Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye provided assistance from the COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) at the IDP camps in Lashio, northern Shan State yesterday.

The Union Minister was accompanied by Shan State Deputy Minister for Bamar Ethnic Affairs and other officials as he met the inhabitants including the elderly and people living with disabilities (PLWD) at the IDP camps.

The official assistance included family education and health services, cash assistance, a special cash assistance for the elderly unregistered for a pension plan, and assistance for PLWDs who did not receive assistance in the previous support process.

While the assistance is meant to fulfill short-term needs, the cash assistance provided could flow into the regional money supply and support socioeconomic development, according to Dr Win Myat Aye.

He mentioned that his ministry has been implementing the 11 points concerning the social sector included in the collective agreement of the Union Peace Conference since 2017 and always incorporates social harmony and coexistence.

The Union Minister said the humanitarian assistances are, in a way, the government giving the people their money back from public finance when they are in need. He then thanked the General Administration Department (GAD), other government departments and the people involved in organizing the government assistance.

The Union Minister then handed over K56.92 million cash assistance for 1,423 families and K14.88 million for 496 elderlies in the IDP camps and K75.42 million for 2,514 PLWDs in the Lashio District to relevant officials. The Union Minister and party also visited the Thirimingalar Mansu Shan Monastery, donated Waso robes and other offertories to the presiding Sayadaw Agga Maha Sadama Jotikadaja Dr Bhaddanta Punna Nanda, who is also Chair of Lashio Township Sangha Nayaka Committee.

MNA

(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)

Photo:MNA

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