1.Economic Empowerment of Widows and Women Headed Households
Introduction of income generation opportunities for un-employed Women Headed Households (WHHs), absorption of identified WHHs to projects and upgrading their income level. Provision of project counseling services to WHHs and referring them to relevant services are the objectives of this programme.
Interest-free concessionary revolving credits are granted at selected Divisional Secretariat Divisions for self-employment projects initiated for empowering low-income group families of WHHs aged 18-65 years centered on Women action societies, WHHs Associations. Being a WHH, capacity to commence a project, low income level and the number of dependent children will be taken as criteria hereunder.
Provisions of Rs.7.236 Million have been dispatched by now for 30 self-employment projects and 7 local production projects in selected Divisional Secretariat Divisions in order to empower low-income WHHs and 9 out of such projects have been finalized and benefits granted to 98 WHHs.
2. National Center for Empowering Widows and WHHs (Kilinochchi)
This National Center was established on 13th November 2015 in Karachchi Divisional Secretariat Division in Kilinochchi District.
Main objective of its initiation was to introduce a special system of protection for widowed women and their dependents of all communities as a result of the Armed Conflict. At present this Center has established a strong state mechanism to empower widows and WHHs scattered all over the island.
Co-ordination of all Skill development projects implemented in all Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Kilinochchi District, provision of income generation opportunities in terms of technical trainings such as Palmyra products, fancy item productions and sewing and beauty culture etc., refer to counseling services, running/maintaining the National Center are carried out under this programme.
[Provisions of Rs. 0.7573 Million sent for 5 skill trainings in order to commence income generation projects in selected Divisions after gathering information of WHHs in all Divisions in the District of Kilinochchi.
3. "Thirasara Krushi" Programme
Encouraging women for cultivation of indigenous agricultural cash crops with an objective of generating sustainability in the household and upgrading family income level through a balanced rural environment.
Provisions of Rs. 2.177 Million released for the 20 agricultural projects by August 2017, out of which 07 projects have been finalized and benefits granted to 150 women beneficiaries.
4. Income Generation Training Programme
Provision of managerial knowledge and skills required to run a successful business prior to provision of benefits through revolving credit schemes and releasing low-income women from dependent mentality and converting them to be an economically active team of entrepreneurs are the objectives of this programme,
This programme is implemented as a supportive programme for successful continuation of all loan programs of Women's Bureau of Sri Lanka and entrepreneurial Development Training and Accounting Training are provided by the resource persons of Small Entreprise Development Division and Industrial Development Board.
Provisions of Rs.2.996 Million have been sent for 113 Entrepreneurial Development Trainings and Accounting Trainings by the end of August 2017 out of which 97 projects have been finalized creating 4,958 women beneficiaries.
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Entrepreneurial Development Training and Accounting Training conducted in Kantale Divisional Secretariat Division
5.Skill Training Programme
This training aims at improvement of quality of women's products and encourages them for value added improvements.
Knowledge and skill, technical know-how and equipment are provided and technical assistance and resource persons provided by - Handicrafts Institutions, National Crafts Council, Laksala and Department of Agriculture
Provisions of Rs.1.0 Million have been sent for 20 technical trainings by the end of August 2017 out of which 15 have been finalized and training provided for 150 women.
6. Exhibitions and Trade Fairs of Women’s Products
This programme is conducted with a view of developing quality products of members of Women's Action Societies Organizations registered in Sri Lanka Women's Bureau in order to upgrade their economic and social standards and to encourage women to improve the added value and also to create an exhibition market for their creations and products while exchanging their entrepreneurial experiences.
Exhibition and Fair held at Sanath Jayasuriya Stadium, Matara parallel to International Women's Day
7. Establishment of Women's Food Products Sales Center (“Liya Shakthi Rasa Bojun Hal” )
“Liya Shakthi Rasa Bojun Hals” are establish with a view to increasing income level in terms of promotion of poison-free indigenous food among general public, provision of knowledge on food technology to prepare high quality products and provision of market opportunities.
