Divineguma is innovative and far-sighted - Governor

A S M Irshad- Colombo Fort TKN corr

Divineguma is one of the most innovative and far-sighted programmes launched by the government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and guidance of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, said Northern Province Governor Maj Gen G A Chandrasiri.

He said its main objective is to uplift the livelihoods of rural and urban communities.

He said so at the implementation of the Poverty Free Sri Lanka programme at Thellippalai Divisional Secretariat recently.

A divisional level awareness programme was held at Valikamam North, Thellippalai Divisional Secretariat on January 20.

The governor who is also the co-chairman of the District Coordinating Meeting Committee was the chief guest.

"The government's aim is to make Sri Lanka a poverty free middle income earning economy and achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2016.

Thus, the government has allocated Rs 1,500 million under the 2013 budget to intensify poverty reduction by uplifting the rural economy," he said.

The government invites development partners and the private sector to join in this national effort as resource providers, he said.

"I hope that all the government institutions, private sector especially the business community and community based organisations in the Northern Province will participate in this national effort by implementing the poverty reduction programmes and fulfill their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)," he said. Stating that the government in implementing poverty reduction programmes, was able to reduce those suffering from poverty. Access to water, housing and sanitary conditions have uplifted people's living conditions, he said.

There are more facilities provided for child and maternity care and great improvement in school enrollment of children belonging to low income families, he added.

The governor said access to transport and connectivity to market places need to improve.

Many low income families have become victims of drugs, illicit liquor, crimes and violence, he said adding, "together we must work to eliminate these evils by addressing the root causes."

Strong action is taken in this regard by our government with the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the able directions of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Ministers Douglas Devananda and Rishard Badiudeen, he emphasized.

About 14,000 graduates are posted to Grama Niladhari Divisions.

Other field level officers of line agencies are engaged as Poverty Reduction Animators to uplift the living condition of people in rural areas.

Under the Divineguma programme, the government's poverty alleviation programmes are amalgamated and given a face lift.

The goals of Divineguma are setting up community oriented financial organisations, providing people with micro finance facilities, ensuring food security, establishing a social security network, storage facilities for various products, processing, packaging and sales, increasing job opportunities for Divineguma beneficiaries, encouraging people to adopt an environment- friendly lifestyle, encouraging them to save part of their earnings, increasing investment opportunities, strengthening their self-confidence and stressing the importance of collective social responsibility and ethical and moral standards, he said.

He added that some of the programmes initiated in this regard are Divineguma National Movement, Gama neguma, Pura neguma, regional development programmes, investment development programmes and tourism development programmes.

Under these programmes all activities are focused on low income groups to uplift their living conditions, he said. "I request you all to work hard according to the national requirement," the governor said. Divisional Secretary K Shrimohanan, Jaffna Government Agent Sundaram Arumainayagam, Secretary to the governor L Ilaangovan and other officials participated.