Under Mahinda Chinthana :

The village - epicentre of development

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The village community still dominates the Sri Lankan culture and 80 percent of the population live in rural areas. Thus, the rural economy plays a major role in strengthening the national economy. As a result, the level of growth in the economy, education, health and infrastructure facilities of the villages have been deteriorating over the years. Projects started by the Government in the post independent era could not successfully accomplish the demands of the rural economy. The flow of resources that would back development programs has been uneven for rural areas.

The village played a vital role in making the country self-sufficient and that was the Sri Lankan economic base. This fact is deep rooted in our culture and the results of our acquaintances with different economic ideologies were not beneficial. Identifying this element, President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his vision for the development of the country, the Mahinda Chinthana, highlighted the importance of strengthening the village communities.

The key policy objective of the Government with regard to rural development is to improve all villages of the country so that they emerge as micro centres of growth along modern lines. Thus, in 2006, the rural development program Gama Neguma started under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government. Initially the project was implemented under the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure. With the reshuffle of the Cabinet in 2009, the project was absorbed by the Ministry of Economic Development under Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Today development projects worth Rs. 14,000 million were being implemented in every Grama Niladhari division of the country. Projects include constructing minor irrigation systems, drinking water projects, poultry and concreting rural roads. A special project will be introduced on new packing techniques for fruits and vegetables.

According to the Mahinda Chinthana the first step of the Gama Neguma project infrastructure development of villages and relevant projects was completed in 2007 - 2008. In Gama Neguma, the spiritual uplift of villagers was another key concern.

Paddy fields, dairy farms

Farmers are encouraged to re-cultivate abandoned paddy fields. Special attention is given to upgrade the dairy industry in villages. Villagers are encouraged to grow additional crops such as corn, green gram and chillies under these projects.

Under the Gama Neguma program the Economic Development Ministry assists the Department of Agriculture to increase seed paddy production for the coming season. With the North and Eastern Provinces returning to paddy cultivation, the demand has risen for quality seed paddy. Producing more seed paddy locally would minimise the amount of seed paddy Sri Lanka imports.

Gama Neguma will be the main program bringing together a number of other specific programs focused on livelihood development and poverty reduction at village level. There are two main channels for delivering Government programs to the village - one is the decentralised system comprising the District Secretariats, Divisional Secretariats and the Grama Niladhari. The other will be the devolved system which comprises the Provincial Councils and Local Government Authorities - particularly the Pradeshiya Sabhas. Fortunately today, we do not hear of terrorism threatening villages in Sri Lanka. It is the rural village that makes this country a paradise. The success of any development initiative must have a mechanism to address the need of the rural communities.

In a post conflict situation early recovery is essential. At the very initial stages people need quick impact projects and then long-term measures for economic and social stability.

The Government took numerous steps to uplift the rural economy even during the most tedious time periods. The best example would be the Eastern Resurgence. Even the Northern Spring development drive started while the battle against terrorism was on in the North. The village is the basic unit of both these mega development programs.

The prime objective of developing provinces by implementing accelerated infrastructure and livelihood development programs is to uplift the living standards of the people in every livelihood sector.

The Government believes that the village, while retaining its strengths and impressive features, can be developed as a micro centre of growth with the vision that the village has to be a decent and comfortable place for people to live, work and engage in their cultural and communal activities.

The concept of setting up of the Janasabha Societies is unique under the Mahinda Chinthana program.

The main objective is to fill the vacuum of not having one place where the services of village level officers could be obtained or a place for the people to meet and arrive at decisions on common matters.