Acting Finance Minister Mr. Shehan Semasinghe said at a news conference held yesterday in Colombo that public assistance will be provided to 23 lakh families in Sri Lanka under the Aswasuma Social Welfare Scheme from the 1st of July.
The Acting Finance Minister also said that the aid will be given to 4 lakh families approaching poverty, 4 lakh families at risk, 8 lakh poor families and 4 lakh extremely poor families.
Mr. Semasinghe also said that steps will be taken to provide 2500 rupees per month to a transitional family, 5000 rupees per month to a family at risk, 8,500 rupees per month to a poor family and 15000 rupees per month to an extremely poor family.
In addition, Mr. Shehan Semasinghe mentioned that a monthly assistance of 5000 rupees per month will be given to a kidney patient, 2500 rupees to an elderly person and 5000 rupees to a disabled person.
The Minister said that henceforth no money will be given by the Samurdhi campaign, and all that money will be given by the Aswasuma scheme.
Mr. Shehan Semasinghe also mentioned that all these money will be sent directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries and not through government officials.
Mr. Shehan Semasinghe also mentioned that 2.08 billion rupees will be spent for this purpose.
We have to help the genuine only.if that is not established regularly ,* data retained it will not solve the issue
Finally it has to be a hand up not a hand out