Call for more funds for remote H’lands districts

National, Normal
Source:

ZACHERY PER

SOME public servants believe remote districts in the Highlands region should be given an additional K2 million in district services improvement programme (DSIP). Speaking on behalf of remote districts, Simbu’s Karamui district administrator Joe Nopro and Western Highlands Jimi district administrator Lawrence Itali said at the DSIP Highlands regional review workshop in Goroka on Tuesday, that disadvantaged district need special assistance because they are different. “We want DSIP grants for disadvantaged district increased to K12 million (from K10 million), as we have no easy access like other districts,” Mr Nopro said.
Mr Itali said delivering basic services into the remote district is very difficult, and more costly than other districts, hence the call for an additional K2 million was warranted. They also believed the administrative grant of K300,000 was insufficient, and they wanted that increased to K500,000. The main highlight of the workshop was the presentation of the status of DSIP implementation in the districts by respective district administration and staff. They reported to the Office of Rural Development (ORD) of the successes, failures and impediments in the implementation of DSIP. Highlands regional ORD manageress Anna Bae and deputy director of ORD Kelly Lovuru facilitated at the meeting at the National Sports Institute in Goroka, Eastern Highlands province.