Samurdhi Authority expands horizons:

Poverty eradication programs bring positive results

by Nilma DOLE

Sri Lanka’s poverty eradication programs have reported impressive results last year despite the war, and the country has achieved a higher per capita income compared to its SAARC counterparts. At the last survey done in 2008, Sri Lanka’s per capita income was US $ 2014, well ahead of countries like India and Pakistan that reported $ 982 and $ 998 per capita income respectively.

Samurdhi children’s program ‘Kekulu Lama Samaja’

“Sri Lanka’s poverty ratio in 1995/96 stood at 28.8 per cent of the population. This rate decreased to 22 per cent in 2002,” said Director General of the Samurdhi Authority, R.P. Bandula Tilakasiri. The year 2008 saw the last poverty analysis being conducted, which posted a ratio of 15.2 per cent, which was a significant breakthrough in poverty eradication in the country.

“It is safe to say that Sri Lanka would have now achieved the SAARC Millennium Development Goal of reducing its poverty ratio to 13 per cent” explained the Director General who felt that a new survey should be done to confirm this fact.

The Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority has played a vital role in giving a helping hand to those who need it. “We screen applicants through a systematic process and give them loans to start their own enterprises,” said the Deputy Director of the Samurdhi Authority, Gamini Wickramapala. The Samurdhi Authority comes under the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development.

Secretary of the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development, W. K. K. Kumarasiri, issuing a statement about the latest developments, said: “The Gama Neguma program is being implemented through three main pivots, i.e. construction and improvement of infrastructure facilities, establishment of livelihoods and creation of a virtuous society in the villages. In 2007, development projects numbering 4,968 in 4,172 villages were launched and are in progress with an investment of Rs. 4,000 million, exclusive of the financial value of the morals improvement activities and the items of work fulfilled with community participation.

Requisite planning is already under way to cover all the villages in the island under this program during the next year. The Gama Neguma Program will take steps, through proper co-ordination of the programs undertaken by the various line Ministries, Provincial Councils and NGOs in the villages to avoid duplication and inefficiency”.

“We are happy that a majority of our benefactors are keen on improving their livelihoods because the moment they start earning a minimum of Rs. 5,000, they give back their Samurdhi food stamps”, said the Deputy Director. Amid controversies that giving freebies only makes the benefactors lazier and unworthy to society, Samurdhi is stringent on those who apply for loans.

Strict process

“We have a strict review process to evaluate our applicants and if they indulge in illegal businesses, we go out and rehabilitate them”, said Director General Tilakasiri, a lawyer by profession. Through the Samurdhi Mobilization program, advice and support are given to anyone determined to eke out a decent living.

“In accordance with the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’, Rs100,000 is given for the economic empowerment of Samurdhi families, to start their own enterprises. After they start earning over Rs. 5,000, they readily give back their Samurdhi food stamps”, said Tilakasiri. In addition to this, the Samurdhi Bank’s loan aid and insurance schemes called ‘Jana Pubudu’ and ‘Gami Pubudu’ have already been expanded.

The Ministry’s Secretary Kumarasiri, said: “The compilation and implementation of strategies and programmes aimed at poverty alleviation is another major area in the mandate of the Ministry. In this context, a host of income generating and small-scale enterprises have been launched and are in progress, based on small and medium-scale loan schemes. Vocational training programs and support services have been implemented throughout the island by the Samurdhi Authority, in addition to projects such as Senkadagala Navodaya, Rajarata Navodaya, Pubudamu Wellassa and Revolving Credit Schemes under local funds and Decentralized Budget Programs, which have developed entrepreneurial skills in poor families, enabling them to commence income-generating projects”.

“We are hopeful that 75,000 families will surrender their food stamps as we celebrate the International Day for Poverty Eradication island-wide (October 17)”, said Director General Tilakasiri.

For this year’s International Day for Eradication of Poverty, the Samurdhi Authority will hold islandwide exhibitions and other events in more than 18 districts.

“For example, in Gampaha, we are having a trade exhibition with 127 stalls and boosting ongoing programs relevant to poverty alleviation”, said Deputy Director Wickramapala.

Samurdhi development project

He added, “We will also screen applicants, talk to them about entrepreneurship and advise them on any problems they might have”. The best part of every event to be held in lieu of Poverty Eradication Day is that they are organised and set up with the participation and expertise of Samurdhi members.

Samurdhi takes its services one notch higher by rehabilitating the community and focusing on other options for them as well. “We also give them various business ideas and have village community meetings so they learn how they can stand on their own feet should they find any difficulties”, said the Director General.

International theme

The international theme coined by the United Nations for this year’s Poverty Eradication Day was ‘Children and Families Speak Out Against Poverty’ which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The slogan was “Investments in children and the realization of their rights are among the most effective ways to eradicate poverty.”

“We have a Samurdhi children’s program called ‘Kekulu Lama Samaja’ which helps provide a 50 per cent increase to the scholarship allowance for children of Samurdhi families”, said the Director General. He commented, “Children are the future of our country and it is imperative that we give them a solid education and make them understand that anyone can uplift their lives from poverty.” Samurdhi member Rajini Atapattu has also worked tirelessly to ensure that this children’s program is successful.

As for future goals, the Samurdhi Authority has already implemented projects in Vavuniya, Jaffna and many parts of the East that have been liberated. “As soon as places like Mullaitivu and Mannar open up, we will be giving those villages a helping hand too”, said Director General Tilakasiri.The Ministry of Nation Building together with the Samurdhi Authority has spearheaded the construction of infrastructure facilities destroyed by the war in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, resettlement of displaced persons and re-commencement of the production process to ensure a stronger economy through programs such as ‘Jathika Saviya’ and ‘Negenahira Navodaya’. In every sense, people in Sri Lanka are coming out of their shells and finding that hard work, grit and determination certainly pay off.