Wednesday, 10th September 2014
By J. Yogaraj
When you are given a good life you should enjoy living that life. It will be utter madness if you talk about the future or go looking for a much better life, after being given a better life following 30 years of suffering. This is the sorry state of some of the Tamils who back the TNA.
Tamil National Alliance is the Tamil political party which has the support of the majority of Tamils. Therefore, TNA is expected to create a suitable atmosphere for the Tamils to live in. TNA has to engage in a meaningful discussion with the government and sort out issues to provide a better environment for the Tamils to live in. But, instead of the TNA, the present government, under the leadership of President Rajapaksa, has already given the Tamils a better environment to live in. TNA cannot tolerate this. TNA thinks that anything good for the Tamils should be done by them. This is ridiculous. Anybody is free to help anyone in this country. The President of this country has a collective responsibility to protect all communities. The President also has an obligation to provide a proper peaceful atmosphere for the people to live in happily. In this context President Mahinda Rajapaksa has liberated the country from the grip of the LTTE to give a better life, not only to the Tamils, but also to other communities in this country.
The sufferings of the Tamil people came to an end when the war ended in 2009. The present government was instrumental in defeating the LTTE militarily. But one must understand that these things happened within the existing structure of the law. The so called 13th Amendment or any other clause in the Constitution did not help the Tamils during their time of distress. But, it is only President Rajapaksa and his team who came to the rescue of the Tamils. This was a genuine effort. No one can deny this. Every single Tamil citizen in this country feels that he is living as a respected citizen because of President Rajapaksa. True, there are a few more things to do to fulfill the aspirations of the Tamil people. But for everything to happen, we need that basic bottle neck removed. The present government has done that. At this point, just because the political solution is getting delayed, the Tamils should not get distracted. Tamils should not lose hope and confidence in this government because they have to understand the fact that a government which finished the three-decade-long war, will not find it difficult to solve this problem. The present government may have some weakness like the previous government. But this is the only government that can solve the longstanding problem of Tamils, no one else.
But TNA had other ideas. TNA will first ask for tea. When the tea is ready to be delivered they will change their demands. They will ask for coffee. When the government gives coffee, TNA will ask whiskey. When whiskey is ready they will ask brandy. This is the thinking pattern of the TNA. To my knowledge I think TNA does not want to solve this problem. They just want to drag this matter for their survival. But on the other side, the government forces are trying their best to help the Tamils in the North to live a decent life.
Contribution of the military
The government forces especially the Sri Lanka Army has been actively involved in infrastructure development, dengue control programmes, improving sports, cultural activities, maintaining religious harmony, keeping the city clean and helping the northern Tamils to revive the agricultural and fishing activities, and the like.
One of the most outstanding services of the Army, led by SF Commander Jaffna, Major General Udaya Perera, was cleaning the Nallur Kovil premises before the festival and establishing a systematic method to dispose of garbage and solid waste from the Nallur area with the help of the local government authorities. Nallur is also a well known sacred place for Hindus in Sri Lanka.
To my knowledge, the government forces have not contributed this much even in the South (the home of many Army officers). So this shows clearly the dedication and commitment of the forces to better the lives of the Tamils.
Everyone in this country looks forward to a better life. What do you mean by a better life? It can be termed as the life better than the previous. It could be in terms of comfort, infrastructure, land, building, more income, more opportunities and fewer disturbances. If this is the better life, I am sure not only Tamils, but Sinhalese and Muslims also would feel safe and happy under the Rajapaksa regime. None of the previous governments created this situation. On the other side, the government forces are well utilized only by this government. The forces have plenty of talent and resources. The present government has recognized that and encouraged and promoted the forces to get involved in urban development, dengue control, cultivation, construction, crime detection and much more work which actually benefit the masses.
The ordinary Tamil citizen of the province benefits a lot from this. There is a big change in their day to day life style. Life has changed a lot in the province. People feel much relaxed and easy to lead out their life. This change has occurred not due to the present Constitution or 13th Amendment, but through the systematic development approach of the government well supported by the forces.
