Letters to the Editor
View(s):Baffling move to appoint monitoring MPs
It is believed that the Govt is thinking of appointing Monitoring MPs to observe and report on matters affecting the public in their electorates. MPs have been elected by the public to look after their interests and it is for this purpose the MPs are paid salaries and allowances through the tax payers money.
It is therefore baffling to note that the Govt intends paying an additional salary to an MP with a vehicle and allowances for the job they have been elected to do. It appears this is a move is to keep the MPs happy so that they will continue to be yes men of the Government.
Please do away with this idea and save money needed for other pressing problems.
A concerned citizen Via email
The rising rate of school dropouts: Free vocational training needed
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in children dropping out from schools especially in rural areas mainly due to the inadequacy of facilities for online learning. The problem of school drop-outs existed even before the pandemic emerged. Poverty, drug addiction, teen pregnancies are root causes for the collapse of children’s education.
In such a context, it is up to the relevant authorities to come out with a long term plan to reduce poverty and improving the living standard of these children. There are children who may have skills in a wide range of fields such as sewing, embroidery and crafting. Free vocational training programmes could be carried out at regional levels to identify their hidden talents and awareness programmes can be organised in these towns on starting self-employment ventures. Tailoring, horticulture, poultry, handicrafts etc can be promoted as self-employment industries.
There are talented youth and even the resources are available but they lack the money to utilize these resources in a beneficial way. For example, there are enough raw materials like coconut leaves, coconut husks to make handicraft items but village youth do not have enough funds to utilise the resources in a productive way. When it comes to the coastal belt, different souvenir items can be made using seashells and selling them could generate an income. NGOs can organise workshops to identify these skilled boys and girls, and depending upon their needs, the necessary funds, tools and guidance could be provided to begin their own business on a small scale initially.
When poverty and other economic hardships cloud the future of our village children, it is up to the relevant authorities to initiate productive vocational training programmesthat would help the youth see a way forward to break the vicious poverty cycle that engulfs them and look with hope to improving their quality of life.
D.M. Navoda Dissanayake Kurunegala
Give a thought to these health workers
I have been using the Nandadasa Kodagoda Mawatha the road behind the National Hospital and found that around 6.45 – 7 p.m., a large number of buses are parked on this road, creating quite a congestion and traffic jams.
On inquiry, I found that the buses arrive for the transportation of the hospital staff who are serving at the National Hospital in these COVID times.
The buses bring them to the Hospital and take them back home. I have observed that they are mostly young women, probably nursing staff and those of other related departments. They walk to the buses when it is quite dark. The area is dim and the road lacks any lighting. When it rains, I have seen their helplessness running for shelter.
It is surprising that this situation has escaped the notice of those in authority who may be taking this route. Hope the shortcomings will be addressed as we cannot turn a blind eye to the immense sacrifices made by the health sector personnel for the wellbeing of the nation.
V. Fernando Colombo 8