Program to enhance rural life

The rural masses that forms the majority of Sri Lankan population need to focus on using the newly developed infrastructure facilities efficiently with the aim of upgrading their family units to maximum possible self sustainable level, said Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. The Minister who was also the head of the Nomination Selection Committee for the Eastern Province for the upcoming Provincial Council Election explained the greater potential of the ongoing development work of the Government to upgrade the level of lives of the Sri Lanka community. During the interview with the Sunday Observer Minister Yapa said that according to door to door discussions with people in all districts by party members, it was shown that there is a wider acceptance to the Mahinda Chinthana. Here are excerpts of the interview:

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Q: Why did the Government take a decision to go for an election? Isn't the decision sudden? Do you believe it is the right time?

A: The elections is not a slapdash (hasty) decision of the Government. This election is not something that is unusually imposed. The Provincial Councils, anyway, were to be dissolved in a few months. The elections is not used to dissolve the provincial councils unjustifiably. Elections are a part and parcel of democracy. Our Government would not run in to hasty elections. An election is a unique opportunity to check the true public opinion.

As a Government adhering to the democratic path in politics we hold elections on due time. Knowing the political history of the country, we have seen the regimes under the United National Party postponed elections. Holding elections can be an advantageous stage for an opposition. But for some unexplainable reason our opposition do not correspond positively towards elections being held at the due time.

Generally it is the opposition party that demands an election yet for some reason, at present, it is not so in our country. The opposition should be in a position to pinpoint errors of the ruling party and enlighten the public on correct governing methods if they believe the current trend is wrong. An election could be the best platform for an opposition to highlight corruption that may have taken place under a ruling party or lapses in the Government mechanism. Elections would be an ideal stage for an opposition. May be the opposition is not completely sure about their strategies and methods in winning an election or rather winning the hearts and minds of the people.

Q: Why would you say that?

A: The main opposition United National Party is not in touch with the majority of the rural populace. Thus, they lag behind in understanding the true needs of the rural communities. They lag behind in understanding what the rural populace needs, what their beliefs are. It is not possible to sit in cool rooms in Colombo and take decisions for the rural populace which form the majority of our population. This lack of understanding has weakened the opposition. As a Government we prefer a strong opposition. Yet unfortunately we do not see a strong opposition in the country's political background. It seems that the opposition has already accepted defeat in this elections, according to their comments and points of view. Their sayings imply that they are now in the search of reasons for defeat. As if dispersing numerous rumours depressed over the thought of defeat. Our Government completely understands the needs of the people, particularly the need of the majority rural masses. Throughout the history there hasn't been a Government which pays so much of attention to uplift the level of the people living in the villages.

Q: The sole concentration on developing the rural economy brings out an accusation to the Government on not having enough attention to develop the national economy or to develop industries. What is your point of view?

A: We believe that it is the rural community that contributes to the development of the national economy, specially considering the agro based economy prominent in the country. Agriculture was the base of our country's economy over the centuries. Even our main export products are agro based. It was quite later that sectors like tourism or foreign employment became major ventures bringing in foreign currency in. Actually for us to reach maximum possible self sustainability we need to put more weight into develop the agriculture sector of the country. We may not be able to completely self sustain with the present global scenario, but we should be on the best possible level. Once in history we were the granary of the East and we believe as a country we still have the potential to reach a similar level. There is a flourishing market globally for grains, cereals etc. We need to approach the world market with a broad range of products and a continuous supply if we are to succeed economically.

The Government took special care to minimise economic recession and strengthen the rural economy. Parallel to all this a mega scale national development program was on full swing. The Government continue to provide relief and assistance to the citizens. Fertiliser subsidy is continuously given to the farmers, hence a rich harvest resulted. Never in the history has development reached the rural masses at this rate. It happened after adopting the Mahinda Chinthana.

There is great improvement in the road network. Almost all the main roads of the country are developed and carpeted. At least 25 kilometres of the roads belonging to each Provincial Council have been repaired and concreted. Some of these roads have not been developed for five decades. There is a Government development program called 'One work for One Village' (eka gamakata eka wedak). This prioritise the development needs of a village and helps complete those works which tops the list. This happens in all Grama Niladari divisions which is more than 14,000 according to present administration. One GN division receives Rs. 100,000 for this purpose. The decision is solely of the villagers. They decide what is best for their village in terms of the uplift of lives of the community. One may interpret that this is an investment without a return. But we as a Government are collecting taxes from the public and must use that revenue to provide more infrastructure facilities to the people.