Provision of standard sales outlets and infrastructure facilities to low income group women engaged in unmethodical marketing activities in Mangul Maha Vihara religious premise in Lahugala, Ampara. Construction of 04 sales outlets and conducting awareness and training programs with the support of Lahugala Regional Engineer's Office, Food Promotion Board and the Ministry of Small Industries and Rural Affairs.
Low-income group women who were engaged in informal marketing activities
8.Revolving Credit Programme
Economic empowerment of women and lowering their rural indebtedness are the main objectives of this programme.
Revolving credit programme implements in 22 Districts since year 1992 and allocations have been issued to Divisional Secretariat Divisions. Loans are provided from the minimum of Rs. 5,000 to a maximum of Rs. 30,000 per woman where loans from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 are approved at Divisional Secretariat Division level whereas loans up to Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000 are approved by the Director of Women's Bureau.
Supervision and Accounting Training Program is conducted for the purposes of provision of revolving credits and Apeksha loans and strengthening revolving credit mechanism.
An amount of Rs.0.115 Million was allocated for supervision during year 2017. Supervision completed in 50 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in 13 Districts of Kandy, Matale, Nuwaraeliya, Polonnaruwa, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Puttalam, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Gampaha, Colombo, Ampara and Trincomalee. Revolving credits of Rs.5.263 Million issued from January to 31st July this year to 596 beneficiaries.
9.Accounts Training
Accounts Training Programme is conducted with a view to providing training for proper account keeping in Divisional Secretariat Divisions where revolving credits are in operation, giving an understanding on primary documents creating dependability of transactions and primary books to be maintained in keeping accounts and providing knowledge required for preparing final accounts.
Provisions of Rs. 0.38125 Million have been spent on 13 training programs of the first stage in year 2017 providing benefits to 662 women.
10.Vanitha Shakthi Foundation
Uplifting savings of rural women and their families, enabling financial control, providing opportunities for women to receive loans through an organizational framework of their own on easy and sound conditions and holding their savings in their own village are the main objectives of this programme.
Supervision of Small credit Branches and Account Books in this year, liquidation of disfunctioned small credit Branches, Legal registration of small credit branches in collaboration with Provincial Department of Co-operative Development, introduction of saving systems of membership deposits, share deposits, savings, child and group deposits are credit out.
56 Vanitha Shakthi small credit branches are in operation by now in 21 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in 9 Districts out of which 35 are functional. Small credit branches in North-Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces are scheduled to be legally registered in collaboration with Provincial Department of Co-operative Development Credit of Rs.9.154 Million have been circulated among 618 beneficiaries of 14 vanitha shakthi small credit branches from January 2017 to 30th September 2017
11. Economic Empowerment of Estate women
24.3% of people below the poverty line in Sri Lanka's Economy are serving in estate sector. A majority of the labor force in estate sector consists of women. Therefore, this programme is in place for the purposes of introducing productive means of additional income and creating new marketing opportunities to the woman in estate sector.
Provisions of Rs.1.990 Million were sent in year 2017 for 39 projects to provide technical knowledge, entrepreneurial training and project grants for economic empowerment of estate women and 187 women beneficiaries have been included into the project after finalizing 20 training programs such as sewing clothes, production of short eats, sewing school uniforms, home gardening and animal husbandry projects and beauty culture.
12.Self-Employment Generation Programme for Migrant Women. (Alternative Income Generation Programme for women willing to go abroad.)
Eliminating issues such as various harassments and health problems etc. caused to women who go overseas and resultant unsafe conditions for their children as well as family members and creating self-employment opportunities as within the country an alternative for going abroad. Project awareness and provision of self-employment project loans and equipment are also provided.
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Alternative Means of Income projects where credit assistance was granted for clay industry, coir industry and betel cultivation in July 2017 in Bamunakotuwa Divisional Secretariat Division.
