Trinco fisheries get German assistance

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 July 2005, 17:12 GMT]
The German Federal Government through its Ministry for Economic Co-operation and development (BMZ), in partnership with the World Vision Germany, has launched "Fisheries Livelihood Assistance Project" in Trincomalee district at a cost of about 52 million rupees, the largest contribution yet to tsunami affected fishermen in the Trincomalee district, sources said.

3 CD President Dr.Zahir signing the agreement

( L-R ) Mr.Jason Smith, Mr.Walter Keller and Mr.Devaneson Croos are seen briefing the representatives

TRO and 3CD representatives participate in the discussion presided by Mr.Walter keeler of GTZ

Under the project 114 fibreglass boats with 15 Horse Power outboard motor and fishing nets will be given to tsunami affected fishermen in the divisions of Muttur and Seruvila in the Trincomalee district.

The Performance Improvement Project (PIP) of the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) which is a fully owned corporation of the German Government will implement the project with the local partners, Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) and the Co-ordinating Centre for Community Development (3 CD).

Mr.Walter Keller, GTZ Trincomalee team leader associated with Mr. Jason Smith, Consultant of GTZ and Mr. F.Devaneson Croos, Co-ordinator to Tsunami related projects in GTZ (PIP) at a discussion held Thursday briefed the local partners about their responsibilities in implementing the project at the village level, sources said

President Dr.K.M. Zahir, Secretary Mr.A.W.M.Buhari, Chief Organizer Mr.M.S.C.Jaseem and Engineer Mr.S.A.M.Hilmy represented 3 CD and Mr.C.Kumarakuruparan; Trincomalee District Deputy Director represented the TRO at the discussion held in the Trincomalee GTZ office located in the NEPC Chief Secretariat. Representatives of local partners signed the agreement with the GTZ , sources said.

TRO headquartered in Killinochchi will be responsible for the distribution of boats, engines and nets beneficiaries in the LTTE held areas in Muttur and Seruvila divisions. 3 CD, an NGO based in Muttur will be in charge of distributing these items in the government-controlled areas, GTZ sources said.

Fifty percent of the total cost of boats, engines and fishing gear will be provided as a grant and the remaining fifty percent will be provided as a revolving loan (RLF), which the beneficiaries will have to repay to their fishing co-operatives. The co-operative societies in turn will use these funds to offer micro-credit facilities to the local community, creating >long-term opportunities for local business development, generating employment and poverty reduction, GTZ sources said.

The beneficiaries will be selected by fisheries co-operative societies in the tsunami-affected division through a community participatory approach. TRO will distribute 65 boats, 55 engines and 71 fishing nets to beneficiaries in Kadatkaraichchenai, Navalady, Sampoor, Soodaikuda and Cheenanveli in the Muttur east. 3CD will distribute 49 boats, 47 engines and 49 nets to beneficiaries in Akkaraichchenai, Kernikadu and Neithal Nagar in Muttur area, GTZ sources said.