EU Projects benefiting underserved settlements

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The European Union (EU) funded projects have helped families in slum and shanty settlements to build better working relations with service providers to solve their problems in Sri Lanka, said chairman of the NGO Society Dr. Dharmadasa de Silva, retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police at the launching ceremony of the project "Eradication of Vulnerabilities of Slum and Shanty Dwellers" which was funded by the EU and implemented by the NGO Society for People Centered Development.

He said that the project objectives were to strengthen the abilities of families in slum and shanty settlements to overcome their vulnerabilities by eliminating the negative influence of the environment, generating better interest, strengthening links and support and by enhancing their knowledge skills and collective bargaining power.

The general term "undeserved settlements" is now used in place of the term slum and shanty settlements.

In the past, especially before Fundamental Rights were enshrined in our Constitution, the public had mainly the Police to got to. May be about two decades ago the Police were by about the only agency available on a 24 hour basis to settle family involving children and such like. During the recent past, many new laws were enacted and other agencies were established to help especially the poor to become less vulnerable to injustices and rights violations.

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), Legal Aid Commission (LAC), Dangerous Drug Control Board (DDCB), NGOs like Women in Need, Lawyers for Human Rights Development are few examples, Dr. de Silva said.

These agencies have subject specific expertise to solve problems and it is our duty to make more and more people aware of their services. It will reduce the workload of the Police and also help people to find solutions, where possible, to their problems with the help of agencies which are less legalistic and more civilian in nature.