One-year journey of Rakhine State Government

March 30, 2017

A draft for Rakhine State Development Plans has been jointly made by UN agencies, international organizations, local and foreign experts including Rakhine State government.

Located in the western part of Myanmar, Rakhine State is a coastal state and with the area of 14200.08 square miles, it is adjacent to Magway Region in the east, Ayeyawady Region to the south, Chin State to the north and Bangladesh to the west.

Rakhine State is home to seven Rakhine ethnic groups and other nationalities are also residing there.

Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu said that under the leadership of the State-level leaders, development undertakings have been carried out with greater momentum for Rakhine State. To bring about stability and prosperity in the state, the Central Committee for Stability and Development of Rakhine led by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was formed and under it there are numerous levels of work committees, said U Nyi Pu.

Advisory Commission on Rakhine State comprising experts and representatives of both sides led by former UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan was formed. The commission made three tours of Rakhine State and it issued statements which should be known by the people.

A Coordination Team for Security, Law Enforcement, and Regional Development in Maungtaw District was also formed with the chief minister at the helm. The team is responsible for all matters relating to security in Maungtaw District. Another coordination team is formed to ensure stability and development and to contribute to the works of the central committee.

Coastal export

Myanma Port Authority in Rakhine State handled 44616 metric tons of coastal export during the one-year period of the new government.

Regarding border trade, 9053 metric tons of export were handled and coastal import touched 366989 metric tons.

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is under implementation at Sittwayport by MPA as a regional development undertaking. Sittwe and Paletwa jetties are also built.

Over 3650 million kyat from the President’s Special Fund have been spent on many road projects for regional development. Law enforcement Government pays special attention to stability and law enforcement in Maungtaw area.

After the violent attack on 9 October 2016, Myanmar Tatmadaw and Myanmar Police Force jointly carried out stability and law enforcement tasks while the Union government and the State government are focusing on regional development undertakings.

Non-discrimination

 To ensure convenient journey for locals, all the people are treated equally except surprise checks for security reasons.

Five areas namely Kyeichaung area, Ngakhuya area, Chamaungseik area, Tamantha area and Taungpyoletwei area have been designated for plying two market buses for each area which are difficult to access.

Upgrading schools

In the education sector, high, middle and primary schools were expanded. During one-year period, 29 primary schools were opened and 295 were upgraded. Spending over 5700 million kyat from Union capital fund, 140 schools were built in 2016-2017 Fiscal Year.

Health care

More health care facilities emerged in the last Fiscal Year in Rakhine State. Moreover, staff housings were built for health staff. One of the important steps taken by Rakhine State Health Department was appointing physicians and nurses and other health assistances.

In 2017, health staff will have to take vaccine as a precautionary measure if they need to go to infectious disease affected areas.

Power supply

Millions of kyats were spent on installation of transformers and erecting power lines in Gwa Township, Kyaukpyu Township and Ann Township.

The National Grid supplies power to 13 townships in Rakhine State and measures are being taken to supply power to reach villages.

So far, 147 villages are enjoy ing electricity and installation of power lines for 65 villages is in progress.

Disaster prevention

Six cyclone shelters were built at a cost of 600 million kyat for villages in Myebon and Taungup Townships. Two villages in Manaung Township also got the facilities worth 259.16 million kyat.

Land lease agreements

Altogether 585 land lease were granted for industrial works by State and District Administration Department. Farmers in rural areas are also enjoying land lease schemes.

Communication

Ninety six more towers for mobile phones have been erected in Rakhine State. Local people in Rakhine state also received nearly 60000 SIM cards. It can be deduced from the fact that communication system covers almost all the areas in Rakhine State.

Lots of rain

Due to heavy rains, there occurs bank erosion and silting every year. Therefore, the State government has spared no effort to take measures against bank erosion and to build retaining walls.

Paddy yield

The area of cultivating summer paddy in 2016-2017 stood at 1103762 acres which yielded 65.27 baskets per acre and thus the whole areas produced over 72 million baskets.

Up to February this year 7255 acres of summer paddy have been cultivated against the target of 30200 acres. Agriculture Science was opened in Kyauktaw on 3 March 2016 and 250 students are pursuing agricultural education in that school. At the school workshop on vocational development and creating job opportunities was held attended by agriculturalists and livestock breeding and fishery entrepreneurs.

Smooth transportation, better water supply, rural housing, creating job opportunities

Although Rakhine State is difficult to access in the past, thanks to the efforts made by Ministry of Construction new roads and bridges have been mushrooming one after another. Nearly 14000 million kyat was earmarked to build 198 bridges big and small in 2016-2017 Fiscal Year. Urban and rural water supply systems are introduced spending a total of nearly 500 million kyat for 39 projects in urban areas and 10 projects in rural areas. Rural housing projects were implemented spending 350 million kyat in Maungtaw, Buthidaung and Taungup. Myaseinyaung village project is aiming at creating job opportunities. Under the project 30 million kyat for each village was designated and altogether 122 villages has enjoyed the benefits so far.

People-centered projects

People-centered project is implemented with cooperation of World Bank in Ann Township, said Chief Minister U Nyi Pu. He also revealed that the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT Fund) is also contributing to implementation of rural development projects in Gwa and Manaung Townships. He expressed his committment to development of the whole Rakhine State.

Article: Kyaw Thu Htet

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar