TRO assesses Kumburupiddy resettlement needs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 November 2002, 16:55 GMT]
The Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) Tuesday conducted a need assessment programme in Kumburupiddy, 22 km north of Trincomalee district where hundreds of displaced Tamil families who have returned from Vanni after the signing of the ceasefire agreement struggle for survival with little rehabilitation assistance.

(L-R) Mr.V.Kalavanan, Project Officer, Mr.Mathavarajah, TRO Trinco district secretary (speaking), Mr.Anton Vijayakumar, Engineer and Mr.C.Kumarakuruparan, TRO Trinco district co-ordinator.

The TRO team led by its Trincomalee district secretary Mr.K.Mathavarajah met the Vanni returnees at Kumburupiddy school to identify their urgent needs. The team comprised Mr. V.Kalaivanan, Project Officer, Mr. Anton Wijekumar, Engineer and Mr.S.Kumaragurparan, TRO district co-ordinator. The Social Economic Development Organization (SEDO) now functioning as a wing of the TRO also participated in the need assessment project. Two SEDO officers Ms Nithiya and Ms. Sumitra participated in the discussions.

Mr.Mathavarajah said that the although Trincomalee district was the worst affected by the conflict, no proper survey has yet been conducted determine the urgent needs of whose livelihood and property was destroyed by war .

The displaced families from the three Grama Sevaka (village level) divisions in the village were divided into three groups and were asked to submit their required needs for basic survival.

The groups submitted their reports at the conclusion of the discussion. They wanted village tanks to be restored and pre schools for their children established. Additional needs requested by the groups included providing land for landless, repairing roads, providing self-employment opportunities to young women, facilities to construct houses and financial assistance to construct houses.

a section of the Kumburpiddy displaced attend discussion.