The Livelihood Unit of the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) which works with various government agencies, communities, INGOS’s and NGO’s and the private sector last week launched Divisional Livelihood Development Plans (DLDP’s) for 35 divisional level tsunami effected areas.

Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Athauda Seneviratne said that the key requirements are social protection for those who cannot work, temporary employment through community infrastructure rehabilitation for those who can work and permanent income through finance to replace productive assets, capacity building, vocational training and other support services.

"Plans need to be used. They have to be implemented, updated, maintained and reversed. Already over 160 projects at an approximate value of Rs. 250 million have been already taken up. This has benefitted an estimated 35,000 people", he said.

DLDP’s have been finalised for seven tsunami affected districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, Galle, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Trincomalee.

The areas of intervention included relief during which period food rations, water and sanitation and cash grants were part of social protection.

The community infrastructure recovery phase was through cash for work activities, clearing of debris, drainages, beaches, while economic recovery was through assets replacement, insurance transfers and emergency needs assessments.

The recovery phase included cash grants and specific programmes targetting vulnerable groups. Community infrastructure recovery under the recovery phase included cash for work activities and employment intensive road and community infrastructure construction.

Economic recovery was through asset replacements and grants, soft microfinance schemes, local capacity building and facilitation of medium and long term planning.