Salon people provided with fibre boats, home appliances

The handing over ceremony of fibre boats and home appliances to the Mawkel (Salon) people in Kawthoung District, with the support of the chief minister of Taninthayi Region, was held on the morning of 10 March at the Cultural Museum in Kawthoung, Thirimyaing Ward, Kawthoung Township.
Minister for Ethnic Affairs of the Taninthayi region government U Saw Martin Luther addressed the ceremony and handed over fibre boats to Salon people in Makyonegalat village and Nyaungwi village in Kawthoung Township. Region Economic Minister U Maung Gyi provided villagers with home solar panels and accessories. At the ceremony, 100 fibre boats and 141 sets of solar home appliances each worth K270,000 were provided.
A total of 226 fibre boats worth K396,000 each, with the support of the region chief minister, will be provided to Salon villages in Kyunsu Township, Kawthoung Township and Bokpyin Township and Myeik Township in Taninthayi Region this financial year.
The Markel (a) Salon families, a rare ethnic group in the far south of Myanmar, live on the islands, and boats play an important role in their daily lives and livelihoods. As the traditional boats of the people are made of wood, making them difficult to use for a long period due to the decay of the wood, the fibre boats are provided since they will last for 10 years, said region Economic Minister U Maung Gyi.
The Taninthayi region government is also planning to provide more fibre boats in the 2022-2023 financial year, according to the region economic minister. — Kyaw Soe (Kawthoung)/GNLM