THE Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement organized a meeting for cash assistance to the people with disabilities in Magway Region, Yangon Region and Bago Region yesterday.

The assistance was given under the COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan to remedy the country’s economy during the COVID-19 period, and the meeting was held online.

The ceremony was attended by Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung and Directors-General and the Social Affairs Ministers for Magway and Yangon regions, the Minister for Kayin Ethnic Affairs in Bago Region and relevant directors from Social Welfare Departments in respective states and regions, responsible persons from disability organizations and people with disabilities participated the ceremony online.

Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye said that the CERP was to reduce the economic impacts caused by COVID-19 in the country; the government had been working for a genuine democratic nation that can ensure basic human rights to all people and the ministry needed policy, law, strategy and plan for human rights activities.

For that, the Early Childhood Development Law was amended in 2018; as children need not only care and development but also protection, the new Child Law (2019) was enacted; then, a Youth Policy for young persons had been formulated and the ministry was trying to implement the strategy.

The Union Minister also said that the bill for Prevention of Violence against Women Law had been submitted to the Hluttaw; the ministry is working for drafting regulations of the law for PWDs, while trying for the rights of each PWD by forming local committees under the national committees. He also talked about the social pension for the elderly persons; establishment of a genuine democratic government, a Democratic Federal Union and cash assistance especially to more vulnerable such as pregnant women, the PWDs and the elderly persons under the CERP.

The Union Minister also thanked the staff and the relevant departments for their efforts in the mechanism of the ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The social affairs minister of Magway Region said greetings and the regional director of Social Welfare Department handed over K336,720,000 cash assistance for 11,224 PWDs. Then, the minister provided the cash assistance to the PWDs who attended the ceremony.

The director of Yangon Region Social Welfare Department presented K590,160,000 for 19,672 PWDs, the director of Bago Region Social Welfare Department handed over K466,290,000 for 15,543 PWDs in Bago Region respectively.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung and Khine Thazin Han)

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A ceremony to provide cash assistance for farmers to produce monsoon paddy seeds was held in Mahin Village, Toungoo Township in Bago Region yesterday.

Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Aung Thu, Bago Region Chief Minister U Win Thein, Region Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Aung Zaw Naing, departmental officials and farmers attended the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, the Union Minister said state-owned newspapers and television channels were publishing and broadcasting agricultural practices and technical education programmes during COVID-19.

The ministry is not only implementing short-term plans in accordance with COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) but also undertaking post-COVID-19 procedures and long-term plans for agricultural development.

Farmers’ organizations were being formed in accordance with the Law of Protection of the Farmer Rights and Enhancement of their Benefits to build the systems that farmers can themselves solve their farmlands disputes, manage their farmlands, and ensure their accountabilities in future.

The “Collective Strength” exerted by all the nationalities plays a key role in carrying out the works.

More than 2,000 Water Utilizer Groups have been formed so far for water management sector, he added.

The farmers should use the water resource systematically depending on the climate change.

Most of the farms are fed by rain water, and only 15 per cent of the farms are fed by irrigation water. Therefore, plans were already set up to meet climate changes and improve water access in future, he said.

The Bago Region Chief Minister discussed the implementation of CERP procedures in the region, the region’s development, and cooperation between departments concerned and farmers.

The Union Minister provided K31 million for 58 farmers’ production of seeds in 207 acres.

The Chief Minister gave K 27.5 million for 88 farmers’ production of seeds in 94 acres.

Region Minister U Aung Zaw Naing presented K23.3 million for 46 farmers’ production of seeds in 150 acres. Farmer representatives received the cash assistances.

A total of K 81.8 million for 551 acres of seed production was provided at the ceremony.

Under the COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan, Toungoo District will grow 3,141 acres of paddy to produce monsoon seeds, Bago District 8,439 acres, Pyay District 9,824.50 acres, and Tharyarwaddy District 10,340 acres.

A total of 31,744.50 acres of monsoon paddy will be cultivated in Bago Region to produce monsoon paddy seeds.

Monsoon paddy seed production will be implemented in 287 townships of all states and regions except Chin State.

A total of 100,000 acres of paddy — 69,335 acres of good yield rice and 30,665 acres of good quality rice — will be cultivated this year.

The ministry will provide a total of K149, 11.33 million from CERP for the seed production works.

MNA

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han and Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)

Photo: MNA

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