Rs.3,000 m allocated for Samurdhi allowance

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The government has allocated Rs.3,000 million for the Samurdhi allowance through Budget 2012 and there is no reduction in this amount as alleged by certain Opposition members, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa recently presented in Parliament the Bill to set up a new Department for Divi Neguma Development with the aim of alleviatingpoverty and uplifting the livelihoods in the rural areas. The new department is to be established, as proposed, by amalgamating the Samurdhi Authority, Southern Development Authority and the Udarata Development Authority.

“The Ministry plans to promote micro-financial services for Divi Neguma beneficiaries. This would help encourage the savings habit among beneficiaries, to develop the investment potential which in turn would provide credit facilities to the beneficiaries, the deputy minister said.

“Divi Neguma Community Based Organizations will be set up in villages to provide a coordinating network at district and national level.The proposed Department for Divi Neguma development will be the authority to supervise, monitor, control and manage Divi Neguma community based organizations,” he said. All officials in the authorities, including over 26,000 Samurdhi officers will be absorbed into the new Department and they would be eligible for pensions as well.

The officials who are working in these three authorities have the opportunity to resign from their jobs with their ETF and be recruited as new employees in this department with the pension. The period of their services would not be changed, “the deputy minister explained.

“All arrangements are in place to grant 16,000 graduates jobs in the Economic Development Ministry. They will be deployed in village level activities under this new “Divi Neguma” Department, “he further said.