ILO extends short-term income generation support to vulnerable groups in NP

As close to 30 percent of Sri Lanka’s population are facing food insecurity, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) yesterday announced it was extending short-term income generation support to the most vulnerable to navigate ongoing economic challenges.

The support prioritises assistance to youth, persons with disabilities, and women heads of households in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province through numerous targeted responses. About 3,725 vulnerable women and men in the Mannar, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, and Mullaitivu districts are the recipients of the several short-term relief mechanisms that are aimed at helping the hard hit groups to generate an income as well as sustain their livelihood. The ILO shared that some of the measures taken include temporary employment in infrastructure developments related to improving irrigation for farming, clearing farm access paths, and renovating fisheries landing sites. 

The United Nations agency also provides agriculture inputs ranging from subsidised seeds to equipment, financial assistance towards labour and land preparation, as well as strengthening market access via private sector.

“People with existing vulnerabilities are amonag the most impacted in any crisis. The present situation has meant that vulnerable and marginalised groups in the Northern Province; a region already burdened with higher than national average unemployment and poverty, are forced to grapple with further exacerbated challenges in carrying on their day-to-day lives. 
Especially for those engaged in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, their livelihoods have been severely disrupted from all fronts,” said ILO Sri Lanka Chief Technical Advisor Dr. Thomas Kring.

 The interventions are being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Agrarian Development, Department of Agriculture, District Secretariats, and Cooperatives.