The iTaukei Affairs Board is offering assistance for village improvement schemes, that includes funding for a multipurpose hall that can be used as an evacuation centre, village beautification and village sanitation.
The iTaukei Affairs Board states the village improvement scheme was initiated by the interim government in 2001 and has been revised under the 2023-2024 financial year.
“The focus of the scheme is to provide assistance for the physical beatification and general improvement aimed at raising the living standards of indigenous Fijians and Rotumans residing in villages,” states the iTaukei Affairs Board.
“iTaukei villages have been lacking basic infrastructure needs like community facilities, proper drainage as well as clean water and user friendly sanitation.”
Villagers will need to make a one-quarter contribution towards any of the three programs on offer that includes construction of a multipurpose hall, village beatification and village sanitation.
The village hall must be part of the village and will be used as an evacuation centre. Under the village beautification assistance, finance will be provided for landscaping, drainage, footpaths, seawall or river wall and rubbish disposal.
Under the village sanitation program, funding will be made available for construction of toilets, waste water disposal, water supply improvements and sewer improvement.
Villages can lodge their applications are the iTaukei Affairs Board office, Provincial Administrators office and Divisional Commissioners office until October 27th.
