The Forgotten Gems of Sri Lanka- The Upcountry Tamils

The upcountry/plantation Tamils have always been a deprived community besides contributing to the economy of Sri Lanka.
*This is a community that has failed to attract the attention of the Govt or NGO’s unlike the North or East. There needs were never sincerely looked into historically*.
LCH strives to look at vulnerable areas where true hardship prevails.

Currently, whilst the lock down and curfew continues in several parts of Sri Lanka there are several areas in upcountry where hunger prevails amongst these Tamils who live from hand to mouth as they rely on daily wages.

Matale, a popular town is also a major district in Upcountry. It encompasses several estates where the workers are predominantly Tamils.

Matale, is popularly known by the Tamils for the well-known Amman Temple. Its a shame that not many try to look into the hardship of the Tamils in the surrounding areas.

The geographical location makes logistics difficult for food distribution during this period.

LCH is proud to address such an issue during COVID19.

We jointly seek everyone’s support to address this humanitarian need urgently.

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The coronavirus lockdown has comfortably cooped most of us at home. However, at the other end of the spectrum, majority of Tamils in Muthur District, Sri lanka are struggling to make ends meet. These include marginalised communities in the unorganised sector, such as daily wage earner, street vendors, construction workers, and laborers, who are terribly affected by the economic and social repercussions of the coronavirus.

Virutcham Trust (UK) , Lotus Caring Hands and Sivanarul Foundation charities are jointly working to support the Coronavirus outbreak in Sri Lanka/Muthur district by donating essential food items for currently over 500 families.

30/03/2020 – Update

வணக்கம் ஐயா,

கொரோனா நோய் தாக்கத்தின் காரணமாக நாட்டின் தற்போதய சூழ்நிலையில் எதுவித தொழிலிற்கும் செல்ல முடியாமல் வீட்டில் முடக்கப்பட்ட மக்களுக்கு மூதூர் செயலாளர் பிரிவின் பழங்குடி கிராமங்களை உள்ளடக்கிய வகையில் சிவனருள் நடைமுறைப்படுத்தலுடன் நேற்றய தினம் தலா 226,000/_ மொத்த பெறுமதியுடைய உலருணவு பொதிகள் ஏழு கிராமங்களாகிய சந்தோசபுரம், சீதனவெளி, வீரமாநகர், இளக்கந்தை, நீனாக்கேணி, நல்லூர், சந்தணவெட்டை ஆகிய கிராமங்களுக்கு மொத்தமாக 188 பொதிகள் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது இப்பொதிகளை வழங்குவதர்கு அக்கிராமங்களில் உள்ள கிராமசேவகர்,சமுர்த்தி உத்தியோகஸ்த்தர்களினூடாக பயனாளிகளின் பெயர் தெரிவு தரப்பட்டது மேலும் அவ் உலருணவு பொதிகளை இனங்காணப்பட்ட கிராமங்களில் வசிக்கும் மக்களுக்கு வீடுவீடாக சென்று வழங்கப்பட்டது இப்பிரிவிற்கு பொறுப்பான பொலிஸ் அதிகாரியின் அறிவுறுத்தலிற்கு அமைய தற்போதய சூழ்நிலையில் அதிக நபர்கள் ஒண்று சேர்வது தவிர்கப்பட்டது மேலும் இப்பொதிகளை வீடுவீடாக சென்று வழங்குவதர்கு அக்கிராமத்திலிலுள்ள அமைப்புக்கள்,சங்கங்கள் உதவி புரிந்தனர்

இவ்வுலருணவு பொதியினுள் உள்ளடக்கப்பட்டவை அரிசி – 5kg ,சீனி – 1kg ,பருப்பு -1/2kg, வெங்காயம் -1/2kg, சவர்காரம் – 01 ,உப்புபக்கட் – 1, பால்மா பெட்டி -1 ,பிஸ்கட் – 1 என்பன இதன் ஒரு பொதியின் பெறுமதி 1188.50 ரூபாய் இவ்வுலருணவு பொருட்கள் தற்போதய சூழ் நிலையில் மிகவும் பெறுமதியுடயவை இம்மக்களுக்கு முன்வந்து இவ்உதவியினை மேற்கெண்டமைக்கு தங்களுக்கு மிக்க நன்றியினை தெரிவிக்கின்றோம்.

