Self - employment projects launched

Sivam Packiyanathan, Batticaloa special correspondent

A self - employment project under the Divineguma scheme for people below the poverty line in the secretarial divisions of Valachchenai and Vakarai has been launched.

This function was presided by Provincial Council member and advisor to the President, Sivanesadurai Chandrakanthan at the Divisional Secretariats of Valaichchenai and Vakarai.

Chandrakanthan said the Eastern Province is ranked low in poverty and the Central Bank had allocated Rs 11,000 million to eliminate poverty in the Batticaloa district.

Trainee gaduates , Samurdhi officers and Grama Seva Niladharies participated in the ceremony.

People engaged in fishing, cottage industries such as coir work, reed and thrush work, clay and earthenware work, palmyrah products, candle making and making of footwear are to be identified. Trainee graduates have visited homes of these people and submitted the list to the divisional secretaries.

As agriculture, the main occupation of the people had been affected by the weather, alternate livelihood measures are to be introduced through these projects, Chandrakanthan said.

Valaichchenai Divisional Secretary T Thenesh, Vakarai Divisional Secretary R Kokulanayagi, Assistant Director of Planning of Valachchenai D S office R Jetheeskumar, Graduate trainee officers, Grama Niladharies and Samurdhi development officers also participated.