India has agreed to upgrade facilities at 70 child development centers in Sri Lanka’s estate regions, where a sizeable number of Tamils of Indian origin work.

Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha signed an agreement with a private company on Tuesday, for the project that will be implemented at an estimated cost of LKR 58 million (approximately Rs. 27 million), and will cover seven estate regions - Hatton, Galle, Kandy, Ratnapura, Galle, Badulla and Kegalle.

Ten crèches have been identified for renovation in each estate region, according to a press release issued by the Indian High Commission here. The project, the release said, seeks to offer support to working mothers in the estate areas.

The initiative is part of India’s larger engagement in the estate region, particularly in Sri Lanka’s Central and Uva Provinces. India helped set up vocational training centers in Nuwara Eliya and Helboda and also offered training.

Later this year, India will take its flagship housing project – 50,000 houses are being built as part of the project – to the Central Province later this year. A total of 4,000 houses are to be built for workers employed in the estates.

(The Hindu)