Provisions of Rs.2.3225 Million have been sent for 96 projects in year 2017 and credit assistance is granted on the basis of recovering half of the loan amount, in Rs. 25,000 each for projects such as textile and leather related products, handicrafts, home gardenening cultivations, animal husbandry, sale of food and other items and timely projects etc. 43 women beneficiaries have been included into projects by the end of August.
13.Programme for Economic and Social Empowerment of Women Detained in Prison and Rehabilitation Institutions ("Heta Magata - Kathata Suwasetha")
Objective of this programme is guide favorable income generation avenues and socialize as a women entrepreneurs, who have been engaged in illegal activities of the society due to vulnerable conditions such as poverty.
Provision of counseling for women detained in prisons and Methsevana Nivarthana Home to rise up with self-pride and provision of self-employment training and related project assistance, raw materials, equipment to women who were referred for community correction and released on license.
Occasion of offering a Juki Machine for the Project on Sewing School Uniforms conducted for women detained in Prison, Trincomalee..
Allocation of Rs.0.4752 Million have been allocated for 6 projects during year 2017 and women have been employed in self-employment projects such as sewing uniforms, infant kits, textile bags, blinds, making paper bags and envelopes, shoe production, cake making and handicraft creations etc. 16 women beneficiaries have been trained by spending Rs. 0.130 Million.
14.Economic Empowerment of Women in District and Divisional Federations
These programs are conducted with a view to engaging women in women's action societies networked by Women's Bureau of Sri Lanka in group projects parallel to 2017 Year for Poverty Alleviation which would result in their economic empowerment.
Allocations of Rs.2.0 Million have been sent for 10 projects in year 2017 where a team of 10 women were engaged in a single project. Raw materials and equipment were provided for 20 women beneficiaries at a cost of Rs. 0.1375 Million for the team projects such as coir products, Batik and garment designing, Cement Block production, mushroom cultivation, cashew shelling, animal husbandry, fish drying and packing etc.
15. "Jeewithayata Nawa Magak" Programme to Improve Life Standards of Women in Urban Poverty Pockets (Programme Affiliated to New Kelani Bridge)
350 families who were residing in Grama Niladhari Divisions of Sedawatta, Wadullawatta and Orugodawatta were re-settled in the Salamulla, Laksanda New Housing Complex in Kolonnawa due to construction of the New Kelani Bridge and new highways. “Jeewithayata Nawa Magak” project is implemented in collaboration with Road Development Authority centered on these women.
Conducting reproductive health programmes and mobile counseling clinics as the initial stage of it and as per survey data. Daily income of a majority of people is linked with self-employments, it is designed to provide entrepreneurship training and equipment for self-employment promotion for encouraging women at second stage.
Projects were identified in the relevant area and women's action societies were set up by Women's Bureau of Sri Lanka and Counseling Programmes were conducted for attitudinal changes. While 04 Awareness Programmes and 04 Training Programmes have been held, financial provisions of Rs. 0.592 Million were allocated for purchasing equipment.
16.Maintaining Safe Homes
Maintaining an institutional structure suitable for prevention of sexual and domestic violence and trafficking of women and saving women already undergoing such suppression and providing required protection are the objectives of this programme.
Provision of temporary accommodation, mental health treatments, counseling, legal aids, food, medicines and clothes for victimized women and children, referring required women to jobs that keep with their level of education, provision of self-employment training and re-building scattered families are carried out under this programme.
Provisions of Rs. 1.5 Million allocated for maintenance of Colombo and Gampaha Safe Homes and an amount of Rs. 0.652 Million spent.
17. Awareness Programme for Prevention of Gender-Based Violence.
It is expected to ensure social empowerment, community invigoration, Organization and Capacity Building and setting up vigilant groups at regional level under the sector on women empowerment and prevention of violence of the National Action Plan on Prevention of Sexual and Gender Based Violence are expected.
