Authority.

Grama niladharis, Samurdhi officers, assistant agricultural research officers, family health workers, trainee graduates, religious leaders, people’s representatives and rural community leaders in 14,008 Grama Seva divisions will be included in the program to educate the public on Divi Neguma, according to the Minister. In this connection special attention would be paid to the agricultural, fisheries and livestock sectors.  

Minister Basil Rajapaksa added that under this program around 30,000 small scale entrepreneurs of the industrial sector would be trained and provided with the necessary capital through State banks. This will cover food products, soft drinks, leather goods, kitul, and palmyrah products and garments among 16 sectors.

Dairy production, animal food production, poultry, grass lands and biogas units will be among 10 areas that would help to develop livestock resources thereby helping to supplement family income and also boost egg, milk and meat production.  Cultivating marine plants and home gardening will be among 13 areas in which entrepreneurs will be provided with opportunities at domestic level.

Industry and Commerce Ministry Secretary Anura Siriwardena and other Ministry Secretaries, and Additional Secretary, Economic Development Ministry Hema Dharmawardana were among those who participated in the discussion.