Strengthening future of women and children

Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadde speaks about several key areas the Ministry is focusing on.:

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Q: What are the steps taken by the Child Development and Women’s Affairs Ministry for the welfare of women and children?

A: We have to provide field officials attached to Provincial Divisional Secretariat Offices transport facilities as they face difficulties during field visits. When it comes to female officials the situation is worse. The Ministry has to first facilitate their mobility. Selected officials will be given three-wheelers.

Q: One female official has been appointed to each Provincial Secretariat division to look into child development and women empowerment related affairs. Do you believe they give their fullest contribution to these activities?

A: These officials are liable in establishing Women’s Committees (Kantha Kamitu) and building a link between the committee members and the Ministry. Providing transport facilities is vital as these officials have to cover the entire Provincial Secretariat Division. The Divisional Secretariat Office is unable to provide officials with transport facilities. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has entrusted the Child Development and Women’s Affairs Ministry a great task.

The Ministry has to be target oriented that the Ministry has to utilize human resources. We have to go to women, discuss with them, build a close relationship with them. We implement several projects aiming to uplift their financial standards. This is not an easy task. We have to make women understand about financial management and how to overcome financial difficulties. Counselling will also play a major role.

Q: Woman represents family. How do you hope to uplift the financial situation of families?

A: We have to identify the capabilities of each family unit. Then only we can introduce the ideal way for the particular family unit. For instance there are families in the agriculture sector while certain families are bent towards self employment.

After identifying the capabilities of each family they will be advised to choose the most suitable path. Thereafter, the Ministry will financially assist certain families to enter fields such as livestock development while others will be assisted to take up agriculture. In addition a large number of families will be assisted to enter self employment ventures such as handicraft and various other fields.

The Ministry will take initiatives to uplift the economic standards of each family unit by introducing various self employment ventures.

Under this program the Ministry will assist family units to start projects to uplift their living standards by improving their economic conditions. Child Development and Women Empowerment officers of the Divisional Secretariat offices will provide guidance in this regard. At the initial stage, the Ministry will identify the capabilities and available resources of each family unit.

The capabilities may vary from family to family. For instance certain families have lands and other resources for cultivation while others possess traditional knowledge of industries such as handicraft.

Having identified the capabilities of each family by Women’s Committees (Kantha Kamitu), the Ministry will introduce the most suitable vocation for the particular family unit. There are families that are connected to agriculture sector. They will be advised and guided in this fields. The families keen on self employment will be guided to carry out self employment ventures. The Ministry will financially assist certain families to enter the livestock development sector while some will be assisted to take up agriculture.

Q: Who will be the beneficiaries of this project?

A: The selection process will be carried out by the Women’s Committees. All women in villages are entitled to be members of Women Committees in their villages.

The members and office-bearers will also be the women living in villages. The Ministry will perform only the monitoring aspect.

Q: Children and women in the North and East were badly affected by LTTE terrorism. The LTTE recruited child soldiers. Has the Ministry focused attention on the women and children in North and East?

A: We have already concentrated on the issue. As a result of LTTE terrorism there are widows in the North and East.

The Ministry is duty bound to bring them back to society and obtain their contribution to the development of the country. The Ministry will assist them to make up their minds. Counselling will play a major part.

Q: What have you planned to implement to empower women and children?

A: The Ministry has focused attention on suggesting the Government the need to establish women’s courts. A court has to be established only for women and children in each district. This will help safeguard self respect and the dignity of women and children. However, such courts can only be established in accordance with the existing legal provisions.

Women and children are produced before general courts. Because of that the Ministry has thought of establishing courts only for women and children.

Q: Early childhood development is a vital factor. What are the steps the Ministry planning to take in this regard?

A: Early Childhood Development policy standards will be formulated by the Child Development and Women Empowerment Ministry. These policy standards will be tabled for Parliamentary approval.

The Children Secretariat is instrumental in gathering information for the formulation of the policy through a survey. The survey is being carried out at Provincial level. Surveys in the North and Sabaragamuwa Provinces have already been completed. Surveys in the North Central and Wayamba Provinces will commence soon. After gathering information the policy standards will be drafted by the Child Secretariat.

The survey is being conducted by Early Childhood Development officers and an experts Committee. Children below five years, their parents and pre-school teachers are included in the survey. The policy standards will be drafted before the end of this year.

Q: Will the Ministry launch any program for street children?

A: Of course. The Ministry will implement a rehabilitation program for street children. Here again the Ministry has been conducting a survey and analysis regarding street children. After the survey a proper rehabilitation program will be implemented.

The Ministry has planned to provide street children a proper education. After completing the preliminary and secondary education, the children will be directed to vocational training. When the children reach 18 years they will receive vocational training. The Ministry will seek assistance of private and Government institutions to provide vocational training. The Ministry will assist them to find jobs.

The mentality of the street children has to be changed. The Ministry will educate street children about their value for development of the country. Children in children’s homes have to leave children’s homes at 18. These youth enter society without jobs. Most such children don’t have their parents or guardians. Therefore the Ministry has taken steps to provide them suitable employment.