08 Pilot programmes organized in Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Karachchi, Kandawali, Negombo, Eheliyagoda, Ambagamuwakorale and Kalutara under the patronage of OXFAM.
Allocation sent for 39 programmes based on garment industries, plantation sector and public as well as private sector due to the increased number of work place harassments. Awareness raised among 127 beneficiaries up to now.
18.Maintaining Counseling Centers
Providing psychological counseling for affected women and children and referring them to service suppliers are the objectives of this programme.
09 Counseling Officers in 11 Centers in Districts and 220 Counseling Assistants in Child and Women Development Units are functioning at Divisional level for standardized continuation of efficiency and quality of the counseling service provided by the Ministry to cater to present-day needs of the country. Staff awareness has raised for provision of a high standard service. Total number of beneficiaries up to August 2017 is 944.
19. “Sadaneeya Mithuru Gamak” (“Sumithuru Gammana Programme” )
Identifying, designing plans and providing solutions for sustainable development approaches for creation of a village consisting of families with minimum problems are the objectives of this programme.
Study of a selected number of families" who have encountered the most number of issues in a selected Grama Niladhari Division (village) abound with problems and thereby provision of mental, spiritual, economic empowerment and physiological disease prevention and health development, counseling and education, housing as well as roads and its pertinent facilities, identification of problems under the themes of aesthetics, arts, law and order, and provision of infrastructure facilities are carried out.
Provisions of Rs. 2.0 Million allocated for this project. 11 Projects were selected at Divisional Secretariat Division level and allocated a sum of Rs.1.519 Million up to August 2017.
20."Yowun Wasanthayata Aruthbara Hetak" Programme for Development of Life Skills of Adolescents/Teenagers
Provision of practical training on life by exchange of experiences with young social groups living under minimum facilities and creation of a pilot group as change agents, who can identify mental and attitudinal issues of other youth in society is the objective of this programme.
This project is implemented for younger generation between 12-20 years of age. Introduction of psychological systems of counseling and methods of treatment, raising awareness on all religious teachings for religious co-existence, giving awareness on drug prevention, Socially Transmitted Diseases, cancer for health and nutrition, development of life skills and exchange of experiences of young children for leadership skills (Field tours of elders' homes, children's homes, probation and prisons), practical activities pertaining to creative thinking for education and entertainment, educational techniques and solving problems, labor donations (Shramadana), entertainment, alms giving charities for social sensitivity and accountability and organizing contests and shows for development of various skills are done under this programme.
Provisions of Rs.2.0 Million allocated for these 27 projects. 23 Projects selected at Divisional Secretariat Division level up to August 2017 and a sum of Rs.1.97 Million released for the purpose. It is expected to employ 2,700 youths for this project.
Rs.0.126 Million spent to conduct counseling programmes for 3,419 persons in the natural disaster (of flood) affected Districts of Kalutara, Ratnapura, Matara, Galle and Hambantota.
21.International Women's Day National Programme
Gathering women and providing services and benefits at national level are the main objectives of this programme.
Conducting women entrepreneurs exhibition and fairs targeting promotion of economic state of entrepreneur women and introducing new market opportunities in parallel to the national function, family counseling service programme targeting provision of services on socializing counseling service and vocational issues, conducting Suwa Nari clinic raising awareness on physical and mental health of women are being carried out.
A sum of Rs.9.066 Million has been spent out of the "Diriya Kantha" funds for organizing and conducting the International Women's Day National Programme on 08th March 2017.
22.‘‘Diriya ManPetha’’ Programme (Self-Employment Projects)
Direction of women entrepreneurs scattered throughout Sri Lanka towards production based on local resources hereditary to their area of residence and strengthening self-employment projects for economic empowerment are expected by the implementation of this programme.
Provisions of Rs.5.0 Million allocated in year 2017. A sum of Rs.4.998 Million dispatched for self-employment of 382 women in 19 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in 11 Districts.