To improve their level of life and make their life comfortable to contribute to the growth of the national economy. Today if one could carefully evaluate, you can see how the level of life is uplifted, not only of the urban population but of the rural masses too.

If I give an example from the area I represent - Kurunegala, not only roads are developed but nearly 95 percent has been provided with electricity. When development reach the village, electricity, communication facilities etc also reach the rural masses. Their opportunities for better economics, better life increases. Information reach the village faster than it used to be. And villagers are more updated with their knowledge in terms of understanding development, hence there is a greater demand. Government is determined to provide the necessary infrastructure facilities to the public, even to the most rural area of the country, how much difficult and challenging the work may be.

Q: What about the economic stability of the people? Do you think infrastructure development alone would give people enough income to cope with their day-to-day life?

A: There is a relevance between more infrastructure facilities reaching even the remotest village and cost of living. A villager in his simple lifestyle was able to survive so far. Yet with more facilities like good roads, electricity and telecommunication reach, the village necessities grow and people tend to buy more goods to make their lives easier. When electricity reach the village people would not just be satisfied illuminating their houses at night. They would need a refrigerator, a television and several other electric equipment either for a business or for their personal life. With good roads an able person would tend to buy a motor bicycle instead of his bicycle. We do see a marked increase in the number of vehicles brought in to the country. This adds several bills in addition to the normal cost of a family. Rarely is there a house without a motorbike and there is one three wheeler for several households. Fuel consumption has increased as a result.

What we try to do through livelihood development programs is to encourage the people to earn an extra living using the maximum from the provided infrastructure facilities. Programs like 'Divi Neguma' tries to cut down the cost of living that families face by trying to make this unit as self sufficient as possible. 'Divi Neguma' was brought in as we know that in a village every household owns a plot of land – be it at least quarter of an acre or few perches.

Majority of the people of this village community need to be encouraged to use this plot of land efficiently. Compared to people living in the Northern Province, majority of the Sinhala community have become so lazy. With great responsibility I say this. Many Tamil people before building a new house would grow a few chili plants, several drumstick plants along the fence, several fruit trees or a vegetable plot. So by the time they settle in their house they have a garden to sustain their daily needs, at least part of it. They are very organised. Does the rural Sinhala community continue these traditions? We rarely see them.

The Government wanted to help a family to minimise their cost of living not by cutting down facilities but either by developing an extra income generating livelihood or becoming self sufficient in their basic food necessities.

People may have to pay for the facilities they get but our effort is to minimise the cost of living by making a family self sufficient at least to an extent using their own plot of land giving them enough nutritious food. This provides food security and nourishes the family well with a minimum cost.

Q: What difference does the Government want to see in a village? How would the people be benefited long term?

A: Today there are at least three officers representing the Government and they are working in a village. It is their responsibility to motivate the villagers and encourage them to work efficiently and effectively. We need to make the people more energetic and a more efficient working force. For instance, the efficient use of fertiliser that is given to the farmers under fertiliser subsidy. Today, people are used to apply more than it is really necessary to their cultivation. What we try to do is educate the farmers through the Government officers to partly use the fertiliser and use carbonic fertiliser for the rest of the requirement. The development should be profit-minded and in the meantime need to be health conscious too. Otherwise illnesses people face due to over use of chemicals in agriculture can raise the Government’s health service. The profit and benefit gained should not be lost from another path. That is not sustainable.

Q: How would you analyse people’s response to all these development efforts of the Government?

A: With the door to door surveys we have carried as a party we observed people have a higher recognition for the Mahinda Chinthana – the vision for tomorrow, compared to the time it was introduced nearly six years ago. It is only three years passed since we, as a country gained victory over a war against terrorism. The Government was able to expedite the already started national development drive by many folds. For Party reform activities members of our party (the Sri Lanka Freedom Party) ran door to door interviews with people of all the districts of the country. We felt a high regard from the people compared to their response during the past Presidential elections.

Q: The Government made it a fact to avoid family members running for election. Do you think this is seriously considered by campaigners?

A: Party members competing in this elections who have family members as Parliament MPs, Deputy Ministers or Ministers have given their vows in writing to the party leadership that they will discontinue their political career and will not be competing in the next election. On the other hand, party members facing disciplinary inquiries within the party will face the law of the land irrespective of their status. If any party member is found to be involved in any irregularity the discipline, rules and regulations of the party will be applied to them equally.