Life sharing program between widows and southern groups in Jaffna

A program on “The dialog between Northern people and Southern people for freedom to nations and resettlement to displaced people ” which was pointed out the existing situation of displaced women headed families in Jaffna was conducted by the women section with the collaboration of people to people dialog on sustainable development program of National Fisheries Solidarity Movement in the agrarian collage of Marudanamadam jaffna on 11 of December 2011. The main objective of this program was to build up an united process for getting some action to solve this problem as southern civilians providing exact understanding for southern people such as civil organizations and other representatives who came from different areas in South on displaced widows due to the last war and other displaced people since 1990. About 45 widows in the North , some representatives from district fisheries solidarity in Jaffna, some civil organization’s representatives of Jaffna and some representatives from National Fisheries Solidarity Movement were participated to the program. The NAFSO group consisted of some civil organization’s members in south, some representatives in state sector and other members from various areas in south. Some problems which the displaced widows face such as social, economic, cultural and political problems were discussed and selected the committee to carry on the process furthermore in this program. Some especial presents were provided for all participants who came from Jaffna and the packs of dry ration also were provided for the widows on the women program in NAFSO at the end of the program. Not only that but also there was an especial lunch for all participants arranged on their own cultural method. At the same time, there was a program for the children. That was focused on building up the children’s mentality. Most hidden tenant of the children was able to come out through that program. Then, some children showed their colors on the stage. Finally, some school instruments were also provided to the children. Note- Full report on this program will be provided future.

Reported by Lavina Hasanthi & Anthony Jesudasan

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The meeting with widows on standard of resettlement and analyze the existing 

situation of them

Place- Fisheries cooperation’s community hall in Punakari

Participants- 30

Covered areas- Nachikuda, Pallikuda, Irenamathanagar, Kiranchi, Valepadu

Basic information of five villages 

The village	The date of came back to the village after the war	Number of family members before the last war	Number of existing people
Nachikuda	2009.09. 07	360	650(Came back Muslim people displaced in 1990)
Pallikuda		450	219(Rest of people have gone to Jaffna)
Irenamathanagar		289	320( Muslim people came back to resettle)
Kiranchi		507	430
Walepadu		247	257

 Information about widows 

Name of village	Number of widows due to the last war	Other reasons	Total widows
Nachikuda	15		75
Pallikuda	40		67
Irenamathanagar	32		53
Kiranchi	-		-
Valepadu	27		40

 The situation of resettlement conducted by the Government

1.      People were able to settle in their own lands

2.      12 sheets and 06 poles were provided by IMO for the people

3.      43 houses in Irenamatahanagar  and 30 houses in Valepadu have been built b by the organization of CARITAS

4.      Most of other families live in temporally houses

5.      Toilet and water facilities are not supplied for above people

6.      Although the government provided dry ration for 6 months  it does not extant  furthermore

7.      120 small boats were provided for fishermen by the government but total requirement is 2300

8.      The government did not yet stabilize proper plane to build up income generation ways for the people. Most of them works as labours and carpenters in many places.

9.      Some sewn machines were provided for widows by one of the organizations but the widows were not given a training or any knowledge about the marketing system.

The major problems-

1.      Some people who are coming from Gurunagar and Mannar use destruction fishing gears especially Trolling method.

2.      Lack of basic facilities (Toilets and water facilities)

3.      Insecurity of widows

4.      Fear of the people due to the grease devil

5.      The government has no any proper plan to provide basic facilities for the people

According to the community leaders, they thought that it is better to be in the camp than being without any rights. People have no ability to express their point of view in existing  political context and people are being with fear. Therefore most of people have to live hiding their sorrow.

Future plans-

1.      To  select the 40 widows for providing dry ration

2.      To arrange an awareness program on Food Sovereignty and provide dry ration on 5 th of October.

3.      To arrange an expose visit in Kilinochchi between Northern and Southern people

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Dry ration for widows in Velikakandi

Packets of Dry ration were distributed for widows in Velikakandi on 2011.09.08

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Workshop on Gender ,Primary Health Issues on women, Rights and Protection ensured by the law for Women. 

 
Objectives

Provide a basic knowledge on Primary health

Create an awareness regarding Women’s rights and protection ensured by the law for women

Participants

15 women from

Mullikulam,

Madukarai,

Pesalai,

Vaalkaipetrankandi

12^th August ,2011

The workshop commenced with an ice breaker by Mr.Costa followed the the input by Mrs.Geetha on Gender equality.

Mr. Herman quizzed the group on the impotance of a workshop of this nature and how they are going to work in partnership with NAFSO in future.

13^th August ,2011

Mr.Sirimal Pereis from the people’s heath forum who was one othe facilitators opened the 2^nd day on the theme of Primary health , family planning and sexually contracted diseases.

