He additionally talked about that the variety of aid beneficiaries as of March 31, 2024 is 1,854,308.
President Director Basic (Neighborhood Affairs) Mr. Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon talked about this whereas making a particular assertion to the media at this time (08).
Mr. Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon, who commented additional stated:
The federal government acknowledges its obligation to alleviate the hardships confronted by the populace amidst the profound financial challenges skilled in 2021 and 2022. Within the singular 12 months of 2023, a considerable sum of Rs. 184,098.27 million is deemed essential for varied aids, loans, and allowances beneath the Samurdhi program, catering to seniors, disabled people, sufferers with kidney issues, and different aid wants.
Moreover, the federal government’s whole expenditure on social welfare initiatives in 2023, inclusive of appeals and excellent funds, quantities to roughly Rs.189,650.95 million (189.6 billion).
In February 2024, an allocation of Rs.1,813 million was disbursed to these beforehand neglected through the preliminary aid distribution. Moreover, a further disbursement of Rs. 13,697.35 million is earmarked following the overview of appeals, with funds directed in the direction of impoverished people.
When contemplating the sum allotted for Samurdhi loans, the federal government’s whole outlay for social security measures in 2023 totals Rs. 199,608.62 million, which is round Rs. 200 billion.
Since President Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed the presidency in July 2022, up till December 2023 (a span of 17 months), the Samurdhi Growth Division has disbursed Rs. 129.93 billion, with Rs. 65.91 billion designated for subsidies benefiting the underprivileged. Moreover, Rs. 4.52 billion have been allotted for social safety funds protecting varied life occasions corresponding to births, marriages, deaths, sicknesses, and scholarships. Moreover, the Samurdhi Financial institution prolonged loans totalling Rs. 59.5 billion throughout this identical timeframe.
Moreover, this 12 months, the federal government has initiated dietary schemes for schoolchildren, help initiatives for expectant moms, and distributed 20 kilograms of rice freed from cost to impoverished households. On Worldwide Ladies’s Day, measures have been enacted to alleviate the monetary burden on girls by offering loans beneath the “Liya Saviya” program, initiated by the President, at a lowered rate of interest of 12%.
Addressing the shortcomings of earlier applications corresponding to Janasaviya and Samurdhi, the federal government is dedicated to eradicating corruption, mismanagement, and forms, whereas establishing a foundational social safety framework. Consequently, plans are underway to introduce over 30 distinct social safety initiatives nationwide, with a concentrate on transparency and accountability.
In help of the aid efforts, the World Financial institution has prolonged a mortgage of $ 200 million, structured for reimbursement over 30 years, with a grace interval of 5 years. It’s noteworthy that by March 31, 2024, the overall variety of beneficiaries beneath the aid program is projected to achieve 1,854,308.
