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Ministry to fund elders' committees

By Nadira Gunatilleke

The Social Welfare Ministry will fund village level elders' committees to promote elders' welfare at grass root level under the direction of Social Welfare Minister Ravindra Samaraweera.

Under this programme, Rs.1.12 million will be granted to 225 elders' committees in the country, Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Viji Jegarasasingam told the `Daily News' yesterday.

She said 225 deserving elders' committees will be selected from all nine provinces and granted Rs.5000 each. According to data collected by the Social Welfare Ministry, about 600 such active committees are scattered all over the country.

The grant will have to be deposited in a savings account of a closest post office or bank. Rs.3500 of the grant will have to be held as a permanent deposit where only the interest can be used. The balance Rs.1500 could be used for purchase of stationary or similar items.

The Ministry has sent instructions along with a draft constitution to all Provincial Directors. Divisional Secretaries will request them to establish elders' committees at Grama Niladhari divisional level. The Ministry has requested them to report the progress of establishing such committees.

The elderly population which is 10 per cent of the total population of Sri Lanka is expected to increase up to 25 per cent by 2030.

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