Critical blunders made when choosing beneficiaries for Aswesuma: S.B

Wednesday, 28 June 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Urges Govt. to rectify mistakes made in choosing beneficiaries immediately
Says Govt. should have resolved issues with Grama Seva Officers and others who declined to be part of the program and gained their support
Claims failure to protect Samurdhi Banks will lead to social upheaval

MP S.B Dissanayake

Architect of the Samurdhi relief program and ruling party MP, S.B Dissanayake yesterday admitted that critical blunders have been made when choosing beneficiaries for the recently introduced Aswesuma social welfare program.

Dissanayake said these mistakes must be corrected immediately. According to the MP, Aswesuma encountered its first setback when Grama Seva Officers, Development Officers, Samurdhi Officers and Managers, as well as Agriculture Officers, declined to participate in the program. “Proactive measures should have been taken to address any concerns promptly and garner their support for the program,” he said. Dissanayake also called on the Government to protect Samurdhi Banks along with the social security and housing funds to avert a crisis. “If not, it will lead to a major social upheaval,” he warned.

Commenting on the Samurdhi program formulated by him, which will now be replaced by the new Aswesuma program, Dissanayake said despite the many allegations it has contributed immensely in alleviating poverty in Sri Lanka since 1994. “At the time it was introduced 26% of the population were poor. But when Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over the Government in 2015, it had dropped to a mere 6.4%,” he said.

“There were blunders. At times political party offices sent in lists of names to be included as beneficiaries. Some mistakes were also made by Samurdhi Officers and Managers. However, they were not as significant as claimed. If at all perhaps there were only 12 - 15% faults in the program when choosing beneficiaries,” he opined.