Pragmatic approach to eradicate poverty in Uva

by Anjana Gamage

Uva province is the most impoverished region in the country experiencing a shortage of 10,000 Government officials including a dearth of 3,000 teachers for its schools and we should have a pragmatic programme to eradicate poverty which is a hinderance for the Uva Province development, said Uva Province Chief Minister Gamini Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa at a press conference held yesterday at the Government Information Department auditorium.

Wijayamuni who completed a year as the Uva Province Chief Minister said: "It is sad to say that Uva is not getting a prominent place through the media.

The province occupies a prominent place in the country's historical landscape. It is where the country's aborigines hail from and is possessed of great cultural heritage. The Buddha set foot in Uva on three occasions at Mahiyanganaya, Muthiyanganaya and Katharagama. But Uva is the most impoverished province in the country.

"National level programmes to develop the country is not enough to eradicate poverty in the province", he said.

"For Uva, we need a special programme to tackle poverty. Education should be developed in the Uva province and steps should be taken to recruit new teachers to the area", he stressed. At present, there are 234,500 students in 834 schools and 12,335 teachers. There are no girls' schools in the province and no Advance Level science teaching schools as well. There is a threat of closure of schools too. Another significant point is Uva has the highest suicide rate as compared to the other provinces, the chief minister said.

He lamented that the Uva Provincial Council has allocated a mere Rs. 193 million for physical resource development for year 2005. According to the Chief Minister, the proposed new strategic plan to develop the Uva province includes implementation of good transport, setting up of new eco-adventure type tourism, proper health facilities, religious and cultural activities together with a good irrigation and agricultural system.