Cultural norms in the North and East, in general, ensure dominance by men. Generally, women as well as the children and adults who are physically or otherwise challenged do not have a say in how they should progress in life. The three-decade civil war exacerbated the discrimination against these sections of the community. It produced a great number of women headed families, women breadwinners and adults with mainly physical challenges, and they needed support to enhance their livelihood.
Similarly children who face physical and other challenges like visual, hearing, speaking, brain development, etc are neglected even by their own families need special care, education and training in appropriate trades. SCOT General Council members appreciate the importance of empowering these groups in the society, and therefore engaged with 11 organisations in the North & East that were providing support to the groups and funded some of their projects.
Click here to read brief statements relating to a few of the SCOT funded Endowment projects.
Scientific Mapping on Medicinal plant at Delft
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Project Status
In-Progress
SCOT is funding Ayurvedic medicinal plants mapping and categorising in the Island of Delft. This is happening with the view to develop this agricultural industry in Delft, in collaboration with Jaffna University agricultural department.
Emergency Boat Project
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Project Status
Completed
Kiran area in Batticaloa gets affected by repeated seasonal floods, with loss of lives and remote villages get isolated. SCOT donated a fibre glass boat and a Yamaha engine to save lives during the floods and provide free transport to the public and government officers to and from the mainland. At other times it is used by a local fisherman’s association.
Various Emergency Dry ration distribution in Batticaloa, Trinco, Manner and Mullaitivu
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Project Status
Completed
Dry rations distribution in Malayagam
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Project Status
Completed
Collaboration with Tea Leaf Vision an NGO led by Mr & Mrs Pare.
Food relief programme in Eechalampattu, Muthur - Trinco district
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Project Status
Completed
Mangaiyar Mandram Project
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Project Status
Completed
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Project Partner
Hindu Council of Sri Lanka (HCSL), Colombo
Women as heads of families or breadwinners faced major discrimination when government agencies, NGOs and other organisations distribute reliefs or provide funds for any livelihood programmes. They had their own dependents at home and did lowly paid work to support their families. They needed support to start enterprises that could operate from home.
There were demand for ground chillies, grams, beans and similar as well as cooked meals and short-eats, made hygienically and packed in sealed bags. Demands were in villages and nearby towns.
HCSL had already pioneered its project – Mangaiyar Mandram - in two remote villages in Batticaloa District. The project at each location comprised: help to a small group of women (16-20 in number) to form a cooperative, open a bank account in the name of the cooperative and in the names of the individual members and provide training on making various food items hygienically, packaging, accounting and operating an enterprise. The members were obliged to contribute a small fixed sum in the cooperative account as well as in their individual accounts and funds from these accounts provided the members funds to operate the different enterprises. In all, 8 No Mangaiyar Mandrams (4 No in Batticaloa, 3 No Mullaitivu & 1 No in Kilinochchi) were established at a total cost of just over £ 15,000 during the period 2012-15 and SCOT funded it. Most of the expenses related to the purchases of various grinding, packaging and cooking equipment and other needed tools.
These cooperatives helped to enhance each member’s income between Rs 4,000 and Rs 7,000 per month, which averaged almost 80% extra income for each in the first two years of monitoring.