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| Thursday, 20 January 2005 |
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by Nadira Gunatilleke The Sarvodaya Movement got into the act promptly when the tsunami struck to provide relief and assistance to the stricken victims. "Our members were on the scene on December 26th itself hours after the disaster struck. With the help of donations totalling around Rs. 100 million received from individuals and organisations from around the world, Sarvodaya is able to provide services in all affected districts, Sarvodaya Leader Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne said. Addressing a press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium, in Colombo Dr. Ariyaratne said that Sarvodaya is now focused on its mid and long term rehabilitation plan. The plans are developed with the help of the National Advisory Board consisting of professionals in both Government and the private sector. Dr. Ariyaratne said that the Sarvodaya tsunami relief program is based on the 5R system of relief, rehabilitation, reconciliation, reconstruction and reawakening. "Since we have experience in taking care of children, we are willing to accept tsunami victim children who come through the Probation and Child Care Services Department. We always consult Government officials such as Grama Niladharis, Divisional Secretaries and District Secretaries while implementing our programs. The Sarvodaya Movement use only about two per cent of donor funds for administration", he added. Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne said that Sarvodaya villages built by the Sarvodaya Movement a few decades ago were also affected by the tsunami while some of the talented workers of Sarvodaya died in the tragedy. But the Sarvodaya staff attached to the district network and district offices carry out the relief program effectively. "The Sarvodaya will undertake providing 20 percent of houses for the tsunami victims in each district. Since Sarvodaya has experience in providing counselling for war victims and in other areas it is geared to undertake this task as well. Although the number of camps have been reduced to 453, still those affected face problems. One of the major problems faced by the displaced is that they lack a voice for themselves. The victims' voice are not heard sufficiently, he said. |
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