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Fast track development programs in estates

The Estate Infrastructure Ministry, will embark on a fast track development program in the fields of employment generation, health care and educational facilities, social mobilisation of youth and promotion of sports and cultural activities, a press release by the Ministry said. Its implementation will be part of the 100 day program.

The Ministry has identified clothing technology, driving, light engineering work, garment sector and self-employment as potential income generating opportunities and steps have been taken to train youth in these areas, the release said.

To address the problems of people without birth certificates and national identity cards, the Ministry plans to facilitate the issue of 20,000 birth certificates, coordinating with the Divisional Secretaries, Management of estates, the Registrar General and the Commissioner for the Registration of persons.

Sixty agency post offices will be set up in the estates and 100 community centres will be provided with basic equipment such as chairs and aluminum tents.

In the field of health care development, 51 estate hospitals will be taken over by the Government from the provincial health authorities and provided with qualified staff and equipment. Twenty one estate hospitals have been taken over by the public sector already. Measures to increase the awareness of estate women on family health and nutrition through the training camps were undertaken.

In the field of development of educational facilities, the Ministry plans to set up 31 information centres with micro- computers and wireless technology in 31 selected schools. Reference books on science and technology will be provided to 250 school libraries and 25 children's parks will be set up.

According to the release, organising programs in the districts of Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle and Badulla for the social mobilisation of youth have been initiated with the support of National Youth Service.

To promote cultural activities, musical instruments for Tamil cultural bands will be provided to five estate schools and initiatives have been taken to set up three cultural centres at Upcot, Sarniya estate and Balangoda. Measures have been taken to renovate and reconstruct 200 places of worship such as Hindu and Buddhist temples, churches and mosques in the estate sector.

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