Displaced people in Walicakandi

Discussion with displaced people in Walicakandi Present Situation, Future work

2012.03.19

The discussion was carried out with the objective of search the present situation of people in Walicakandi, who were settle down in 2011, after displacement due to heavy war in 2007. The NAFSO and several other civil organizations helped them to settle down the village, which was engulfed by the forest for about four years. We were helping them for uplift the lives in the village through strengthening the unity and conducting different kind of programs. 

   

Present developments in the Walicakani and the Government intermediation.

•   So far 53 families out of 225 displaced families are settle down in the village.

• Farming activities have been started using water from reservoir.

• Villagers have started to grow vegetables for their own consumption through home gardening. The excess is selling to others and earning some income.

• 4.5Km of canal way have been cleaned and restored by the Ministry of economic development and another 3Km distance will be reconstruct by department of Irrigation.

• The reconstructions of canal way have helped them to increase farming capacity. Before renovation, they only have used 80 acres of lands for cultivation, but now they cultivate in 220 acres of land area.

• 6Km of electric fence to prevent Elephant intrusion to the village area have been completed. Another 2Km to be finished.

• One of entrance road to the WalicaKandy village have been reconstructed up to 2.5Km.

• Samurdhi program of the government have granted money for few widows in the village to start live stock farming on 50% repayment scheme.

• Issue on drinking water has been settled down up to certain level.

 Issues facing in Present: 

• Lack of sanitary facilities.

• Drinking water issue.

• In the rainy season it is hard to cross the bridge in the entarence road from Badulla main road since it is a low lying bridge, it disrupts the education of the children. Still have no consideration of the issue.

• People still living in temporary houses built with granted metal sheets. Level of  security is less in these homes.

Civil activities in Walicakandi village:

•  Rural development society and farmers’ society have been established.

• A committee have been establish to work with National Fisheries Solidarity Movement and small groups of widows are active. .

• All societies, committees are working together when in need. Monthly they are meet together.

 Self employments that can practiced by widows:

• Livestock farming. (Chicken, Goat, Cattles)

• Home gardening.

• Preparation of Mats with natural materials.

• Sewing.

•  Production of short eats and sweets. 

 

Participation:

20 women from Kopaweli.

Lavina Hasanthi – National fisheries Solidarity.

A.Jesudasan  – National fisheries Solidarity.

Punnimurthi Shashikaran – Coordinator, Baticaloa District.

 Selwakumar – A voluntary activist.

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Discussion with women whom family members disappeared 

Discussion carried out on present situation of women in Thumpalachchole whom family members disappeared during war. There was a media briefing in 24.01.2012 on the issues, but there was no any reaction from the authorities according to the family members.

Issues They Face at Present:

• No information on disappeared persons, family members including children are living under stress. They want to know whether the disappeared persons are living in somewhere or not.

• No proper way of livelihood, even day labor is scares.

• Some have started self employment activities but they cannot strengthen the family economy since there is no any proper market. The day income is about 100 to 150 LKR but expense over 300LKR per day. Most are borrowing money for the survival and whole the time they are in cycle of loan. 

• Children have no sufficient nutritious food, most of the time they are having one meal for a day and also children lack materials for the education purposes. 

• Due to security reasons, at night most families live together with neighbors.  

• Social discrimination of widows.

• They have to walk about half a mile for drinking water.

 Decisions taken:

• Meet again on 23^rd March, 2012 to discuss for strengthen the group.

• Prepare work plan for next quarter.

• Permanent day for meeting and discussion in every month.

• Take the participation of 13 widows live in village who are not yet in the group.

Participants:

12 members from disappeared person’s families in the village.

Mr. A.Jesudasan

Mrs. Lavina Hasanthi.

Mr. Shashikaran.

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