State Minister Anupa Pasqual Launches Special Program to Empower 14,000 Underprivileged Individuals

State Minister for Social Empowerment Mr. Anupa Pasqual stated that a special program for the empowerment of 14,000 “Aswesuma” beneficiaries will be carried out in the near future in collaboration with the Small Tea estate Development Authority.

The State Minister also noted that the Livestock Ministry is expected to initiate 10,000 country chicken farm projects, with a focus on Kalutara and Kurunegala districts.

These statements were made during a press briefing titled “Collective Path to a Stable Country” held at the President Media Centre (PMC) today (20).

Addressing the Media Personnel the State Minister further said;

There has been a significant increase in the allocation for the “Aswesuma” Program compared to the initial amount designated for the “Samurdhiya” subsidy, under the guidance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Initially, Rs. 60 billion was set aside for “Samurdhi”, which has now been increased to Rs. 180 billion for “Aswesuma” initiatives. These subsidies are primarily aimed at individuals who were most affected by the economic crisis last season.

Additionally, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the Treasury have joined forces to allocate financial resources to provide support to individuals facing economic challenges. As part of this initiative, the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) and the Vocational Training Authority have launched a vocational training program. This program involves selecting seven individuals from each rural service sector to receive comprehensive training. After successful completion, participants will be awarded a professional training certificate.

Furthermore, a specialized program in collaboration with the Small Estate Development Authority to empower 14,000 beneficiaries and cultivate 2000 hectares of tea in the designated area is set to launch soon.

A dedicated debt relief system has also been introduced for the fishing industry, providing concessional loans with the help of the Ministry of Fisheries, community organizations, and Samurdhi Banks. Subsidized loans will also be provided to 400 families for sea urchin production, along with fishing boats and necessary equipment for industry enhancement.

Plans are in place to issue standardized “Toddy Licenses” for crops like palmyrah, kithul, and coconut, promoting the production and marketing of healthy, natural alcohol for domestic and international markets.

Additionally, the Ministry of Livestock is preparing to initiate 10,000 country chicken farms, focusing on the Kalutara and Kurunegala districts, to strengthen the manufacturing economy and contribute significantly to its advancement.

Several agreements have been signed with 33 vocational training institutes in Chongqing Province, China, aiming to improve product quality and attract investments. The target is to provide training to 100,000 professionals in China, empowering a community of 300,000 individuals within the current year.