Beneficiaries’ deposits will not be harmed:

‘Divi Neguma Act will benefit thousands’

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Divi Neguma Act will benefit 1.5 million Samurdhi beneficiaries and 27,000 Samurdhi officials, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said yesterday. The minister was addressing the media at the Information Department.

He said the government is in no hurry in getting the approval for the Act. But the Samurdhi Authority unions, Samurdhi officials and beneficiaries expect an immediate answer their request.

Samurdhi officials rendered a great service to the country by supporting the poverty alleviation drive. Country’s poverty level was 30 percent when the Samurdhi Authority was established. Due to the dedication of Samurdhi officials it has been reduced to eight percent by 2010.

“Though the government is happy about Samurdhi officials’ work they are still not happy as they do not have a job guarantee and their future. It is the responsibility of the government to express gratitude to Samurdhi officials who rendered a great service for the betterment of the country,” the minister said.

Rajapaksa also said that some people make wrong statements on this Act by highlighting that Samurdhi beneficiaries will lose their deposited money after the conversion of the Samurdhi Authority to a Department. “As a responsible person I must say that there will be no harm to the funds and benefits to Samurdhi beneficiaries due to the Divi Neguma Act. The Samurdhi Bank deposits will only be converted into Divi Neguma Bank deposits,” the minister said.

“Through this Act the government hopes to widen the service of collective organizations and enhance the number of beneficiaries. Also through this act, the government hopes to eradicate poverty, ensure social justice, enhance economic development activities related to employment, ensure food security, develop social and physical infrastructure facilities and micro finance facilities to uplift living standards of people, conduct researches necessary for social and economic development of the country and develop human capital and create social security network,” the minister said.

He further said that one of the main objectives of the Act is to ensure job security of the Samurdhi officials. “So all of them will be absorbed into the government service with the approval of State Service Commission and they will be entitled for all benefits like other state workers. If anyone doesn’t like to be in the state service they can resign after obtaining compensation and ETF/EPF benefits”, the minister said.

Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, Technology and Research Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minor Export Crop Promotion Minister Reginald Cooray, Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary Dr. Charitha Herath, Government Information Department Director General Ariyarathne Athugala and many other officials participated.