Special programme to minimise adverse effects of drought

by Nadira Gunatilleke

The National Disaster Management Centre that operates under the purview of Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Ministry has planned a special programme to minimize adverse effects of the drought prevailing in the Moneragala district under the direction of Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena, a ministry spokesman said.

He said that arrangements will be made to meet food requirements of the drought affected areas and develop basic needs and infrastructure facilities for agriculture under this programme. Apart from those steps arrangements will also be made to raise awareness among officials and the public to minimize adverse effects of the drought. The public will be encouraged to recover from the dependent mentality.

All projects and programs will be selected and designed after consulting the public and according to their needs and wishes.

Under this programme all beneficiaries should contribute through labour to the development projects identified according to priority basis and they have to work a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 5 hours per day. They will receive 50 kilograms of rice and four kilograms of dates.

Small tanks will be rehabilitated under the development projects. Canals and streams will be cleaned.

The existing agricultural roads and ordinary roads will be rehabilitated while new roads will be constructed according to the requirements.

Small scale forest cultivation programmes will also be implemented. Community based development programmes will be implemented.