[TamilNet, March 25, 2005 18:23 GMT]
An organisation for the 'Samurdhi' poverty alleviation program officers in Sri Lanka's northeast and in the Nuwara Eliya District was inaugurated Friday in Vavuniya. Thousands of people living in poverty in several districts of the northeast do not receive any benefit under this program, according to the governers of the new organisation. The Samurdhi program is also affected by a shortage of field officers in the north.
Tamil National Alliance MPs for the Vanni and head of the LTTE's political division for Vavuniya, Mr. T. Gnanavel were present at the inauguration.
"The Samurdhi poverty alleviation scheme was introduced in 1996. But it was implemented in Vavuniya only in 2000. There are 102 vacancies for Samurdhi officers in this region. They are yet to be filled", said Ms. Suganthy Thuraisamy, a divisional secretary for Cheddikulam in Vavuniya district, addressing the meeting. "Thousands of people living below the poverty line in Mannar, Vavuniya North, Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi are not taken into account under the Samurdhi program. It is a pity that our people have to struggle with the Sri Lankan government for their rights even on the question of poverty", said Mr. T. Gnanavel in his address.
An organisation for the 'Samurdhi' poverty alleviation program officers in Sri Lanka's northeast and in the Nuwara Eliya District was inaugurated Friday in Vavuniya. Thousands of people living in poverty in several districts of the northeast do not receive any benefit under this program, according to the governers of the new organisation. The Samurdhi program is also affected by a shortage of field officers in the north.
Tamil National Alliance MPs for the Vanni and head of the LTTE's political division for Vavuniya, Mr. T. Gnanavel were present at the inauguration.
"The Samurdhi poverty alleviation scheme was introduced in 1996. But it was implemented in Vavuniya only in 2000. There are 102 vacancies for Samurdhi officers in this region. They are yet to be filled", said Ms. Suganthy Thuraisamy, a divisional secretary for Cheddikulam in Vavuniya district, addressing the meeting. "Thousands of people living below the poverty line in Mannar, Vavuniya North, Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi are not taken into account under the Samurdhi program. It is a pity that our people have to struggle with the Sri Lankan government for their rights even on the question of poverty", said Mr. T. Gnanavel in his address.
