Gamaneguma projects to align with Govt's macro programs

"The livelihood development projects under Gamaneguma Second Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Project (GSCDLIP) will be aligned with the macro level programs of the government", said the new CEO of the GSCDLIP Karunaratna Pallegedara. Following are excerpts from his interview with the Sunday Observer .

The livelihood development programs started under the phase I of the project are successful but they are dispersed in various sectors. As a result it is difficult to ensure the sustainability of them.

Therefore we have decided to encourage community to start livelihood development projects in the areas where government has launched national level programs.

Karunaratna Pallegedera Karunaratna Pallegedera was appointed as the CEO of the Gamaneguma Second Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Project with effect from December 1, by the Minister of Economic Development. Pallegedera is an economist with a Masters degree in Development Management from Asian Institute of Management, Philippines and a special degree in Economics from the University of Kelaniya. He has worked as an Economist in the Dry Zone Livelihood Support and Partnership Program of the Ministry of Agriculture, Visiting lecturer of the Rajarata University, Managing director of the North Central Province Industrial Development Authority and training specialist, resident project manager of the Mahaweli Authority.

Accordingly GSCDLIP will launch a new livelihood development sub projects in areas such as dairy farming, seed paddy production and maize cultivation. This will help the government to achieve its targets in these sectors as well as the beneficiaries too will be able to easily access the markets, receive inputs and other facilities provided by the government.

Government has a target to be self sufficient in milk, supply quality seed paddy for the farmers and self sufficient in maize.

All rural development programs under government should support the government to achieve these targets and GSCDLIP has already aligned its livelihood sub projects accordingly.

We have planned to cultivate seed paddy in 3,000 acres in 2011 and cater to the huge demand for seed paddy after paddy farming in North and East commenced this year.

This year too GSCDLIP provided seed paddy to these provinces and this project has doubled the income of farmers.

The farmers receive Rs. 60/Kg for seed paddy, double the price they get for selling normal paddy. Dairy farming projects will be started in all Gamaneguma villages.

Maize cultivation in Moneragala district is already successful and thousands of poor families now earn a higher income.

This project will further expand in the coming years with the participation of government institutions and the private sector. Forward sales agreements have been signed with private sector companies to ensure a reasonable high price for the maize harvest.

New rural infrastructure sub projects under GSCDLIP will include service and a maintenance plan for at least ten years, strategic plan considering all possible modifications, changes and improvements in the future as well as a business plan to pass the real economic benefits to the community.

For instance the Epitawela road development project in Kuruvita in the Ratnapura district will be included in these three plans.

We have instructed to develop a maintenance plan with community participation because after construction of this huge project the government or the Pradeshiya Sabha will not be able to give money for repairs and maintenance as there are thousands of other roads to be developed. The strategic plan will consider the conservation of the road, provide space for future needs such as laying water pipes across the road.

Under the business plan livelihood development programs will be designed using new opportunities opened with improved access to most of these remote villages.

The main objective of the GSCDLIP is to reduce poverty in rural areas and the project is implemented in poorest villages in the country covering nine districts. Phase I of the project has been highly successful and the phase II was started based on the success of the phase I.

There are lessons to learn from phase I and we do necessary changes and improvements as needed.

It is very important to closely work with other government institutions because the whole system of the GSCDLIP has to be handed over to the government agencies after the project ended. We have to especially work very closely with Samurdhi Development Authority (SDA).

The SDA has already agreed to takeover the system after the project is over. We have started a convergence program in Samurdhi villages and share the experience of the Community Driven Development model in Samurdhi villages.