Houses for resettled families

M.I. Farook, Batticaloa district group corr.

Swift measures have been taken to construct houses for the benefit of the resettled families at A-5 Badulla - Chenkallady road in the Batticaloa district.

A program is also underway to improve their livelihood.

The villages such as Karadiyanaru, Rugam, Kitthulwewa, Pullumalai and Koppaveli have been selected for development purpose.

Under this program, 118 houses and 115 latrines are being constructed under the patronage of the Sarvodaya movement and Cord Aid Batticaloa according to the project officer, Sarvodaya, P. Velnayagam.

In order to improve the living standards of the selected needy families goats have been given for rearing. Adequate funds have also been made to engage themselves in agriculture and running small shops as cottage industries.

Each house is constructed at a cost of Rs. 120,000 and a latrine at Rs. 46,000 each.

The houses and the latrines already completed were handed over to the beneficiaries.

Executive Director, Sarvodaya, Dr. Vinny Ariyarathna, UNICEF Batticaloa representative Asadur Rahman, Sarvodaya Executive Assistant, E.L.A. Kareem, Zonal Director of Education, Batticaloa, A.M.E. Paul, Police and Special Task Force high ranking officials were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile in order to improve the educational standard in the resettled villages, 250 push bicycles were given to the students in the area by the organizations to facilitate transport between their homes and schools.