Hello Sir,

Corona Disease Implementation Sivanurul Implementation covering the tribal villages of the Muttur Secretariat Division for the disabled people who are unable to go to any business in the present situation of the country. A total of 188 packs have been distributed to the villages of Neni, Nallur and Sandanewetti for the purpose. In the present situation, as per the instructions, more people have avoided contact and the organizations and associations in the village have assisted in supplying these packages to the home. The value of the package is Rs.1188.50 In the current situation for the people of ivvularunavu most perumatiyutayavai much gratitude they would like to voluntarily performed ivutaviyinai.

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We Never Let The Virus Sweeps Our Community

Supporting Documents
Virutcham Trust (UK) , Lotus Caring Hands and Sivanarul Foundation charities are jointly working to support

The Chicken Project aims to help a small family in Malaiyapuram, by providing struggling families with the means to create an income for themselves through selling eggs in the local market. This project is directly supported by one of our charity supporters.

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Supporting Documents
Report 1
Report 2
Report 3
Report 4
Report 5

This project aims to introduce and promote tailoring practices through the provision of skills training and practical experience for 25 female war victims. Through tailoring activities, the targeted women will increase their income and enable food security for their families.

Direct beneficiaries of this program will be 25 women, and in particular, widows.

The objectives of this QIP are:

• To improve the access to livelihoods and the living standards of the targeted community;
• To develop the professional skills of 25 vulnerable women in tailoring in order to increase their income and contribute to the food security of their families;
• To Increase the household monthly income of female headed families;
• To facilitate community involvement and promote collective actions;
• To create employment opportunities.

Implementation and Monitoring Mechanisms

NAHRO will implement the project in coordination and collaboration with the respective Government and Non-governmental organizations such as NAITA, RDO, DS and GS etc. NAITA and NAHRO will monitor the activities throughout the project period. NAHRO will submit the post completion report three months from the date of completion.

Sustainability:

The training program will provide the selected women with enough skills to continue tailoring independently. They will be enabled to work as tailors continuously and NAHRO will facilitate their start-up providing technical assistance whenever needed. In these areas there is high demand for tailors especially when it comes to school uniforms and ladies clothing, therefore women will not face any difficulties in marketing their products.

In addition to this, a number of previous beneficiaries of similar training programmes have attained permanent positions at garment factories. Therefore, this programme can open up future job prospects and a stable source of income.

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Supporting Documents
Report 1
Report 2
Report 3

Lotus Caring Hands takes immense pride in sharing the news about their Poultry Livestock project. This pilot project was conducted in Barathypuram, Kilinochi. It is a Livelihood project that will support a family of 5 members whose breadwinner was incapacitated due to the failure of both his kidneys.

The recipients were the first on the list of applications out of 20, received by LCH via NAHRO. NAHRO is an NGO based in Kilinochi, with whom LCH works very closely in SriLanka. NAHRO helps LCH to recognise deserving beneficiaries in the given local area that have been chosen for the project.

The Trustees of LCH further ensure all due diligence checks are conducted thoroughly before choosing the donor.

The purpose of the Poultry Livestock project was to create an income generation for the chosen family who had no means of financial support.

LCH aims to provide a security to such destitute families hoping to alleviate poverty. This project will also enhance the skills of small farmers without having to go through the process of borrowing loans from financial institutions.

This pilot project was funded by two generous donors namely Mrs Yasothambigai Thirukumar and Mr Vibushan Thirukumar. They were both immensely satisfied in using LCH as their channel to support deserving cases.

The trustees of LCH always ensure that they fulfil their legal obligations by monitoring any project very closely by visiting the sites personally whenever possible. The purpose of such visits is to ensure that any risks of the project are addressed in addition to verifying that the funds are used in an appropriate manner for the intended purpose by the recipient.

As part of this monitoring stage Mr K Thavaraj, trustee of LCH, visited the project in March this year and was pleased to see the way the funds were being used by the beneficiaries. There are various measures in place to monitor and evaluate the progress of the pilot poultry project over the next quarter.

LCH looks forward to supporting similar projects and welcome you to come forward and sponsor less fortunate deserving families. Please register your name if you are interested. Don’t miss out in helping the needy – your small contribution could change their lives.

Donated Braille machines to ‘Vaazhvaham’ Home for Visually Handicapped