‘Beneficiary programmes dividends must benefit public’

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group corr

‘The dividends of various beneficiary programmes being launched by the government must benefit the public. Politicians should not put officials into difficulty by allowing unqualified persons to receive the aid”, said North Central Provincial Cooperative Affairs, Rural Development, Textile Industry and Housing Minister H B Semasinghe.

He said so following the distribution of free building materials to 50 low-income families at Polonnoruwa recently.

The Minister handed over roofing sheets worth Rs 32,000 to each family under the Provincial Housing Development Programme.

He said that the housing programme was being geared up simultaneously to the Cooperative Rural Banks Micro Interest loan schemes, irrespective of caste, creed, political ideologies or any other social discrimination.

‘The Mahinda Chinthana future vision intended to treat every single citizen alike, he emphasized. “It is the sole responsibility of politicians of any level to ensure that the poverty alleviation programmes are implemented according to the schedule and with utmost transparency so that the people will enjoy the full benefits of such projects.

Since we have tasked the exercise of such programmes to the officials they are obliged to implement them sans corruption, malpractices, and unnecessary delays”, Semasinghe said.