Akyab, Arakan State: General Tint Swe, the Arakan State Peace and Development Officer and the Transport Minister has formulated a new 'protection plan' to check damage from cyclones for all townships in the State. The plan comes into effect from the first week of October. It entails planting betel nut and coconut plants, according sources.

General Tint Swe came recently from Naypaydaw to develop Arakan State and to monitor its security.

He directed all townships authorities to plant betel nut and coconut trees in the compound of all schools in the town.

In Maungdaw and Buthidaung, the township authorities mobilized people to plant betel nut and coconut trees in all schools in the township, said a student from Maungdaw high school.

The teachers were directed to tell primary school students to bring betel nut seedlings failing which they have to pay Kyat 500 for a seedling.

Middle and high school students would have to bring one small coconut plant. If a student fails, he or she has to pay Kyat 1500 to the authorities of schools.

The schools authorities in turn have to hand over the money to township authorities to buy plants and seedlings.

"We received some fund from townships authorities for the schools," said a school teacher from Buthidaung, on condition of anonymity.

Following a meeting in Akyab on September 29, General Tint Swe, declared that he would provide all the towns in Arakan Kyat 50,000 as project money. But the township officers are selling the seedlings and plants to the students for them to fulfill the school's requirements.

"I have no work as my land was confiscated and I can't go to another village or place to work as the authorities have restricted our movement. I have three children in school and my family sometimes faces starvation. How can I pay them money for seedlings?" asked a father in Maungdaw.