Mrs.Dilani Manthrinayake attorney – at- law facilitated the 2^nd session on the topic of women’s rights and how women’s protection is ensured by the law.

After this session an evaluation of the 2 days work carried out and with that the workshop was concluded.

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''Villagers in the Jungle"

Village in Baticaloa district rising up again from the forest of valikakandi, after the war, with the help of volunteer service of NAFSO and other social services groups. Valikakandi village abandon by the villagers during the war, where 320 families lived together with harmony. After the end of conflicts, in 2009, the displaced villages asked for help from the NAFSO to resettle their old village, as the governmental authorities were asked them to resettle in old village to supply necessary support and develop infrastructure. One full week of free labor given by the volunteer groups, villagers were able to clear the 4km long road where covered by thick forest and area to build their temporary houses. The villages now live with some sort of freedom from weapons, but they have not received the expected full support from the government except 10 water motors to get water from wells, which have dried up due to low rain level in the area. After 2years of resettlement, still water supply canal have develop up to 2.5km only more than 50% remaining to complete. Whether villagers have enough agricultural lands, they have no enough water to supply plants even drinking water is scares. No hygiene facilities, electricity or way to earn money for survival. Human – Elephant conflict is imminent, no security to the 55 families live in the village now. These facts were gathered while NAFSO activists re visit the village on 9th and 10th of August, to review the progress and to find out the situation of the families settle down there. They conduct a program to aware them on food sovereignty, and submitted some dry food rations among families who have lost their breadwinners during the war, and also some local seeds to cultivate in their home gardens. Baticaloa district activists Mr. Shashikaran, Mrs. Lavena hasanthi, coordinator of women program, Mr. A.Jesudasan and Mr. Priyankara costa participated to the program.

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War widows in Jaffna

Food sovereignty and War widows in Jaffna

A program was conducted in Urumpirai on 10th August 2011, with the objectives of aware people on food sovereignty and increase the concern on widowed women by the 3 decade long conflict.43 women participants were at the program who have lost their bread winners during the war. Displaced since 1990, in tents, and houses of relatives, without way to fulfill any basic requirements. No jobs or way to earn daily expenditure. Few women go for day labor and earn some amount of money to protect their children and parents. This information reviled during the visit to Urumpirai with the objectives of find out the present situation of the displaced, widowed women from the ended conflict three years ago. According to women who have lost their husbands, they are facing social discrimination as well as, it is impossible to avoid educational and nutrition issues of their children. Whether they have their lands in visible range, they are unable to access, land problems still to be solved are the main reason they are still in displaced. During the discussion, Mr. Herman Kumara convener of National Fisheries Solidarity, invite to all people who looking for permanent solution for their land ownership issues to join with network working for common goal in south. He added that “this issue is not confined to north, it is all over the country, and we have face together to get solution so we need to strong movement to strength the fight”. “We have aware the authorities of the government about the situation and our expectations, and also conducted some lobby work too, but still no answer from the officials, we are expecting to join with NASO and go forward to win our goals” added the participant. After the program afford a pack of dry food ration worth of 1000LKR to the participants. Mr. Impanayagam, coordinator of NAFSO in Jaffna, field activists from Mannar district and Anthony jesudasan coordinator of North and East were also participated to the program and agreed to strengthen the people to bring their fight forward with the assistance of south working groups on same objectives.

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The program on field visit in Jaffna

The program on field visit and plan the future activities with activators in Jaffna

 

Discussion with

rural Labors Society in

Jaffna

 

 

Beholding the existing situation

about the IDP’S in

Jaffna

 

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Improving the Knowledge on Basic Health of family in conflict affected villages. 

 

A program was conducted by team of resource persons headed by women program coordinator Mrs. Lavina Perera, from National Fisheries Solidarity Movement in Madukare village in Mannar District.

There were about 35 participants including 12 widows, they were pointed out some health issues face by the villages.

• So far 7 HIV infected persons have identified by the authorities
• Several women are having some sexual and reproductive health issues due to keep company with men came external areas from the village.
• There are information on several women, work as professional prostitutes in the village and using of underage girls as sex workers is a new trend in the area.
• Due to lack of family planning and sexual and reproductive health knowledge, have increased the number of children in the family.
• Due to economic difficulties no balanced food ration for villages hence malnutrition is common in the area in children population as well as adults.
• Less knowledge on family health has leads to various health issues in children.

During the session, people raises their personal issues and discussed commonly. They are expected to have a session on legal matters influencing women protection, in the future.

The program is supposed to conduct in several villages in 4 other districts in North and East in the future.

Mr.Anthony Jesudasan and Mr. Priyankara Costa also participated as resource persons to the program.

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