Gemidiriya’s second phase to cover 2,000 villages

By Lalin Fernandopulle

[email protected]

Gemidiriya, the community development and livelihood improvement project will be introduced to 2,000 villages under the second phase of the program which will commence next year, said Additional Director General, Ministry of Nation Building, Dr. Gamini Batuwitage.

He was speaking at a ceremony to launch the Gemidiriya program to mark International Women’s Day.

Dr. Batuwitage said over 1,000 villages benefited from the project under the first phase of the 12-year program that helps people to save and invest on profitable ventures.

“Within three years around 118,311 families forming small groups contributed Rs. 111 million for infrastructure development projects. People who were indebted and did not have a means to live obtained loans to cultivate and made profits within a short time”, he said.

The Gemidiriya program which started in 2004, assists in capacity building, skills development, savings and credit and infrastructure development in villages. The project was implemented in 54 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in seven districts by the end of last year.

Dr. Batuwitage said the project will be introduced to other districts including the North and East with the launch of the next phase.

Most of the participants in the Gemidiriya programs are women - around 80 per cent of the population in villages. Around 3,814 of the 5,747 who hold key positions in community organisations are women. Women play a great role in major activities in villages and they have helped to improve the living standard of families.

J. A. Karolis of Medagama said he earned profits from his cultivation of maize and bananas after obtaining a loan of Rs. 20,000. He sells 10 kilograms of yams daily.

“People of the Gemidiriya community buy my vegetables. I weave and make ladles and ekel brooms and they are in demand”, Karolis said.

Piyasili of Embuldeniya said with the Gemidiriya assistance she was able to meet her daily expenses and pay the refrigerator instalments. “I obtained a loan for Rs. 7,800 and started a canteen in the school and now my family leads a happy life”, she said.

Unity, self esteem, accountability, trust, realism, thrift, transparency, equity and sincerity are some of the primary rules of the Gemidiriya project. It also provides an opportunity for all to participate, gives priority to the poor, women and youth and promotes cost sharing.