Rs 1 bn to uplift self-employees' livelihoods

Chaminda PERERA

The government has allocated Rs 1 billion for a programme jointly implemented by the Finance and Planning Ministry and the Economic Development Ministry for the financial year 2010-2011 to uplift the living standards of people engaged in self-employment ventures.

The funds were allocated on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa after representations made by Federation of Self-Employees Chairman Mahinda Kahandagama.

The People's Bank and the Bank of Ceylon will provide funds to self- employed persons under this programme on the directive of the Finance and Planning Ministry.

The Economic Development Ministry has also set up a special unit, Bureau for Self-employees, to provide relief to people engaged in self-employment ventures.

Under this initiative, a programme is under way to provide 500 Dimo vehicles among self-employees. Over 250 vehicles have been distributed under the first phase. The ministry has completed the programme of providing 500 three-wheelers among self-employees too.

The government has spent over Rs. 320m for the construction of well-equipped trade stalls for the self-employees including pavement hawkers in Colombo and Nugegoda.