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Indigenous peoples' council overhauls reconstruction plan

The head of the Council of Indigenous Peoples announced plans yesterday to speed up the rebuilding of Aboriginal communities damaged by disasters over the past three years.

The NT$37.4 billion (US$1.1 billion) plan includes 394 reconstruction projects and the relocation of 15 communities, Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Icyang Parod told a news conference in Taipei.

More than 810,000 people -- Aborigines and non-Aborigines alike -- living in 55 Aboriginal townships in 12 counties will benefit from the plan, a council news release said.

"Although efforts are in place to reconstruct Aboriginal villages damaged by natural disasters, the progress has been slow," Icyang said. "That's why we've decided to integrate resources from different ministries to come up with a new, integrated reconstruction plan."

He said the plan was drafted after a detailed survey of Aboriginal communities nationwide.

"The entire plan is expected to be completed in 2009," he said.

The plan will focus on restoring public facilities, disaster prevention efforts and accommodation or relocation for disaster victims, the council said. Projects will include river dredging and road improvement as well as the reconstruction of private homes. The council will also help out with loans and land ownership transfer procedures for people who are willing to relocate, the release said.
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