Substantial resources allocated: Lack of coordination hampers
development
by Surekha Galagoda
The 2006 budget has allocated Rs. 46 billion(US$ 460 million)
targeting poverty alleviation and rural development.
The pro poor programs planned and launched include Gemi Diriya, Gam
Pubuduwa, Maga Neguma, Kiri Gammana, Osu Gammana, Gamata Karmantha,
Pubudamu Wellassa, Rajarata Navodaya and Nenasala.
National program Director Millennium Development Goals (MDG) UNDP
Sherman Gunatillake said that 119 District Secretariat Divisions
identified based on the poverty headcount index prepared by the
Department of Census and Statistics have been given priority in
implementing the programs.
In September 2000 the government and its people joined the
international community in pledging their support for the Millennium
Declaration at the United Nations Millennium Summit. MDGs are the
world's targets for reducing extreme poverty in its many dimensions by
2015.
The goals are targeted at reducing poverty, hunger, disease,
exclusion, lack of infrastructure and shelter while promoting gender
equality, education, health and environmental sustainability.
Gunatillake said that when reviewing the progress of the country's
achievements towards MDGs the issue of regional disparities is not being
systematically addressed and it hinders the equitable and balance
development of the country.
He said that 51% of the country's GDP is concentrated in the western
province and it has increased alarmingly during the past decade. Despite
an insignificant growth in the GDP share being reported in the Northern
and Eastern provinces after the signing of the peace accord with the
LTTE the share of GDP in the rest of the provinces remains static at a
single digit.
He said that although the central government allocates a substantial
amount of resources annually for a variety of regional development
programs, lack of coordination among ministries and weaknesses in the
delivery channels hamper the development activities and the targeted
outcome at regional level.
Gunatillake said that the MDG cluster and the rural development
cluster under the NCED representing the relevant line ministries
agencies and the private sector have recognised the impediments in
regional development and proposals were presented to President Mahinda
Rajapaksa outlining an effective implementation mechanism of pro poor
programs at regional level.
Approval was given for the cabinet paper submitted by the President
to strengthen the District Secretariat divisions to implement the Gama
Naguma Program.
As per the statistical review 2006 on the MDGs in Sri Lanka complied
as part of the National MDG agenda by the Department of Census and
Statistics, the headcount ratio in Sri Lanka has declined from 26.1%
during 1990/91 to 22.7% in 2002.
Assuming a linear trend, poverty can be expected to fall to 19% by
2015 which is considerably higher than the target of 13%. Therefore Sri
Lanka is not on track to achieve the target of halving poverty as
measured by the headcount ratio.
The poverty Gap Ratio is a measure of how poor the poor are with
respect to the poverty line. The target is to reduce the national PGR by
half from 5.6% to 2.8% by 2015. At national level the PGR shows a
declining trend but the country is not on track to meet the target.
However, the urban sector has already exceeded the national target.
Challenges still remain for the rural and estate sectors, particularly
the latter which has experienced an increase in the poverty gap,
specially in the male headed households.
The percentage of underweight children under five is one of the two
indicators used to monitor target two of MDG 1.
The prevalence of moderate and severe underweight among children has
declined nationally from 37.7% in 1993 to 29.4% in 2000. |