Gamaneguma is for inclusive economic development

"The government's policy is inclusive economic development where everyone including the vast majority of people living in rural areas are benefited, said Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa. He was addressing a live radio program broadcast by "Saru" community radio of the Gamaneguma Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Project last week at Deyata Kirula national development exhibition in Buttala.

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa addresses the live radio program of Saru.

"The development policy of the government introduced in 2005 by the Mahinda Chintana policy framework clearly explains this vision. Our theme is "Development starts by individuals, goes to the family, the village and finally to the country". The economic development of a country can be achieved by developing three or four industries. But this development models is not sustainable and countries that achieved economic development following this model collapsed later. Therefore President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed that all villages should be developed and the Gamaneguma program is designed to achieve this goal" he said.

The Minister pointed out that this development model has been used by our ancient kings especially in the Anuradhapura era. The development should also go to the North and Eastern provinces.

Our brave soldiers liberated one third of the land and two thirds of our territorial waters and handed over them to the people. Our objective is to provide all assistance to these people who suffered by terrorism over decades and enable them to improve their lives to be on par with the people in the rest of the country.

"Uthuru Wasanthaya and Neginahira Udanaya programs have been launched for this purpose and if you go to the East you can see the progress we have already achieved", he said.

Minister Rajapaksa said that the biggest problem the government would have had to face was purchasing of the Maha season paddy harvest. But the unexpected bad weather foiled this. He pointed out that huge amounts of abandoned farmlands were cultivated this year in the North and Eastern provinces.

Minister Rajapaksa appreciated the courage demonstrated by the farmers who are affected by the flood. "We went to the Vahalkada village where the LTTE attacked three times during the war and again this time by severe floods. They have not lost their courage and they are now getting ready to cultivate again after weather conditions return to normal. We will provide all assistance to them including dry rations for six months, seeds, fertiliser and relief for their agriculture loans" he said.

The Minister witnessed the ICT skills of the youth in Gamaneguma villages and the websites they maintain to link with markets and sell their produce. The Gamaneguma program has been designed to develop rural areas of the country where 80 per cent of the population are living. We want to develop infrastructure and enable people to work from their villages and reduce urbanisation. Development of electricity and communication infrastructure and increase in internet penetration will help people to work from their villages and contribute to the national economy, the Minister said.

The Saru community radio is managed by the Pulathisi Community Development Company (PCDC), a pilot project of the Gamaneguma Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Project of the Ministry of Economic Development. Saru community radio is operated by the community of Gamaneguma villages and broadcasts programs related to development activities carried out by Gamaneguma villages in the Polonnaruwa district.