Gamin Gamata makes inroads into rural sector

by Deepal Warnakulasuriya

One of the notable grievances among the rural folk was a lot of unattended problems in their day to day life. They do not know how to solve those or to whom to turn to, until President Mahinda Rajapaksa thought on how to solve all the ills, then and there. That was how the programme "Gamin Gamata" came into being under the auspices of the Presidential Community and Welfare Service (PCWS).

The pilot project kicked off from the Hambantota district, targeting permanent solutions for people's problems in the rural areas. The project covered Divisional Secretariats of Suriyawewa, a section of Ambalantota, Hambantota, Lunugamvehera and Thissamaharama. Later on, the programmes to be used as a development plan.

It has been arranged in a systematic way, and, as a first step, an awareness programme will be held for all government officials and divisional political authorities. Development projects and other connected works in the area will be identified through a survey of the programme. A detailed study follows and then comes the planning stage where problems faced by the people are identified with the assistance of Grama Sevakas, and respective Divisional Secretaries. In this process, each and every resident family have to fill a form, provided by the project office of the area and submit to officials with details.

Categorisation comes under the second stage where ministries, departments, authorities or personnel have to undertake the tasks assigned to them.

PCWS Director, Vajira Irugalbandara speaking to the Sunday Observer said that their aim is to solve almost all the existing problems within a period of five weeks, after identifying them.

"Most of the problems can be solved at the Divisional Secretariat level and few can be solved at the Grama Sevaka level. Anyway, we also receive numerous complaints which should be brought to the Ministry or the Department level. Those also can be solved, most of the time within the targeted time frame. But, the only problems which do not come under this category are the land disputes. We make every possible effort to solve those as well, then and there. What I personally realised from this project is most of the problems can be solved through discussion which is based on real understanding", explained Director Irugalbandara.

An old woman assisted by a relative fills an application form at the first Gamin Gamata mobile service.

A mother and a child who received equipment to improve their livelihood.

He further said that the "Mobile Service" which was held at Debarawewa Central College, Tissamaharama was a huge success, handling well over 75,000 problems. "As a pilot project we took around two months to transact with other ministries, departments, especially when we were conducting the Tissamaharama mobile service.

In that sense, Gamin Gamata has found constructive and applicable solutions to the problems, conflicts, obstacles faced by people in their day to day life. On the other hand, it has also built cooperation between the District Secretary, Divisional Secretary. Grama Sevaka and the district level government officials. The most important thing is building up the community development through this mutual understanding and cooperation. "Gamin Gamata" is one of the pioneer rural development projects in the country which stands for the uplift of the rural folks' living standards.

Officials who are attached to the project said that it was a novel and interesting experience to work with different ministries, departments, authorities, organisations etc. They said that they work on irrigation issue one day and the other day an electricity issue and another time on a road-related issue. Irugalbandara also added that most of the time, they have tried to get the participation of the private sector in development oriented programmes of this nature. He said that most of the areas which should received funds from the Treasury received same from the private sector, instead.

The second project of Gamin Gamata has been planned to move in to Puttalam district. The officials confirmed that they would definitely go to Ampara district at their earliest as they might have more to do. "Now, it will be easy for us to work there as the military has cleared the area as a safe place", they added.

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Pix: Susantha Wijegunasekara