Bicycle distribution to IDPs completed

The final distributions of 10,000 bicycles covering all five districts of Northern Province was completed on March 4, the India High Commissioner's office said in a release.

The High Commission of India, Colombo announced in October 2011 that under the Indian grant assistance, 10,000 bicycles would be distributed to the resettled IDPs in the Northern Province on the basis of need based request from the Northern Province Governor.

Bicycles being distributed among resettled IDPs in the Northern Province

The project was conceived following priorities identified in consultation with the Sri Lankan government to cater to the transportation needs of persons being resettled and to aid the revival of their livelihoods.

The total cost of the project is about Rs 67 million.

The beneficiaries include families with schoolchildren, families employed in livelihoods requiring mobility, single or women headed families, families with physically or mentally disabled persons families living in remote areas, etc.

The UNHCR handled the logistics of the distribution of bicycles.

Of the 10,000 bicycles, 2,500 bicycles were distributed in the Mullaitivu district, 2,500 in Kilinochchi district, 1,750 in Mannar district, 1,750 in Vavuniya district and 1,500 bicycles in Jaffna district.

The first lot of 250 bicycles was distributed to IDPs when Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna visited Jaffna on January 18, 2012. The second lot of 150 bicycles was distributed when the Parliamentary delegation led by Opposition leader of Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj visited Mullaitivu on April 18, 2012.

The distribution of 98 bicycles was held on June 17, 2012 in Jaffna and 112 bicycles in Kilinochchi in the presence of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda, Governor G A Chandrasiri, Consul General of India V Mahalingam, MP and Deputy Chairman of Parliament Committees M Chandra Kumar, Jaffna Mayor Yogeswaray Patgunarajah, Jaffna Additional Government Agent Rubini Varathalingam and Kilinochchi Government Agent Rupavathi Ketheeswarn.

The other bicycles were distributed involving the GAs and Divisional Secretaries, UNHCR representatives and officials of CGI, Jaffna on various occasions.