Bill to improve lot of IDPs

By Chandani Kirinde

A Bill to establish an authority to formulate a national policy and plan to implement, monitor and coordinate the resettlement of internally displaced persons and refugees will be presented to Parliament next week. The Jathika Saviya Authority Bill will be presented by the Minister of Resettlement and the provisions of the Bill will be in force for six years from the day it comes into operation.

Among the functions to be vested with the Authority will be the formulation and implementation of specific programmes and projects for resettlement and relocation of internally displaced persons and refugees in a safe and dignified manner, to assist them obtaining lost documents such as birth certificates, identity cards and deeds relating to property and to facilitate in solving problems relating to ownership and possessive right of movable and immovable assets.

The Authority can also implement resettlement programmes including housing schemes to facilitate resettlement and relocation, forge a better understanding between the IDPs and host communities, restore basic human rights including cultural rights to empower the IDPs and promise livelihood activities among displaced persons and refugees.

The Authority will be vested with powers to acquire and hold, take or give on lease or hire, mortgage, sell or otherwise dispose of any movable or immovable property and clear and redevelop land acquired either from the state or from private individuals in the discharge of its functions.

The Board of Directors of the Authority will consist of nine members, two of whom will be ex-officio members namely the Treasury Secretary or his representative and the Plan Implementation Ministry Secretary or his representative.
The other seven members, from among whom a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman will be appointed by the Minister of Resettlement, will be persons possessing proven expertise in the relevant areas.