Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Saturday, 23 August 2014 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Rajapaksa was addressing an awareness program on the implementation of the sixth phase of the Divi Neguma program conducted on 18 August at Ape Gama premises, Battaramulla, for the benefit of State officials including divisional secretaries, asst directors of planning, directors of agriculture and directors of the health service.
“People have got used to get things done without resorting to traditional systems. Even if they can find or produce their daily needs, they will always resort to purchasing them, however small their needs are. The Divi Neguma program was introduced to change this attitude. According to the concept of Divi Neguma, the Government will encourage and assist home gardening but the people have to be with it. The Divi Neguma Domestic Economic Unit Development Program is a combined effort of a number of departments as well as the private sector,” he said.
“As in the case of districts which are led by the district secretary, divisional secretaries are playing a leading role in their divisional secretary divisions. The Ministry has confidence in you. Here, the process from selection of seeds to distribution and training has to be attended by agriculture-related agencies. Participation of all of them in the Agrarian Development Department at divisional level has to be ensured. If their knowledge and technical knowhow is not disseminated to the people, this program will end up as a failure. Accordingly, the assistance of all development officers, Grama Seva niladharis, family health officers and economic development officers, etc., has to be harnessed to make this program a success.”
The awareness program was attended by Minister S.M. Chandrasena, Deputy Minister Susantha Punchinilame, ministry secretaries, divisional secretaries, asst. directors of planning, directors of agriculture, directors of health services and a large number of State officials.