23. Media and Publicity and Maintenance of the Library
Social awareness on services rendered by Women's Bureau of Sri Lanka and improvement of knowledge and attitudes through various fields / directing women and children to a friendly culture of media are the objectives of this programme.
Maintence of Library, designing Kantha Saviya Magazine and its pertinent propaganda work are the being carried out. Expenditure on printing Kantha Saviya and maintaining the Library amounted to Rs. 0.471. Million.
24.Progress Review and Follow Up
Follow up and Progress review of all programs conducted at Divisional level by the Women's Bureau of Sri Lanka at District level under supervision of staff officers are expected. 04 Progress review meetings in Ratnapura, Matale, Kurunegala and Trincomalee Districts and 03 meetings on project reports of Women's Development Officers and Counseling Assistants Officers have been conducted so far.
25.Special Projects
(Projects Receiving Funds from Foreign Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations)
25.1 Empowering Women Headed Households (KOICA Hope Farm project)
Increasing capacity for meeting basic needs in women headed families is expected.
A Livestock Project (of a dairy farm) designed for selected women headed families is implemented by the volunteer service provider Miss Kim Yunha of Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in the villages of Konavil, Karachchi and Akkarayankulam in Karachchi Divisional Secretariat Division.
Training on self-motivation, entrepreneurship and technology is provided along with cows and cow sheds hereunder for 20 selected women and welfare activities conducted for such families.
25.2 Implementation of the National Plan of Action on Prevention of OXFAM Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (Assistance by OXFAM)
Empowerment, organization and capacity development of community for social empowerment against Gender Based Violence are expected.
Appointment of a committee consisting of field specialists, preparation of a guideline manual containing their role, responsibilities and ethics for building and strengthening Vigilant Groups, implementing pilot projects in 08 Divisional Secretariat Divisions with reported prevalence of Gender Based Violence are carried out. It is designed to extend this to the other Divisions based on its results.
25.3 Entrepreneurship Development Programme for Women Headed Households (Assistance of UN Women)
Economic empowerment through entrepreneurial development is the main objective of this programme.
Value chain survey based on the Districts of Puttalam and Matara to identify opportunities and requirements for women entrepreneurs engaged in garment and agricultural industry has been carried out. Based on results of the value-chain survey, 02 workshops have been conducted in the Districts of Matara and Puttalam to discuss findings, proposed interventions with 82 stakeholders. It is scheduled to prepare final report and project plan based on observations of workshops and to implement Entrepreneurship Development Project
25.4 Identifying New Marketing Opportunities (In collaboration with the David Peiris Ltd.)
Enhancing opportunities for empowering registered women action society members of Women's Bureau by raising quality and standardizing their products and giving modern technology and local and foreign marketing opportunities are the objectives of this programme.
A workshop was conducted for 85 women engaged in food production in 05 Districts and food production market opportunities have been given for 22 members of Women action societies.
25.6 Entrepreneurship Training Programme (In collaboration with Unilever Ltd.)
Enhancement of income level of members of Women Action Society by recruitment as marketing agents of Unilever products is the main objectives of this.
Awareness creation of Women's Development Officers and training selected 100 women entrepreneurs from each District as marketing agents have been completed. Presently functional in the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kandy, Kurunegala and Galle.
25.6 "Liya Sahana" Programme for Rendering Post-Disaster Relief Services Targeted on Women Displaced due to Disaster Situations
Re-building means of income generation and self-employment maintained by women entrepreneurs displaced due to disasters and re build them are expected by this programme.
Collecting information of women displaced due to emergency disaster situation in the Districts of Kalutara, Ratnapura, Matara, Galle and Hambantota, appointment of a four member committee and formulating relevant methodologies and guidelines, receipt of estimates for recommended registers, their approval and sending provisions to District Secretariats, provision of self-employment grants and supervision and follow-up of implementing the programme are the activities implemented here.
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Programmes Expected to be Implemented in 2018