The Ramana Maharshi Livelihood Program was initiated in 2022 to support the lives of families residing in the vicinity of the Ashram. A large part of the division of Tellipallai (Valikamam North), the area surrounding the Palaly Airport, served as a high security air base for the Sri Lankan military during the protracted war which came to an end in 2009. Since then, the families that were displaced for some 30 plus years have been trickling back for resettlement. With significant portions of the land yet to be released for civilian use, the lives of the few families returning to their homes have still not returned to normalcy. The Socio-economic status of many returnees is very much marginal, and most are day wage earners or subsistence farmers. Many of the returning families are the 2nd or 3rd generation of those originally displaced. The older generation in these families have limited education with few completing primary school education. The motivation and a conducive environment to encourage the younger generation to establish livelihood opportunities are limited due to non-availability of financial resources mainly as no collaterals is available to secure loans from financial institutions. Further, any support obtainable through micro-credit loans or bank loans is charged with high interest rates which are beyond many to sustain ongoing loan repayments. This project is designed to assist the income generation of families that display potential for skilled business development.
The first activities under this program was funded by Palar Gnanothaya Sangams, United Kingdom and Switzerland.
This activity targets families of those children who studied at Myliddy South Gnanothaya Vidyalayam school in 2021, as requested by the donors. An initial assessment of each of the families was completed for the families’ socio-economic status, the assistance they have received from the government and other sources, their current income generation activities and their capacity to supplement their income with further endeavours.
Of the 16 families assessed, 9 have been identified to qualify for assistance to augment their current income generation activities. Three more were assessed to be supported with Scholarships for their children studying at Myliddy South Gnanothaya Vidyalayam. Of the total funds received of Rs 1,810,200 the Ashram will extend the support to more families than those identified so far.
In response to COVID-19
The year 2020 was a year with unprecedented events globally. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, not only changed the way people went about their lives in Sri Lanka, but also affected each and every nation globally. With the widespread curfews and lockdowns imposed across the nation, Ramanalayam too had to take the necessary precautions to curtail its activities within and without the Ashram.
COVID-19, particularly affected the local population around the Ashram as many are subsistence farmers who rely on daily wages. The Ashram form time to time, responded by giving out relief packages consisting of food and sanitation kits to the affected, particularly those with physical or psychological impairments.