Gama Neguma, Uthuru Vasanthaya programs:

Government allocates Rs 2,131m

For first quarter of 2010:

Lakshmi DE SILVA

The Government has allocated Rs. 2,131 million for the first quarter of the year 2010 for the development under the Gama Neguma and Uthuru Vasanthaya development programs in the Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

Nearly 577,612 families would benefit from 1652 projects started to develop the infrastructure of the northern region, Nation Building Ministry's Northern Region Development Division Director General Buddhi Passaperuma told the Daily News. There are three basic areas under Gama Neguma village reawakening program, socio economic development, infrastructure, livelihood and spiritual development, he said.

Altogether, roads, bridges, power and energy, irrigation, water and sanitation and sports activities to be developed under the Nation Building programs within the first three months of this year, he noted.

The main feature of these programs is to implement the projects proposed by the people of the area and they themselves to be benefited from these projects, he explained.

Allocations under the Gama Neguma project for the respective districts would be., Jaffna district Rs 445 million, Vavuniya district Rs 250 million, Mannar district Rs 165 million, Kilinochchi district Rs 127 million and Mullaitivu district Rs 150 million for these programs. Under the Uthuru Vasanthaya program, the northern region would get another Rs 1,000 million to rehabilitate the area, Passaperuma noted.

Nearly 343,000 families in Jaffna, 89,381 families in Vavunia, 61,610 families in Mannar, 36,542 families in Kilinochchi and 47,279 families in Mullaitivu would benefit from these Gama Neguma and Uthturu Vasanthaya programs, he added.