Sahana Aruna – Loan scheme was another big relief and boost given to the low income families to improve their living standards. This is also another blessing to the ordinary citizen including those in the Northern Province.
Loan Scheme – more than 2,000 on first day
In accordance with the Divi Neguma Development Department's goal of eliminating poverty by empowering the people through livelihood improvement projects, the Divi Neguma credit scheme commenced on 1 September under the theme 'On-the-Spot-Cash.'
This credit scheme will ensure credit up to a maximum of Rs 50,000 without guarantors on a special low interest rate of 4%. The main objective of this scheme is to invest income from the village within the village and prevent people falling into debt by taking loans from financial institutions at high interest rates. There is no age limit, no guarantors required and easy payment system. Interest will not be charged for the first year. It will make it easier for the entrepreneur to concentrate on his/her income earning activities.
The proposed new loan scheme of Divi Neguma has many benefits. It gives you a loan ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50 000/- without a guarantor. In the first year there will not be any interest charged. It is reported that there will be a very nominal rate of 4 % from the second year. 24 installment periods are given to settle the loan. This will definitely benefit the low income families in the province.
A loan relief programme called Sahana Aruna, under the Divi Neguma, was inaugurated on 1 September 2014 in Jaffna. Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda and Governor of the Northern Province G.A. Chandrasiri jointly inaugurated the programme.
This inauguration ceremony was held in the Samurdhi Bank of Jaffna Town West. The Branch Manager of the Samurdhi Bank Kiyuman presided over the event. Director of Divi Neguma Department Anura S. Weerarathne, Government Agent of Jaffna District, Sundaram Arumainayagam and Additional Government Agent of Jaffna Rubini Varathalingam also took part in the inauguration ceremony.
Fourteen beneficiaries received Rs 50,000 and 28 beneficiaries received Rs 5,000 as loans under this scheme. Rs 23 million was to be provided to 675 beneficiaries in the Jaffna District.
This is the 4th stage of Divi Naguma implementation programme.
Island-wide
Divi Neguma beneficiaries welcomed the Divi Neguma Sahana Aruna programme ceremonially launched on 1 September through 1,073 Divi Neguma community banks. Thousands of people obtained cash benefits that day.
They were able to expeditiously obtain micro finance facilities, regardless of age, guarantors, collateral and additional documents because of the Divi Neguma Sahana Aruna programme of the Divi Neguma Department, established on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's advice. Its objective has been to empower the masses through livelihood development projects for poverty alleviation. In addition, loans ranging from Rs.5,000 to Rs 50,000 may be obtained for consumer needs, repayment of loans or other emergencies.
Over 100,000 Divi Neguma beneficiaries participated in the commencement ceremonies held in 327 Secretarial Divisions on 1 September. Those qualified for assistance under the programme are 2.7 million families living in 35,440 villages coming under 14,022 Grama Seva areas. The loan recipients are required to repay the loans in 24 installments at 4% interest.
The programme encourages people to invest income from the village in the village itself. It will help to prevent some of them from falling into debt by obtaining loans at high interest rates from financial institutions, according to the Economic Development Ministry.
The talking point here is that, the people of this country had gone through a difficult period during 30 year war time. Especially the Tamil people in this country feel much better now. Thanks to MR for his commitment to finish this war. When war was over in 2009, GoSL pushed the massive development drive in the Northern Province (the places affected by war). As a result more than 300,000 IDP Tamils have been resettled in their native places. More than 12,000 surrendered LTTE cardres were rehabilitated and re-integrated with their families. More contribution to GDP come from the Northern Province. Northern Province is no more a burden to GoSL , but is a paradise to many people including the Tamil Diaspora. Therefore, we should not lose this peaceful atmosphere by any circumstance. Moderate Tamils should give a serious thought to this process. They should help the other ordinary Tamils in the province to join hands with positive thinking forces to improve the province further. Through development we can solve many basic problems.
From: http://www.ceylontoday.lk/51-72622-news-detail-today-tamils-have-a-better-life-than-before.html
