The Project is to be implemented at a cost of SLR 58 million, and  will be taken up in seven estate regions viz. Hatton, Galle, Kandy, Ratnapura, Galle, Badulla & Kegalle.  Ten crèches have been identified for renovation in each estate region.  Apart from renovating the buildings, Government of India will also provide furniture to the crèches to assist children to grow in a safe and hygienic learning atmosphere.  The Project is expected to enable mothers engaged in the tea estates to go to work with the assurance that their children are in a safe environment. This will contribute to the economic empowerment of women and assist families in the estate sector.

The Government of India has been implementing a number of projects for the estate people of Central and Uva Provinces.  These include setting up of two vocational training centers in Nuwara Eliya and Helboda; providing training instructors to the VTC at Hatton; offering 350 CEWET scholarships to estate students and another 440 scholarships for pursuing higher education in Sri Lanka and India; gifting of buses for educational institutions; construction of 150- Bed Hospital at Dickoya; and construction of a Mahatma Gandhi International Centre at Matale. The Housing Project for construction of 4,000 houses for the estate families is expected to commence later this year.(KH)